Doctor of Nursing Practice Degree
All post-master's Doctor of Nursing Practice degree courses will be offered online beginning in Fall 2007.
This Web-based program is for those who hold a clinical master’s degree in nursing and wish to obtain a DNP in their original specialty area of practice.
The University of Florida is at the forefront of the changing paradigm of nursing education, with its pioneering of the Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) programs. The College of Nursing implemented its postmaster’s DNP program in Fall 2006. The American Association of Colleges of Nursing has instituted a cutoff date of 2015 for the DNP being the entry level to practice for advanced practice nursing.
Due to the growing complexity of health care, the growth of scientific knowledge, and the increasing sophistication of technology, master's degree programs in nursing now have credit hours far beyond those in other fields.
To prepare advanced practice nurses with the knowledge, skills and abilities needed in today's complex health care environment, and to provide advanced practice nurses with educational backgrounds comparable to health care practitioners in other fields, practice-focused doctoral (DNP) programs, are being developed across the country.
The University of Florida will begin to transition advanced practice master’s level programs to the practice doctorate level over the next several years.
For information on the national DNP pilot program, visit the American Association of Colleges of Nursing Web site at http://www.aacn.nche.edu/DNP/index.htm
Important Facts:
- The Post-master’s DNP curriculum is 48 credits.
- The postbaccalaureate DNP program at UF is projected to be 93 credits that can be completed in 8 semesters of full-time study or 14 semesters of part-time study. More information coming soon on the postbaccalaureate DNP.
Sample part-time curriculum plan.