FREQUENTLY ASKED
QUESTIONS
DOCTOR OF NURSING
PRACTICE (DNP)
ABOUT THE RUTGERS SCHOOL
OF NURSING–CAMDEN
The Rutgers School of Nursing–Camden, an emerging
leader in health education and research in southern
New Jersey, offers dynamic curricula that prepares
students to address complex and diverse health care
needs of patients. Through an integration of nursing
knowledge and clinical practice, the Rutgers School of
Nursing–Camden offers baccalaureate programs for
traditional students, registered nurse students, and
second-degree students; a doctor of nursing practice
program; and certification in school nursing and wound
ostomy continence nursing.
What is the DNP?
The DNP builds on traditional master’s degree programs
by providing education in evidence-based practice, quality
improvement, and systems leadership, among other key areas.
The DNP is designed for nurses seeking a terminal degree in
nursing practice and offers an alternative to research-focused
doctoral programs. DNP-prepared nurses are well-equipped to fully
implement the science developed by nurse researchers prepared in
PhD, DNSc, and other research-focused nursing doctorates.
Taught by expert nursing faculty who are specialists
in a variety of clinical areas, students learn to promote
optimal health and well-being in individuals, families,
and communities. These nursing professionals
encourage students to be creative, think critically,
and work with other professionals in the resolution
of complex clinical problems in a variety of settings.
Why the DNP?
The changing demands of the nation’s complex health care
environment require the highest level of scientific knowledge and
practice expertise to assure quality patient outcomes. The Institute
of Medicine, Joint Commission, Robert Wood Johnson Foundation,
and other authorizers have called for reconceptualizing education
programs that prepare today’s health professionals. Some of the
many factors building momentum for change in nursing education
at the graduate level include:
In 2014, the Rutgers School of Nursing–Camden was
unified with the legacy University of Medicine and
Dentistry of New Jersey’s Stratford campus nursing
program, fortifying Rutgers’ ability to focus on the
needs of southern New Jersey. This focus on in-demand
regional initiatives provides the Rutgers School
of Nursing–Camden with a strong base upon which
to gain a national and international reputation
for excellence.
RUTGERS SCHOOL OF NURSING–CAMDEN
School of Nursing–Camden
Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey
311 North Fifth Street
Camden, NJ 08102-1405
856-225-6226
gradsnc@camden.rutgers.edu
nursing.camden.rutgers.edu
DOCTOR
OF NURSING
PRACTICE
PROGRAM
DNP
•
the rapid expansion of knowledge underlying practice;
•
increased complexity of patient care;
•
national concerns about the quality of care and
patient safety;
•
shortages of nursing personnel which demand a higher level
of preparation for leaders who can design and assess care;
•
shortages of doctorally prepared nursing faculty; and
•
increasing educational expectations for the preparation of
other members of the health care team.
In a 2005 report “Advancing the Nation’s Health Needs: NIH
Research Training Programs,” the National Academy of Sciences
called for nursing to develop a nonresearch clinical doctorate to
prepare expert practitioners who can also serve as clinical faculty.
Nursing is moving in the direction of other health professions in the
transition to the DNP. Medicine (MD), dentistry (DDS), pharmacy
(PharmD), psychology (PsyD), physical therapy (DPT), and
audiology (AudD) all offer practice doctorates.
DOCTOR OF NURSING PRACTICE (DNP) PROGRAM
Mission of the Rutgers School
of Nursing–Camden
The mission of the Rutgers School of Nursing–Camden
is to prepare professional nurses who are critical
thinkers, and knowledgeable and competent providers
of health promotion, disease prevention, and care of
sick and dying patients across the life span in this
region, nationally, and globally. DNP graduates will be
prepared to become executive leaders in health care
organizations, develop and provide evidence-based
nursing care that will benefit the adult and older
adult populations, and advance the science of nursing
practice. The School of Nursing–Camden is accredited
by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education
and approved by the New Jersey Board of Nursing.
DNP Program Learning Objectives
Program Format
Admission Requirements
•
The format of the program is hybrid, which means that
course delivery incorporates a variety of innovative
teaching/learning strategies such as a combination of inclass and online learning environments; global learning
whereby students can interact with international students
via the internet; and scheduling courses in a compressed
time period (e.g., over several weekends) to meet the needs
of adult learners.
All applicants must submit an online application, two
letters of recommendation, and an essay. An interview
is required of all finalists. A minimum cumulative gradepoint average of B+ is required of all applicants. In addition,
applicants to the RN and post-baccalaureate tracks must
hold current New Jersey licensure as a registered professional
nurse, and applicants to the post-baccalaureate track must
hold a bachelor’s degree in nursing from an accredited
nursing program.
•
Translate research in nursing and health care into
clinical practice focused on adult, gerontological,
and family populations.
•
Lead quality improvement and safety initiatives
in individual and community health for adult,
gerontological, and family populations.
•
The DNP program provides advanced nursing
education that:
•
Responds to recommendations by the Institute
of Medicine to double the nation’s doctorally
prepared nursing workforce by 2020.
•
Prepares nurses to practice to the full extent of
their education and training.
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
Provides for the seamless academic transition of
nurses from the baccalaureate degree to the DNP.
Prepares nurses for certification, licensure, and
practice as DNPs with a clinical focus in care
of adult and gerontological clients as well as
family clients.
Provides nurses with the skills needed to translate
research into clinical practice.
Fosters the design, examination, implementation,
evaluation, and dissemination of best practice
models of nursing care for adult, gerontological,
and family populations.
Demonstrate advanced levels of clinical judgment with
adult, gerontological, and family populations based on
integrated knowledge of the basic sciences, nursing
science, ethics, law, psychosocial theory, cultural
knowledge, and communication skills.
Collaborate with intraprofessional and interprofessional
groups in community settings to address major
community health challenges of adult, gerontological,
and family populations.
Coursework can be completed on a full- or part-time basis.
Early-Entry Track Admission Requirements
Required Courses
Core courses in the DNP program include:
•
Epidemiology and Biostatistics
•
Interdisciplinary Ethics for Advanced Practice
•
Foundations of Nursing Science for Advanced Practice
•
Health Information Systems and Technology
•
Building Evidence for Health Promotion, Prevention,
and Practice
•
National and Global Health Policy
•
Financial Management in Health Care
•
Leading Interprofessional Teams in Health Care
Organizations
Graduation Requirements
•
Advanced Health/Physical Assessment
Graduation requirements for all tracks include:
•
Advanced Physiology/Pathophysiology
•
Advanced Pharmacology
•
Best Educational Practices
Completion of a minimum of 1,000 graduate clinical
residency hours.
•
Advanced Practice Role
Early-entry students require 124 credits to obtain the
baccalaureate degree and an additional 57 credits to
graduate from the DNP program. Three graduate nursing
courses are taken in lieu of corresponding undergraduate
nursing courses during the sophomore, junior, and senior
years in the baccalaureate program. Students graduate with
a baccalaureate degree in nursing after four years of study
and must pass the NCLEX-RN exam to obtain licensure
as a registered nurse before continuing with DNP courses.
The length of the entire program for full-time students in
this cohort is six years, including four summer sessions,
a minimum of 1,000 graduate clinical residency hours,
and completion of an evidence-based clinical project that
culminates with a scholarly presentation, and the production
of a scholarly paper that is suitable for publication.
•
Adult Gerontological Primary Care
RN Track Admission Requirements
Adult Gerontological Complex Care
•
•
•
•
•
Participate in leadership and management roles
that include the development of standards of care
and health policy for adult, gerontological, and
family populations.
Practice in the context of evolving health information
systems and technology.
Teach and mentor students studying health care for
adult, gerontological, and family populations.
Completion of a total of 66 graduate credits in the
post baccalaureate portion of the DNP program.
Increases the number of advanced practice nurses
with the theoretical and clinical foundation to
deliver primary care to adult, gerontological, and
family clients in community-based settings.
•
Completion of an evidence-based clinical project.
•
•
Scholarly presentation of the evidence-based
clinical project.
Required clinical residency courses include:
Increases the number of advanced practice nurses
with expertise in clinical nursing specialties that
serve adult, gerontological, and family populations
(e.g., end of life, palliative care, oncology, chronic
illness, wound care, women’s health, mental
health, frail elderly).
•
Promulgates the university’s statements of vision,
mission, goals, and commitment to excellence.
Students who are enrolled in Rutgers’ baccalaureate nursing
program can apply for admission to the DNP program after
completing the spring semester of their junior year. Eligible
applicants will be selected for admission based on the
quality of their essay, interview, and recommendations. Once
enrolled in the DNP program, early-entry students will begin
substituting selected undergraduate nursing courses in the
baccalaureate curriculum with required graduate nursing
courses in the DNP curriculum as outlined in the DNP
curriculum plan.
Scholarly paper reporting results of the evidence-based
clinical project that is suitable for publication.
Students in the early-entry and RN tracks must also
complete a total of 124 credits to receive the baccalaureate
degree (including 12 graduate credits) prior to beginning
the post-baccalaureate portion of the DNP program.
Students in the post-baccalaureate track must complete
three prerequisite graduate nursing courses (12 graduate
credits) prior to beginning the post-baccalaureate portion
of the DNP program. Transfer credit can be obtained for the
three prerequisite courses (nine graduate credits) required of
post-baccalaureate students if equivalent courses have been
successfully completed elsewhere.
•
Adult-Gerontology Primary Care Residency I or
Family Health Primary Care Residency I
•
Adult-Gerontology Complex Care Residency II or
Family Health Complex Care Residency II
•
Specialty Seminar and Residency III and IV or
Pediatrics and Women’s Health for Family
•
Scholarly Seminar I, II, and III
In addition, 33 undergraduate credits are automatically
awarded for previous nursing courses and passing the
NCLEX-RN exam. Thirty of the 124 credits required for
the baccalaureate degree must be earned at Rutgers
University–Camden.
For students in the RN cohort of the DNP program, 12 of
these 30 credits are taken in the form of three graduate-level
DNP courses and applied toward both the baccalaureate
and DNP degrees. After completing requirements for the
baccalaureate degree, the length of the DNP program
for full-time students in the RN cohort is two years (57
credits), including four summer sessions, a minimum of
1,000 graduate clinical residency hours, and completion of
an evidence-based clinical project that culminates with a
scholarly presentation, and the production of a scholarly paper
that is suitable for publication.
Post-Baccalaureate Track Admission Requirements
Graduates of accredited baccalaureate nursing programs
can apply for admission to the DNP program at any point
following registered nurse licensure. Once enrolled in the
DNP program, post-baccalaureate students must complete
three prerequisite graduate nursing courses (nine credits);
of these, transfer credit can be obtained for three courses
(nine credits) if equivalent courses have been successfully
completed. Following completion of prerequisite courses,
students in the post-baccalaureate cohort will complete 57
graduate credits toward the DNP degree over two years of
full-time study, including four summer sessions, a minimum
of 1,000 graduate clinical residency hours, and completion
of an evidence-based clinical project that culminates with
a scholarly presentation and the production of a scholarly
paper that is suitable for publication.
Post-Master’s DNP Admission Requirements
Graduates of an accredited MS/MSN program who are
certified as advance practice nurses can apply for admission
to the DNP program. Students take a total of 35 hours post
master’s study. The program does require completion of a
capstone project and 500 clinical hours.
Students who are enrolled in Rutgers’ RN-to-BS program can
apply for admission to the DNP program after successful
completion of three undergraduate courses at Rutgers
University–Camden. Eligible applicants will be selected for
admission based on the quality of their essay, interview, and
recommendations. Following notification of admission and
enrollment in the DNP program, students in the RN cohort
will begin substituting selected undergraduate nursing
courses in the baccalaureate curriculum with required
graduate nursing courses in the DNP curriculum as outlined
in the DNP curriculum plan. RN students can transfer up to
60 undergraduate credits earned through completion of an
associate’s degree in nursing or hospital school diploma in
nursing toward the baccalaureate degree.
More information about the DNP program:
nursing.camden.rutgers.edu/academics/dnp
FREQUENTLY ASKED
QUESTIONS
DOCTOR OF NURSING
PRACTICE (DNP)
ABOUT THE RUTGERS SCHOOL
OF NURSING–CAMDEN
The Rutgers School of Nursing–Camden, an emerging
leader in health education and research in southern
New Jersey, offers dynamic curricula that prepares
students to address complex and diverse health care
needs of patients. Through an integration of nursing
knowledge and clinical practice, the Rutgers School of
Nursing–Camden offers baccalaureate programs for
traditional students, registered nurse students, and
second-degree students; a doctor of nursing practice
program; and certification in school nursing and wound
ostomy continence nursing.
What is the DNP?
The DNP builds on traditional master’s degree programs
by providing education in evidence-based practice, quality
improvement, and systems leadership, among other key areas.
The DNP is designed for nurses seeking a terminal degree in
nursing practice and offers an alternative to research-focused
doctoral programs. DNP-prepared nurses are well-equipped to fully
implement the science developed by nurse researchers prepared in
PhD, DNSc, and other research-focused nursing doctorates.
Taught by expert nursing faculty who are specialists
in a variety of clinical areas, students learn to promote
optimal health and well-being in individuals, families,
and communities. These nursing professionals
encourage students to be creative, think critically,
and work with other professionals in the resolution
of complex clinical problems in a variety of settings.
Why the DNP?
The changing demands of the nation’s complex health care
environment require the highest level of scientific knowledge and
practice expertise to assure quality patient outcomes. The Institute
of Medicine, Joint Commission, Robert Wood Johnson Foundation,
and other authorizers have called for reconceptualizing education
programs that prepare today’s health professionals. Some of the
many factors building momentum for change in nursing education
at the graduate level include:
In 2014, the Rutgers School of Nursing–Camden was
unified with the legacy University of Medicine and
Dentistry of New Jersey’s Stratford campus nursing
program, fortifying Rutgers’ ability to focus on the
needs of southern New Jersey. This focus on in-demand
regional initiatives provides the Rutgers School
of Nursing–Camden with a strong base upon which
to gain a national and international reputation
for excellence.
RUTGERS SCHOOL OF NURSING–CAMDEN
School of Nursing–Camden
Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey
311 North Fifth Street
Camden, NJ 08102-1405
856-225-6226
gradsnc@camden.rutgers.edu
nursing.camden.rutgers.edu
DOCTOR
OF NURSING
PRACTICE
PROGRAM
DNP
•
the rapid expansion of knowledge underlying practice;
•
increased complexity of patient care;
•
national concerns about the quality of care and
patient safety;
•
shortages of nursing personnel which demand a higher level
of preparation for leaders who can design and assess care;
•
shortages of doctorally prepared nursing faculty; and
•
increasing educational expectations for the preparation of
other members of the health care team.
In a 2005 report “Advancing the Nation’s Health Needs: NIH
Research Training Programs,” the National Academy of Sciences
called for nursing to develop a nonresearch clinical doctorate to
prepare expert practitioners who can also serve as clinical faculty.
Nursing is moving in the direction of other health professions in the
transition to the DNP. Medicine (MD), dentistry (DDS), pharmacy
(PharmD), psychology (PsyD), physical therapy (DPT), and
audiology (AudD) all offer practice doctorates.