Academic Catalog

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.

Plan of Study Grid
First Year
SummerHours
NURS 872 Informatics in Healthcare Systems 3
NURS 952 Foundations for the Doctoral Leader 3
 Hours6
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
 Hours6-9
Spring
NURS 956 DNP Quality Improvement Methods 3
NURS 957 DNP Project I 3
 Hours6
Second Year
Summer
NURS 914 Healthcare Finance & Policy for the APRN 3
 Hours3
Fall
NURS 945 Population Health 3
NURS 958 DNP Project II 3
 Hours6
Spring
NURS 959 DNP Project III 3
 Hours3
 Total Hours30-33
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 course plans that specify milestones, courses, and special requirements that are necessary for facilitating on-time completion. Degree Maps are based on anticipated offerings and are subject to change. Students should consult with their academic advisors for additional guidance on course and program planning.

The Doctor of Nursing Practice program at Fort Hays State University is accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education, 655 K Street, NW, Suite 750, Washington, DC 20001, (202) 887-6791.