Nursing | Doctor of Nursing Practice (MSN to DNP)
Fort Hays State University Department of Nursing offers a plan of study for those students who have graduated from an accredited school with a Master's of Science in Nursing degree in an Advanced Practice role as a Nurse Practitioner, Nurse Anesthetist, and Nurse Midwife.. The MSN-DNP Pathway is an online program requiring one day on campus.
Program Overview
Students seeking to register in the MSN-DNP Pathway will take a total of 30 credit hours. Graduate statistics is required and offered at FHSU if this requirement is needed. Students may be exempted from this requirement if a Graduate Statistics was previously taken as part of a MSN program. Project hours listed are the minimum for graduation in the MSN-DNP Pathway. Additional hours may be added dependent upon precepted hours at the master's level.
Students progress through the MSN-DNP Pathway in cohorts. All cohorts begin in the summer. Please visit the Degree Map tab for additional information about the Plan of Study. The Plan of Study is the same for all students in a cohort and cannot be changed.
Graduate School Graduation Requirements
All Graduate degrees1 require:
- Maintain a C or higher in all coursework.
- Maintain a cumulative GPA of 3.0 or higher. (Refer to program)
- A minimum of 30-75 hours of Graduate course work. (Refer to program)
- Comprehensive Examination or equivalent assessment is required. (Master of Liberal Studies requires a Comprehensive Examination and Concentration Exam)
- Degree completion within 8 years.
- 1
Refer to degree program for any additional requirements.
| First Year | ||
|---|---|---|
| Summer | Hours | |
| NURS 872 | Informatics in Healthcare Systems | 3 |
| NURS 952 | Foundations for the Doctoral Leader | 3 |
| Hours | 6 | |
| Fall | ||
| NURS 808 | Advanced Statistics (if applicable) 1 | 0-3 |
| NURS 953 | Evidence Based Practice and Scholarly Tools | 3 |
| NURS 954 | Advanced Nursing Leadership | 3 |
| Hours | 6-9 | |
| Spring | ||
| NURS 956 | DNP Quality Improvement Methods | 3 |
| NURS 957 | DNP Project I | 3 |
| Hours | 6 | |
| Second Year | ||
| Summer | ||
| NURS 914 | Healthcare Finance & Policy for the APRN | 3 |
| Hours | 3 | |
| Fall | ||
| NURS 945 | Population Health | 3 |
| NURS 958 | DNP Project II | 3 |
| Hours | 6 | |
| Spring | ||
| NURS 959 | DNP Project III | 3 |
| Hours | 3 | |
| Total Hours | 30-33 | |
- 1
Graduate statistics is required, but students may be exempt from this requirement if a Graduate Statistics course was previously taken as part of an MSN program. Students needing Graduate statistics must take within the first two semesters.
Academic Degree Maps are term-by-term sample course plans that specify milestones, courses, and special requirements that are necessary for facilitating on-time completion. Degree Maps are examples and are not prescriptive. Individualized choices such as concentration options, transfer credits, optional minors, advisory programs (certificates), etc. can alter the recommended coursework. Course offerings are subject to change. Students should consult with their academic advisors for additional guidance on course planning.
To determine courses to take in the directed choices (often listed as Program Elective Course) and directed elective course blocks see the overview tab for courses. To locate approved courses in General Education areas (Undergraduate Programs) see the general education section of the catalog.
The undergraduate course maps typically advise the most efficient route for students to complete the general education requirements. Courses that are required in the major may be listed as fulfilling relevant general education requirements. This will result in more open elective course hours in some maps than is listed on the degree overview page.