Doctor of Nursing Practice
Mission Statement
The mission of the School of Nursing is to be Christ-centered, people-focused, student-oriented, quality-driven, and future-directed in preparing qualified persons to serve a diverse population through the holistic profession of nursing.
Components for Learning
At AU, we offer a flexible program catered to you, the working nurse.
All classes are offered online, so you can learn anywhere. You will still meet your cohort and professors in person during a 2-3 day session, held once at the beginning of the program and once at the end.
In addition to coursework, you will complete a scholarly project and a clinical residency. The evidence-based project may include a quality improvement (QI) focus, a policy change, or perhaps a protocol development for your facility. Your advisor will guide you in this process. Throughout your time in the program, you will develop this project, from the conceptual stages to research and investigation to implementation and dissemination of the results.
Clinical residencies are required for all Doctor of Nursing Practice students. At the conclusion of your Doctoral program you will have completed at a minimum 1,000 clinical hours; however, nurses entering this track are likely only bringing in 200 clinical hours, thus 800 additional clinical hours must be completed. You may have more than 1,000 clinical hours based upon the number of clinical hours in your previous degree programs. While it is your responsibility to find a clinical preceptor, AU works hard to establish relationships with clinical partners, to aid you in your search. Your clinical and in-class experiences at AU will also prepare you for the national accreditation exam you may take to become certified to practice in your field.
Special Requirements for Admission
Minimum requirements:
- Master’s degree in nursing from a nationally accredited nursing program with a minimum grade point average of 3.0 averaged from all nursing degree programs.
- Active and unencumbered RN license
- CPR certification
- Current immunization record by start of program
- Advanced Practice Certification (MSN to DNP applicants only)
Application Process
- Complete online application and pay application fee
- Two Letters of Recommendation
- Personal Statement
- Official Transcripts from all former academic institutions
- Resume
The DNP Advanced Practice is a 42 credit hour, five semester program designed for nurses wishing to obtain a Doctor of Nursing Practice with an Executive Leader focus. In addition to the clinical hours you will be bringing into the program, an additional 800 clinical hours are needed for the degree and focus on the development of a scholarly project. Students are required to come to campus 1-2 days in their first and last semester to meet with faculty and fellow students while gaining assistance with their project.
Graduation Requirements
Anderson University School of Nursing Graduate Programs are cohort based. Student must have an overall GPA of a 3.0.
Limitation in Completion of Requirements
A student in the MSN program must complete all degree requirements within five (5) years. A student in the DNP program must complete all degree requirements within seven (7) years. Time limits are computed from and include the first semester of credit applied to the degree program. Students who do not enroll for three (3) consecutive semesters are subject to all program policies, guidelines, and requirements in place at the time of re-enrollment. This guideline does not mean the student has the option of taking five (5) or seven (7) years to complete the degree if their track is a full-time cohort model.
