The Bay Path University Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) is a 70-credit online non-residency program that will support the development of advanced nursing practice, either in the role of a Family Nurse Practitioner or in the specialty of advanced nursing practice. Graduates of the DNP program will incorporate evidence-based and leadership practices into the preparation of the next generation of nurses, promote health and wellness at a community level, and develop a clinically and culturally competent workforce.

The DNP has two entry options, the Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) to DNP, and the Post-Master's (PM) to DNP. The BSN to DNP option admits nurses who wish to obtain the competencies to bein the role or concentration of the Family Nurse Practitioners (FNP). The PM option has two entry tracks. The PM to DNP with an Advanced Practice Registered Nurse (APRN) track admits nurses who hold a MSN and current APRN licensure in the role of a nurse practitioner. The PM to DNP without an Advanced Practice Registered Nurse (APRN) track admits nurses who hold a MSN but do not hold an APRN license. Through the practice courses, students will partner with mentors/preceptors and focus on the responsibilities of the advanced nursing role (DNP-FNP) or advanced nursing practice specialty (PM-DNP).

Student Learning Outcomes

Graduates of the Doctor of Nursing Practice program are expected to be able to:

• Integrate science-based theories and concepts into advanced nursing practice across diverse patient care settings;
• Develop and evaluate systems-based strategies for improvement in practice, including risk assessment and cost-effective quality care delivery approaches to meet current and future needs of patient populations;
• Design, implement, and evaluate evidence-based quality improvement methods to promote safe, ethical, equitable patient care;
• Analyze information systems and technology to improve and transform patient care and healthcare systems;
• Critically analyze and influence healthcare policy that addresses issues of financing, resource management, and equity in care access and delivery;
• Promote transformation of health care through scholarship, intra and inter-professional collaboration, policy development and technology utilization for improving patient and population outcomes;
• Design and implement clinical prevention and population health activities to address health promotion and disease prevention in the care of individuals, aggregates, or populations; and
• Demonstrate advanced abilities in analytical clinical judgment, systems thinking, accountability, and collaborative partnerships to facilitate optimal patient outcomes.