Doctor of Nursing Practice in the role of Adult Gerontology Primary Care Nurse Practitioner
BSN-DNP Program
The online BSN-DNP Geriatrics specialty program will prepare the baccalaureate nurse to
become clinical exemplars, clinical scholars, and innovative nurse leaders noted for achieving
outstanding patient care outcomes, shaping health management systems, and influencing
global health policy. This BSN-DNP graduate, empowered with advanced nursing competencies
and advanced evidence based practice knowledge, will make significant contributions toward
the improvement of health care quality.
The program is a 72 credit hour program and is 9 semester/ 3 year program in length. Courses
are completed online and clinical/residency hours are to be completed in the student’s region
with an approved preceptor/mentor. Course content is based on the DNP Essentials.
The BSN-DNP program will prepare practice scholars to meet the following outcomes:
1. Utilize epidemiologic, scientific findings from nursing and other clinical disciplines, as
well as organizational, political, and economic sciences, to develop practice initiatives
that will improve the quality of care delivery.
2. Assume organizational and system leadership in the analysis, delivery, and management
of nursing care.
3. Provide organizational and systems leadership to develop care delivery models that are
fiscally responsible and demonstrate sensitivity to diverse organizational cultures.
4. Engage in clinical scholarship to evaluate the effectiveness of evidence-based efforts in
the planning and practice of health care program delivery to individuals and
communities.
5. Utilize theories, concepts, and analytic methodologies to design, implement, and
evaluate practice by applying evidence to transform nursing systems.
6. Collaborate with healthcare professionals, consumers, and other stakeholders to
influence health policy and health promotion/disease prevention endeavors at the local,
state, federal, and/or international levels that improve patient and population health
outcomes.
7. Implement the highest level of advanced nursing care to produce high quality, costeffective outcomes for diverse populations.
8. Contribute to the knowledge of best-practices nursing interventions and dissemination
of outcomes through professional writing and presentations.
9. Develop practice standards based on the integration of ethics and evidence-based
nursing care.
Admission Criteria for Applicants with a BSN
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Earned BSN from an accredited NLN or CCNE School of Nursing
GPA 3.0 or above on a 4.0 scale
Resume or CV
Unencumbered, active registered nurse (RN) license in state where practicums will be
conducted
Undergraduate statistics course
Transcripts from all post-secondary institutions
Three letters of reference pertaining to academic ability, professional competency,
nursing leadership potential and personal character
Personal statement
*GRE scores are not required
Graduates of the BSN-DNP program (Adult Gerontology Primary Care Nurse Practitioner) will be
eligible to sit for the national certification examinations in geriatric content through American
Association of Nurse Practitioners (AANP) and the American Credentialing Nurses Center
(ANCC).
National Nursing Accrediting Boards
The KSU’s School of nursing is currently accredited by the Accreditation Commission for
Education in Nursing (ACEN). The School of Nursing has received initial approval for program
implementation from the Kentucky Board of Nursing and will seek approval from the ACEN.