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

The DNP program builds on The Essentials of Baccalaureate Education for Professional Nursing Practice (AACN, 2008), incorporates The Essentials of Master’s  Education in Nursing (AACN, 2011), and The Essentials of Doctoral Education (AACN, 2006), and The Essentials: Core Competencies for Professional Nursing Education (2021) as well as contemporary nursing professional standards and competencies. (https://www.aacnnursing.org/essentials; https://www.nonpf.org)

BSN-DNP (Family Nurse Practitioner Concentration)
The BSN-DNP-FNP track prepares the graduate with an advanced practice nursing (APN) focus in the role of family nurse practitioners (FNP). The graduate demonstrates practice expertise, specialized knowledge across the lifespan, and expanded responsibility and accountability in the care and management of individuals & families (AACN Essentials of Doctoral Education, 2006, p. 18). The degree also addresses courses in leadership, health systems, quality, technology evidence-based practice, populations, and organizations. BSN prepared students complete 70 hours in this track. Students complete 1000 practice hours (500 direct care hours embedded in the FNP population focused courses and 500 indirect practice hours also in the FNP population focused courses, plus 38 indirect hours in the Capstone II course).

DNP-Post-Master's (PM Concentrations)
The DNP-post master’s general track provides the graduate with an aggregate/organization/and system focus on advanced nursing practice (ANP). The graduate demonstrates expertise and knowledge with a focus on leadership, systems, evidence-based practice, aggregates, quality, technology, and organizations (AACN Essentials of Doctoral Education, 2006, p. 18) . Students complete 1000 practice hours and may transfer in up to 500 practice hours from their MSN program.

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

1. Integrate science-based theories and concepts into advanced nursing practice across diverse patient care settings. (Essential 1; NONPF Scientific Foundation Core Competency; QSEN Evidence Based Practice Competency)
2. 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. (Essential 2; NONPF Health Delivery Systems Core Competency; QSEN Quality Improvement Competency)
3. Design, implement, and evaluate evidence-based quality improvement methods to promote safe, ethical, equitable patient care. (Essential 3; NONPF Quality, Practice Inquiry, NONPF Ethics Core Competencies; QSEN Safety, Evidence Based Care, and Quality Improvement Competencies)
4. Analyze information systems and technology to improve and transform patient care and health-care systems. (Essential 4; NONPF Technology and Information Literacy Core Competency; QSEN Informatics Competency)
5. Critically analyze and influence healthcare policy that addresses issues of financing, resource management, and equity in care access and delivery. (Essentials 2, 5; NONPF Policy Core Competency)
6. Promote transformation of health care through scholarship, intra and inter-professional collaboration, policy development and technology utilization for improving patient and population outcomes. (Essentials 5, 6; NONPF Leadership Core Competency; QSEN Teamwork and Collaboration Competency)
7. Design and implement clinical prevention and population health activities to address health promotion and disease prevention in the care of individuals, aggregates, or populations. (Essentials 5, 7; NONPF Leadership and Independent Practice Core Competencies; QSEN Patient Centered Care Competency)
8. Demonstrate advanced abilities in analytical clinical judgment, systems thinking, accountability, and collaborative partnerships to facilitate optimal patient outcomes. (Essential 8; NONPF Practice Inquiry and NONPF Independent Practice Care Competencies)