The post-master's DNP Program prepares advanced nurses to lead and transform health care within diverse populations and settings through translation of evidence into practice, integration of systems thinking as a foundation for change management, and participation in quality improvement initiatives to improve practice, patient-centered care outcomes, and health policy. 

This Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner DNP program prepares nurse practitioners to evaluate and treat patients suffering from mental health disorders by providing evidence-based therapies and medication management for patients of all ages. Qualified candidates will hold a Master of Science in Nursing degree as an advanced practice nurse practitioner along with current certification and prescriptive authority. Upon completion of the program, students will earn a Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) degree with an emphasis as a Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner (PMHNP), qualifying them to sit for the Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner (PMHNP) certification exam.

General Information - Post-Master's DNP:

1.  The Doctor of Nursing Practice program at Concordia University is accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (http://www.ccneaccreditation.org).
2. This Post-master’s DNP program is designed for certified advanced practice registered nurses or advanced nursing administrators.
3. The post-master’s DNP program is delivered in a cohort format. Eight-week online courses make this a manageable program for working professionals. 
4. There are two mandatory cohort meetings; an initial orientation via Zoom prior to the program start, and a final cohort meeting on-campus coinciding with graduation. Final DNP projects will be presented at the final cohort meeting. 
5. GRE is not required for admission. 
6. Courses are built on a Christian foundation integrating elements to meet the American Association of Colleges of Nursing (AACN) Essentials of Doctoral Education for Advanced Nursing Practice. Students complete residency hours in areas of their choice to develop, enhance and support their DNP Project leadership skills.  (http://www.aacnnursing.org/DNP)

General Information - Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner DNP:

1. The Doctor of Nursing Practice program at Concordia University is accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (http://www.ccneaccreditation.org).
2. All students must maintain an unencumbered nurse practitioner prescribing license while in the program. As this is an online program, sometimes there are out of state requirements that apply to the clinical setting. If clinicals will take place outside the state of Wisconsin, it is the student's responsibility to make sure their program of study is eligible and meets all requirements within that state's Department of Licensing & Regulation.
3. Students are expected to comply with the requirements as stated in the Student Responsibilities Agreement.
4. The PMHNP DNP program is delivered in a cohort format consisting of 8-week, 14-week, and 16-week online courses.
5. This PMHNP program requires a minimum of 500 clinical hours in the mental health field. Students will also be required to complete a minimum of an additional 200 leadership hours. 
6. Students will identify and secure clinical preceptors which then need to be approved for appropriateness by the graduate faculty. The Graduate Clinical Coordinator is available for assistance.
7. There are two mandatory cohort meetings; an initial orientation via Zoom prior to the program start, and a final cohort meeting on-campus coinciding with graduation. Final DNP projects will be presented at the final cohort meeting. 
8. GRE is not required for admission. 
9. Courses are built on a Christian foundation integrating elements to meet the American Association of Colleges of Nursing (AACN) Essentials of Doctoral Education for Advanced Nursing Practice. Students complete residency hours in areas of their choice to develop, enhance and support their DNP Project leadership skills.  (http://www.aacnnursing.org/DNP/)

Both the Post-Master's DNP and the Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner DNP Programs have the Following Components:

1. Coursework providing the knowledge and skills needed to meet the DNP leadership competencies.     
2. Residency requirements providing experiential learning; students work with preceptors or mentors to develop leadership skills and also to support their DNP Project.    
3. The DNP Project consists of applying knowledge and skills to an integrative, transformational experience, under the guidance of  a faculty chairperson and agency mentor. 

Program Learning Outcomes

By fulfilling all of the course requirements for the Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) Program, the student:

1. Synthesizes and translates evolving knowledge from the liberal arts and sciences, nursing and other disciplines to optimize clinical judgment and design innovation in advanced nursing practice and leadership.
2. Leads and designs holistic, compassionate, person-centered, evidence based, and developmentally appropriate care aligned with Christian values within complex contexts in advanced nursing specialty practice. 
3. Integrates principles of epidemiological sciences to lead disease prevention and management initiatives supported by health policy, through collaboration with traditional and non-traditional community partnerships, for the improvement of equitable population health outcomes.
4. Generates, synthesizes, translates, applies, and disseminates nursing knowledge to enhance health care delivery, improve outcomes, and lead the transformation of health care.
5. Leads initiatives supported by established and emerging principles of safety and improvement science to influence change in healthcare, enhance quality, and minimize risk to patients and providers through system effectiveness and individual performance.
6. Leads interprofessional teams in collaboration with care team members, patients, families, and communities to optimize care, enhance the healthcare experience, and improve outcomes.
7. Analyzes processes and resources within complex systems of care to enhance safe, high-quality, and equitable care for diverse populations. 
8. Evaluates information and communication technologies and informatics processes to gather data, drive decision making, and support professionals in using these technologies to manage safe, high quality, efficient care in accordance with best practice and professional and regulatory standards.
9. Models the professional identity of the advanced nursing specialist role through leadership and mentoring which reflects professional values of accountability, ethics, and a collaborative disposition within a Christ-centered perspective.
10. Models professional development and personal health, resilience, well-being and life-long learning and leads initiatives to support others in their personal, professional and leadership development.

Curriculum

Course List

Code	Title	Hours
Initial Cohort Meeting via Zoom
NURS 8003	Biostatistics & Epidemiology	4
NURS 9040	DNP Project I	4
NURS 8015	Advanced Evidence-Based Practice	3
NURS 8010	Business Management for the Doctor of Nursing Practice	3
NURS 8021	Healthcare Informatics	3
BUS 5840	Economics and Public Policy of Health Care	3
BUS 5100	Ethical Leadership for Dynamic Organizations	3
BUS 5610	Managerial Communication	3
NURS 9041	DNP Project II	4
Final Cohort Meeting / Presentation of DNP Projects
Total Hours		30

Psychiatric Mental Health DNP

Course List

Code	Title	Hours
NURS 8003	Biostatistics & Epidemiology	4
NURS 8015	Advanced Evidence-Based Practice	3
NURS 6038	Advanced Health Assessment Across the Lifespan	3
NURS 8010	Business Management for the Doctor of Nursing Practice	3
NURS 8021	Healthcare Informatics	3
BUS 5610	Managerial Communication	3
BUS 5100	Ethical Leadership for Dynamic Organizations	3
BUS 5840	Economics and Public Policy of Health Care	3
NURS 6500	Neuropathophysiology & Psychopharmacology for Advanced Nursing	3
NURS 6510	Psychiatric Mental Health Theory I	3
NURS 6515	Psychiatric Mental Health Theory II	3
NURS 6520	Psychiatric Mental Health Theory III	3
NURS 7510	Psychiatric Mental Health Practicum I	2
NURS 7515	Psychiatric Mental Health Practicum II	2
NURS 7520	Psychiatric Mental Health Practicum III	2
NURS 9040	DNP Project I	4
NURS 9041	DNP Project II	4
Total Hours		51

Transfer of Credit

The Graduate Nursing Program will accept up to 6 transfer credits, of previous graduate level coursework, into the DNP program based on the following criteria:

1. Coursework must have been completed within five years prior to admission to the program (or be approved by the DNP faculty committee).
2. Courses transferred must be comparable in scope and subject matter to courses offered in the DNP Program. The student will need to provide a course description and the course syllabus for any course requested for transfer. A transfer credit form must be completed and submitted to the Graduate Nursing Office for approval upon admission.
3. All courses transferred in must be at least 3.0 on a 4.0 scale.
4. All transfer credits must be certified by the Registrar and approved for the degree by the Director of the Graduate Nursing program.
5. Transfer credits will not be applied to the cumulative grade point average the student earns while in Concordia's DNP program.

Entrance Requirements for the Graduate School of Nursing in Addition to Graduate School Requirements

Post Master's DNP: (See below for the Psychiatric Mental Health DNP requirements)

Admission to the post-master's DNP Program is competitive. We admit a cohort class of students each spring for a fall semester start.

• MSN degree from an accredited school of nursing and currently employed as a certified nurse practitioner, clinical nurse specialist, nurse midwife or registered nurse anesthetist
• Current unencumbered licensure as a registered nurse in the USA
• Current certification as an advanced practice nurse (nurse practitioner, clinical nurse specialist, nurse midwife, or registered nurse anesthetist) or as an advanced nurse administrator
• A cumulative 3.5 GPA from previous MSN coursework (those applicants with a 3.25-3.49 cumulative GPA from MSN coursework will be considered on a probationary status)
• Graduate-level statistics course that includes descriptive and inferential statistics taken within the last five years (must have achieved a grade of B or higher)

Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner DNP: 

• Current certification as an advanced nurse practitioner with prescriptive authority
• Minimum 3.0 cumulative GPA
• Science GPA is evaluated as part of the admission process
• A MSN degree from an accredited nursing school
• Current unencumbered licensure as an advanced practice provider in the USA
• Current unencumbered licensure as a registered nurse in the USA
• Current CPR certification
• Successful completion of an Advanced Health Assessment course covering the lifespan (NURS 6038 Advanced Health Assessment Across the Lifespan can be transferred in if prior Advanced Health Assessment course was across the lifespan.)
• Ability to perform Technical Standards for Registered Nurses

Application/Admissions Process

Post Master's DNP: (See below for the Psychiatric Mental Health DNP requirements)

Applicants are required to submit the following:

• Online application available at www.cuw.edu/apply
• Professional resume or curriculum vitae describing nursing experience and education and the applicant's progression in advanced practice or leadership positions.   
• Admission essay explaining reasons for enrolling in the DNP program at Concordia. Address future professional goals upon the completion of the coming degree.
• Current certification as an advanced practice nurse (nurse practitioner, clinical nurse specialist, nurse midwife or registered nurse anesthetist)
• Two recommendations from professional colleagues familiar with advanced practice nursing or leadership competence. References should address the applicant's potential for success in the DNP Program.
• All official transcripts that led to undergraduate and graduate degrees.
• Documentation of the number of faculty-supervised clinical hours completed in the MSN program.
• Brief video introduction recorded and submitted through your Future Falcon application
• Provide a copy of their government-issued identification
• Admission interview (may be conducted by phone or via Zoom).

Note: The program may allow up to 6 transfer credits, with approval by the program director.

The priority deadline is July 1st for the cohort beginning in August.

Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner DNP: 

Applicants are required to submit the following:

• Online application available at www.cuw.edu/apply
• All official college transcripts leading to the nurse practitioner degree
• A formal essay addressing the following topics:
  • Your rationale for choosing a career as a Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner
  • Your personal compatibility with the CUW mission
  • Your plans for academic success in the program, including time management, stress management, and professional communication
  • Address any previous academic issues
  • Upon completion of your degree, where do you envision yourself practicing and with what populations
• Professional resume
• Current unencumbered RN license
• Current certification as an advanced nurse practitioner with prescriptive authority
• Two recommendations: Must be professional and/or academic and one must be from an individual who has worked with the applicant in a professional capacity and has a minimum of a Master's Degree
• Brief video introduction recorded and submitted through your Future Falcon application
• Provide a copy of their government-issued identification
• GRE exams are not required.

The deadline for fall admission is July 1.

In addition to the graduate admission requirements, there may be a pre-admission telephone interview.

The admission committee will review applications and a formal letter/email of acceptance or denial will be sent to the student.

Scroll down to see plans for the following programs: 

• Doctor of Nursing Practice
• Psychiatric Mental Health DNP

Doctor of Nursing Practice Plan

Plan of Study Grid

Semester 1		Hours
NURS 8003	Biostatistics & Epidemiology (8-week Session I)	4
NURS 9040	DNP Project I (8-week Session II)	4
	Hours	8
Semester 2
NURS 8015	Advanced Evidence-Based Practice (8-week Session I)	3
NURS 8010	Business Management for the Doctor of Nursing Practice (8-week Session II)	3
	Hours	6
Semester 3
NURS 8021	Healthcare Informatics (8-week Session II)	3
	Hours	3
Semester 4
BUS 5610	Managerial Communication (8-week Session I)	3
BUS 5100	Ethical Leadership for Dynamic Organizations (8-week Session II)	3
	Hours	6
Semester 5
BUS 5840	Economics and Public Policy of Health Care (8-week Session I)	3
NURS 9041	DNP Project II (8-week Session II)	4
	Hours	7
	Total Hours	30

Psychiatric Mental Health DNP Plan

Plan of Study Grid

Semester 1		Hours
NURS 8003	Biostatistics & Epidemiology (8-week Session I)	4
NURS 9040	DNP Project I (8-week Session II)	4
NURS 6500	Neuropathophysiology & Psychopharmacology for Advanced Nursing	3
	Hours	11
Semester 2
NURS 8015	Advanced Evidence-Based Practice (8-week Session I)	3
NURS 8010	Business Management for the Doctor of Nursing Practice (8-week Session II)	3
NURS 6038	Advanced Health Assessment Across the Lifespan (8-week Session II)	3
	Hours	9
Semester 3
NURS 8021	Healthcare Informatics (8-week Session II)	3
	Hours	3
Semester 4
NURS 6510	Psychiatric Mental Health Theory I	3
NURS 7510	Psychiatric Mental Health Practicum I	2
	Hours	5
Semester 5
NURS 6515	Psychiatric Mental Health Theory II	3
NURS 7515	Psychiatric Mental Health Practicum II	2
	Hours	5
Semester 6
NURS 6520	Psychiatric Mental Health Theory III	3
NURS 7520	Psychiatric Mental Health Practicum III	2
	Hours	5
Semester 7
BUS 5610	Managerial Communication (8-week Session I)	3
BUS 5100	Ethical Leadership for Dynamic Organizations (8-week Session II)	3
	Hours	6
Semester 8
BUS 5840	Economics and Public Policy of Health Care (8-week Session I)	3
NURS 9041	DNP Project II (8-week Session II)	4
	Hours	7
	Total Hours	51

Course options and schedule are subject to change.

* NURS 6038 Advanced Health Assessment Across the Lifespan can be transferred in if prior Advanced Health Assessment course was across the lifespan.