Nursing Practice (DNP) - MSN to DNP for Advanced Practice Nursing Roles
Degree Requirements
Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP)
MSN to DNP for Advanced Practice Nursing Roles Pathway
DNP Core Courses
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| NU 607 | Scientif Underpinnings Adv Nsg | 3 |
| NU 608 | EBP & Quality Improvement HCS | 3 |
| NU 610 | Healthcare Policy & Finance | 3 |
| NU 611 | Translat Evidence Practice Sys | 3 |
| NU 612 | Clinical Prev Population Hlth | 3 |
| NU 613 | Organizational & Sys Leadrshp | 3 |
| NU 615 | Qual Improv & Outcomes Assmnt | 3 |
| NU 616 | Data & Dec Mkng Healthcare Sys | 3 |
| Total Hours | 24 | |
DNP Residency Courses
Select the DNP courses that match the MSN or Post-Graduate Concentration already completed:
Adult-Gerontological Acute Care Nurse Practitioner
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| AHN 604 | Adult-Geron Acute Care NP PP&D | 3 |
| AHN 617 | AG ACNP Residency I | 3 |
| AHN 618 | AG ACNP Residency II | 3 |
| AHN 619 | AG ACNP Residency III | 3 |
| Total Hours | 12 | |
Adult-Gerontological Primary Care Nurse Practitioner
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| AHN 693 | Adult-Geron Primary NP PP&D | 3 |
| AHN 694 | Adult-Gero Primary Cr NP Res I | 3 |
| AHN 695 | Adlt-Gero Primary Cr NP Res II | 3 |
| AHN 696 | Adlt-Gero Prim Care NP Res III | 3 |
| Total Hours | 12 | |
Adult-Gerontological Clinical Nurse Specialist
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| AHN 634 | Adult-Geron CNS PP&D | 3 |
| AHN 635 | Adult-Geron CNS Residency I | 3 |
| AHN 636 | Adult-Geron CNS Residency II | 3 |
| AHN 637 | Adult-Geron CNS Residency III | 3 |
| Total Hours | 12 | |
Dual Role (Family NP/Adult-Gerontological Acute Care NP) Option: A) Family NP
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| AHN 680 | Family NP (DR) PP&D | 3 |
| AHN 681 | Family NP (DR) Residency I | 3 |
| AHN 682 | FNP (DR) Residency II | 3 |
| AHN 683 | FNP (DR) Residency III | 3 |
| Total Hours | 12 | |
Dual Role (Family NP/Adult-Gerontological Acute Care NP) Option B.) Adult-Gerontological Acute Care NP
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| AHN 670 | AG-ACNP(DR) PP&D | 3 |
| AHN 671 | AG/ACNP (DR) Residency I | 3 |
| AHN 672 | AG-ACNP (DR) Residency II | 3 |
| AHN 673 | AG-ACNP(DR) Residency III | 3 |
| Total Hours | 12 | |
Dual Role (Family NP/Emergency NP)
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| NU 680 | Family/Emergency NP PP&D | 3 |
| NU 681 | Family/Emerg NP Residency I | 3 |
| NU 682 | Family/Emerg NP Residency II | 3 |
| NU 683 | Family/Emerg NP Residency III | 3 |
| Total Hours | 12 | |
Executive Nursing Administration
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| NU 661 | Executive Nsg Admin PP&D | 3 |
| NU 662 | Nurse Exec Admin Res I | 3-6 |
| NU 663 | Nurse Exec Admin Res II | 3-6 |
| NU 664 | Nurse Exec Admin Res III | 3-6 |
| Total Hours | 12-21 | |
Family Nurse Practitioner
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| CMN 680 | Family NP PP&D | 3 |
| CMN 681 | Family NP Residency I | 3 |
| CMN 682 | Family NP Residency II | 3 |
| CMN 683 | Family NP Residency III | 3 |
| Total Hours | 12 | |
Neonatal Nurse Practitioner
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| MCN 674 | Neonatal NP PP&D | 3 |
| MCN 675 | NNP Residency I | 3 |
| MCN 676 | NNP Residency II | 3 |
| MCN 677 | NNP Residency III | 3 |
| Total Hours | 12 | |
Nursing Informatics
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| NU 656 | Nursing Informatics PP&D | 3 |
| NU 657 | Nursing Informatic Residency I | 3-6 |
| NU 658 | NU Informatics Residency II | 3-6 |
| NU 659 | NU Informatics Residency III | 3-6 |
| Total Hours | 12-21 | |
Pediatric Acute Care Nurse Practitioner
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| MCN 604 | Pediatric Acute Care NP PP&D | 3 |
| MCN 617 | Pediatric Acute Care NP Res I | 3 |
| MCN 618 | Pediatric Acute Care NP Res II | 3 |
| MCN 619 | Pediatric Acute Cre NP Res III | 3 |
| Total Hours | 12 | |
Pediatric Primary Care Nurse Practitioner
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| MCN 654 | Pediatric Primary Care NP PP&D | 3 |
| MCN 655 | Ped Prim Care NP Residency I | 3 |
| MCN 656 | Ped Primary Care NP Res II | 3 |
| MCN 657 | Ped Primary Care NP Res III | 3 |
| Total Hours | 12 | |
Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| CMN 604 | PMHNP PP&D | 3 |
| CMN 617 | PMHNP Residency I | 3 |
| CMN 618 | PMHNP Residency II | 3 |
| CMN 619 | PMHNP Residency III | 3 |
| Total Hours | 12 | |
Women's Health Nurse Practitioner
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| MCN 644 | Women's Health NP PP&D | 3 |
| MCN 645 | Women's Health NP Residency I | 3 |
| MCN 646 | Women's Health NP Residency II | 3 |
| MCN 647 | Women's Health NP Res III | 3 |
| Total Hours | 12 | |
Subspecialties
Students can earn a Post-Graduate Certificate Subspecialty when adding the requirements for any of the following subspecialties to their degree program curriculum.
Addictions Nursing
May be added to any concentration.
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| HSC 580 | OUD/SUD Prevention/Screening | 2 |
| HSC 581 | OUD/SUD Assessment/Treatment | 2 |
| HSC 582 | OUD/SUD Recovery/Sys Practice | 2 |
| NU 510 | Addictions Practicum I | 1 |
| NU 511 | Addictions Practicum II | 2 |
| NU 512 | Addictions Practicum III | 2 |
| NU 513 | Addictions Practicum IV (Elective) | 4 |
| Total Hours | 15 | |
Advanced Forensic Nursing
May be added to any concentration.
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| NU 500 | Explore Culture Sexual Assault | 2 |
| NU 503 | Trauma Care Sexual Assault Vic | 2 |
| NU 504 | Adv Pharm Care Post Assault | 2 |
| NU 505 | Sup Care Comorbid Post Assault | 2 |
| Total Hours | 8 | |
Cardiovascular
May be added to Adult-Gerontological Acute Care NP, Adult-Gerontological Primary Care NP, Dual Role Family NP/Adult-Gerontological Acute Care NP, Dual Role Family/Emergency ENP, Family NP, and Post Graduate Emergency NP. Students in other specialty tracks may be reviewed based on nursing experience. Students with a strong background in cardiovascular and/or acute care nursing are encouraged to apply.
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| HSC 520 | Foundations of Cardiovascular Care for Advanced Practice | 2 |
| HSC 521 | Advanced Cardiovascular Concepts I | 2 |
| HSC 522 | Advanced Cardiovascular Concepts II | 2 |
| HSC 523 | Advanced Cardiovascular Concepts III | 2 |
| Total Hours | 8 | |
Clinical Lipidology
May be added to Adult-Gerontological Primary Care NP, Adult-Gerontological Acute NP, Adult-Gerontological CNS, Family NP, Dual Role (Family NP/Adult-Gerontological Acute NP), Dual Role (Family NP/Emergency NP), Women's Health NP, and Post-Graduate Certificate Emergency NP.
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| HSC 595 | Evidence Basd Lipid Practice | 2 |
| HSC 596 | Adv Vascular Biology | 2 |
| HSC 597 | Adv Pharm Complex Dyslipidemia | 2 |
| HSC 598 | Diag/Mgt C-plex Dyslipidemia | 2 |
| Total Hours | 8 | |
Nurse Educator
May be added to any concentration.
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| NU 620 | Prin Teach/Learn/Assess Nu Ed | 3 |
| NU 621 | Curr Design/Outcome Eval Nu Ed | 3 |
| NU 622 | Current Topics in Nu Education | 2 |
| NU 623 | Nsg Educ Synthesis Practicum | 3 |
| Total Hours | 11 | |
Palliative Care
May be added to any concentration.
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| AHN 530 | Found Palliative Care/Adv Role | 2 |
| AHN 531 | Adv Palliative Cr/End of Life | 2 |
| AHN 532 | Adv Chronic Illness Care | 2 |
| AHN 533 | Adv Palliative Care Practicum | 3 |
| Total Hours | 9 | |
Social Determinants of Health and Health Disparities
May be added to any concentration.
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| HSC 501 | Foundations of Social Determinants of Health and Health Disparities | 2 |
| HSC 502 | Social Determinants of Health and Health Disparities in Population Health | 2 |
| HSC 503 | Current Issues and Trends in Social Determinants of Health and Health Disparities | 2 |
| HSC 504 | Leadership and Change Management Advancing Social Determinants of Health and Health Disparities | 2 |
| Total Hours | 8 | |
Trauma-Informed Integrated Behavioral Healthcare
May be added to any concentration.
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| HSC 510 | IPT for TI-IBH Primary Care | 1 |
| HSC 511 | IPT Telehealth Deliv TI-IBH | 1 |
| HSC 512 | TI-MI in IBH Seminar | 1 |
| NU 526 | Trauma-Informed Integrated Behavioral Healthcare Practicum I | 1 |
| NU 527 | Trauma-Informed Integrated Behavioral Healthcare Practicum II | 2 |
| NU 528 | Trauma-Informed Integrated Behavioral Healthcare Practicum III | 2 |
| Total Hours | 8 | |
Elective Courses
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| NU 509 | Bioethics Advan Practice Nsg | 1 |
| NU 597 | Intro to Scholarly Writing | 3 |
| HSC 573 | Resp Prescrib Common Used Drug | 1 |
Additional Information
Doctor of Nursing Practice Degree Program
The Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) is a professional degree and prepares graduates to provide the most advanced level of nursing care for individuals and communities. This includes the direct care of individual patients, management of care for individuals and populations, administration of health care and nursing systems, and the development and implementation of health policy. The program is designed to be in compliance with The Essentials of Doctoral Education for Advanced Nursing Practice as put forth by the American Association of Colleges of Nursing.
The College of Nursing has several pathways, specialization, and sub-specialization options within the DNP program. The pathways include the MSN to DNP for Advanced Nursing Practice roles, MSN to DNP adding a new advanced practice certification area, MSN to DNP Clinical Nurse Leader Bridge to Executive Nursing Administration, and the BSN to DNP.
Areas of Specialization
Several concentration areas are offered to meet the career goals of students. Available Nurse Practitioner options include Adult-Gerontological Acute Care Nursing, Adult-Gerontological Primary Care Nursing, Dual Role (Family Nursing/Adult-Gerontological Acute Care Nursing), Dual Role (Family Nursing/Emergency Nursing), Family Nursing, Psychiatric Mental Health Nursing, Neonatal Nursing, Pediatric Acute Care Nursing, Pediatric Primary Care Nursing, Women's Health Nursing. Clinical Nurse Specialist is available in Adult-Gerontological Nursing. Concentrations are also available for students pursuing careers in Executive Nursing Administration, Nursing Informatics, and Clinical Nurse Leader Bridge to DNP Executive Nursing Administration. Emergency Nursing is offered only as a post-graduate certificate. Sub-specializations are available in Addictions Nursing, Advanced Forensic Nursing Care, Cardiovascular, Clinical Lipidology, Nursing Education, Palliative Care, Social Determinants of Health and Health Disparities and Trauma-Informed Integrated Behavioral Healthcare Subspecialty.
Doctor of Nursing Practice Program Learning Outcomes
Upon completion of the Doctor of Nursing Practice program, graduates should be able to:
- Synthesize current and evolving knowledge from nursing science and related disciplines to inform and direct innovative nursing care at the highest level of practice
- Critically analyze systems-level nursing leadership in the provision of holistic, person-centered, and culturally inclusive nursing care of individuals, families, and communities
- Address the impact of social determinants of health on individuals, families, and communities within the healthcare delivery continuum through utilization of collaborative partnerships, while advocating for improved health outcomes across populations
- Advance nursing knowledge through the integration and dissemination of evidence-based practices to improve health outcomes and transform healthcare delivery systems
- Leverage improvement science to design strategies that achieve a culture of safety in a high-quality care environment
- Design, implement, and evaluate nurse-led partnerships that include individuals, families, communities, and stakeholders to transform care delivery and strengthen outcomes across systems and populations
- Design, implement, and evaluate innovative, evidence-based solutions that apply systems knowledge to optimize care delivery, improve cost-effectiveness, and advance outcomes across the continuum of complex healthcare systems
- Lead the strategic integration and use of informatics and healthcare technologies to generate knowledge, optimize care delivery, improve documentation and communication across systems, and advance health outcomes
- Lead with integrity and a strong professional nursing identity by modeling ethical practice, fostering participatory care, and ensuring accountability to individuals, community, and the profession within legal and regulatory frameworks
- Model advanced leadership, professional maturity, and a commitment to lifelong learning and personal well-being, fostering a spirit of inquiry and adaptability to drive transformative change in healthcare systems
MSN to DNP for Advanced Nursing Roles Pathway
The DNP curriculum consists of 36 Credit hours for the student holding a Master of Science in Nursing degree with preparation in an area of advanced practice nursing. Students who graduated with an MSN from the University of South Alabama College of Nursing and completed the following courses NU 607, NU 608, NU 610, and NU 613 during the MSN coursework may complete the DNP program with an additional 24 Credit hours if the previous coursework is within the seven year limit. The MSN to DNP program can be completed in four semesters of full-time study. Full-time study is defined as six or more credit hours per semester. Permission to take more than 12 Credit hours per semester must be obtained from the Associate Dean of Academic Affairs. Part-time study is also available.
The program must be completed in seven years of matriculation for the MSN to DNP for Advanced Practice Nursing Roles Pathway.
Course work for the MSN to DNP program is offered completely on-line. Students are not required to come to campus during the MSN to DNP program. Electives can be taken but are not required. The program does not require a thesis or dissertation; however, students are required to complete a major synthesis project that results in a quality improvement change and has a substantial effect on health care outcomes. Residency requirements for the synthesis project can be completed in the student's home region with an approved mentor.
Admission Criteria
To be considered for admission to the DNP program, the applicant must meet the following requirements:
- Citizen or Permanent Resident of the United States of America.
- Current registered nurse licensure with no restrictions. Nurses with any restrictions on their license, including participation in a voluntary disciplinary alternative program, cannot be admitted.
- Previous Nursing degree (BSN) must have been obtained from a nationally accredited institution. The nursing program must have been accredited by a nursing accrediting body recognized by the U.S. Secretary of Education and/or the Council for Higher Education Accreditation (CHEA) such as CCNE, ACEN, and NLN.
- Applicants to the MSN-DNP Pathways must have an overall graduate GPA no less than 3.0 as calculated by NursingCAS. A minimal grade point average of 3.0 on all MSN work (A=4.0) as calculated by NursingCAS.
- Applicants to the BSN-DNP pathways must have an overall undergraduate GPA no less than 3.0 as calculated by NursingCAS. A minimal grade point average of 3.0 on all BSN work (A=4.0) as calculated by NursingCAS.
- For graduates of universities using a Pass/Fail grade mode, a transcript with a degree awarded GPA must be provided.
- Students must be in good standing with all academic institutions/nursing programs that they have attended in order to be admitted to the DNP program.
- Prior to enrolling in nurse practitioner clinical course, students are required to have at least 2 years of experience in an area appropriate to the specialty track.
- Students are admitted to a specialty track and may not change their track without permission.
Contingency for Admission and Initial Registration
Admission and initial registration is contingent on completion of the following requirements:
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Acceptance Packet
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Negative Drug Screen
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Acceptable Background Check
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All Health Requirements as outlined in the Medical Documents Manager.
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Clinical Placement: Agency and Preceptor Agreements.
Notification of missing documents will be sent to your personal email account associated with your application. Only students who have successfully completed the Acceptance Packet in its entirety, have a negative drug screen and acceptable background check, and completed all required portions of the Medical Documents Manager will be permitted to register for classes.
Application Procedures
Admission to the program is limited and selective. Application forms and other information may be obtained from the College of Nursing's Website or by contacting the college directly at:
College of Nursing
University of South Alabama
Mobile, Alabama 36688
condnpadmit@southalabama.edu
Telephone: (251) 445-9400.
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Completion of the Primary Application:
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Primary Application submitted through Nursing Centralized Application System (NursingCAS).
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Official transcripts of all college and university studies within the United States and Canada, regardless of the outcome of enrollment, must be sent directly from the home institution to the NursingCAS. These documents become the property of the NursingCAS and will not be returned to the applicant. Applicants are responsible for any fees required by NursingCAS for their services.
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All other foreign transcripts must be evaluated by Educational Credential Evaluators. The transcript evaluation should be sent directly to NursingCAS in lieu of foreign transcripts.
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Personal Goal Statement is required. The Personal Goal Statement is a description of the applicant's purpose for completing the graduate degree. This essay serves as a writing sample to be reviewed by the Graduate Admissions Committee to determine the applicant’s scholarly writing skills.
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Submission of a résumé which documents clinical experience.
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Completion of the Supplemental Application:
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The Supplemental Application is submitted electronically directly to the DNP Office at the USA College of Nursing.
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Please note that the Supplemental Application should be completed AFTER you have completed your NursingCAS application and it has moved through the following stages: received, complete then VERIFIED. Once it is verified you may complete the Supplemental Application.
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Applicants are responsible for ensuring that their completed Supplemental Application is submitted by the deadline for the semester for which they are applying. Incomplete applications will not be processed.
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This application requires a non-refundable processing fee of $100.00.
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Admission of International Students
International Students must reside in the United States and have a current U.S. registered nurse licensure with no restrictions. Nurses with any restrictions on their license, including participation in a voluntary disciplinary alternative program, cannot be admitted. Students are required to complete clinicals in the U.S.
Any applicant who has attended a college or university outside of the United States or Canada, must have their official foreign transcripts translated and evaluated by Educational Credential Evaluators. The course-by-course transcript evaluation should be sent directly to the College of Nursing in lieu of foreign transcripts. Please have them mailed to 5721 USA North Drive-HAHN 3068, Mobile, AL 36688-0002. Previous Nursing degrees (BSN, MSN, and/or DNP) must have been obtained from a nationally accredited institution. The nursing program must have been accredited by a nursing accrediting body recognized by the U.S. Secretary of Education and/or the Council for Higher Education Accreditation (CHEA) such as CCNE, ACEN, and NLN.
International students should contact the Office of International Services by email at intlservices@southalabama.edu or internationaladmissions@southalabama.edu or by telephone at (251) 460-6050. Deadlines for applications and supporting documents for new international students are usually one month earlier than the deadlines for U. S. citizens. International students are required to complete the internet based TOEFL (minimum acceptable score of 25 on each subsection), or a bachelor’s or graduate degree earned at an accredited United States Institution of higher learning and are required to demonstrate proficiency on the English Language Proficiency Examination administered by the University.
Application Deadlines
The College of Nursing posts application deadlines on our website for the DNP programs. Applications are accepted three times a year.
In keeping with the dynamic changes in the nursing and health field, the graduate nursing curriculum may undergo change. Changes in curricula and/or admission requirements will be published as far in advance as possible. Advisors are available to assist students in adapting to those changes and planning their course of study accordingly.
Graduate Student Clinical Placement Policy and Procedure
The University of South Alabama College of Nursing (USA CON) offers students a wide variety of clinical opportunities as required by their selected program of study. Clinical practice experiences, supervised and evaluated by faculty, promote the integration of new knowledge into advanced nursing practice. Because students are located across the nation and abroad, they have the flexibility to complete clinical requirements in approved clinical sites within a geographically accessible area.
The USA CON recognizes students have diverse needs related to scheduling and travel to clinical site rotations. Therefore, the USA CON encourages students to locate acceptable clinical sites and preceptors within their geographical area using their known professional network when possible. This process allows students to determine opportunities that fit their personal time commitments.
A clinical placement must be identified to meet full admission requirements. Students who do not meet this requirement will be admitted conditionally pending the guarantee of future clinical site placement after the completion of 9 credit hours maximum of support courses (the 3 Ps). Students are encouraged to work with the USA CON's Office of Clinical Affairs staff to secure an appropriate clinical site and preceptor within the first semester of matriculation to be eligible for full admission. Upon enrollment in the first nursing course, the USA CON will work collaboratively with students, as needed, to identify appropriate sites but no guarantee of approved placement is offered. Should the USA CON or student be unable to secure clinical placement or the student be unwilling to accept potential placement identified by the USA CON, the student may request a transfer of completed academic credit (e.g., the 3Ps) to another institution. Transfer credit approval is only granted by the receiving institution and is not guaranteed.
Post-graduate certificate students admitted directly to the clinical specialty must provide evidence of a guaranteed clinical placement and preceptor to be granted full admission to the program.
Academic Progression Policy
Students in the MSN-DNP for Advanced Practice Nursing Roles program must meet the following requirements to progress in the program:
- Maintain an overall GPA of 3.0. Any term in which a graduate student drops below a 3.0 Program GPA, the student is placed on probationary status and has a period of two terms to attain a 3.0 Program GPA or be dismissed.
- Students in these programs can have a maximum of two Cs.
- A maximum of two (2) courses with a grade of "C" can be counted towards a degree; however, only one (1) "C" is permitted in support or specialization courses. If a second "C" or lower is earned in a support (NU, 518, NU 545, NU 578) or specialization course, the course in which the second "C" or lower is obtained must be repeated before a student may move forward with a specialty course. All corresponding specialty clinical and didactic courses must be taken in sequence.
- Degree requirements will not be fulfilled by a grade lower than a “C”.
- A student earning a third "C" or lower will be academically dismissed from the program.
- A student earning two grades of "F" in the program will be academically dismissed.
- Students who have been absent from the College of Nursing graduate program for one year or more will be required to repeat any graduate courses that have timed out during a student's absence from the program. Courses to be repeated may include core, support, or specialization courses.
- Failure to show good moral character as evidenced by any of the following merits immediate dismissal from the program: a) conviction of a crime; b) disciplinary action against a nursing license in Alabama or any other state; c) positive drug test; d) adverse background check; or e) disruptive behavior. All students must notify the Associate Dean for Academic Affairs or the Dean of the College of Nursing immediately or no later than 48 hours of any of the above state incidents.
- All students must notify the Associate Dean for Academic Affairs or the Dean of the College of Nursing immediately or no later than 48 hours following an arrest. Failure to report an arrest may result in removal from the program.
- All students are subject to testing for controlled substances and must submit to random drug testing as requested. A positive test or refusal to submit to testing will result in removal from the program.
- All students are subject to a background check and must submit to additional background checks as requested. An adverse finding or refusal to submit to a background check may result in removal from the program.
- A student who has been academically dismissed is not eligible for readmission to the DNP program and is not eligible for admission to the MSN program.
- Degree requirements for the MSN to DNP Advanced Practice Roles must be completed within seven (7) years of starting the program; this includes the following courses: NU 607 Scientific Underpinnings of Advanced Nursing, NU 608 EBP & Quality Improvement in Health Care Systems, NU 610 Strategic Resource Management in Health Care, and NU 613 Organizational and Systems Leadership.
Policy for Students Who are Dismissed from a Clinical Setting for Unprofessional Behavior or Refused Approval by the Setting due to Previous Experience with the Student
Professional behavior is expected of all USA CON students within the clinical setting. Students who are asked to leave a clinical setting (by an administrator or preceptor) due to unprofessional behavior will be removed from the clinical site with no approval of return to the same site.
Should a clinical agency refuse to allow a student to obtain clinical hours in their facility for any reason, the agency’s request will be honored by the college.
Students dismissed from a clinical site or refused by a clinical agency will be assisted to find an appropriate clinical placement at an affiliated clinical site at the college’s discretion. Students who decline the placement provided will be delayed in completing the program.
Depending on the nature of the unprofessional behavior, action taken by the college may include dismissal from the academic program.
DNP Residency Coursework Policy
The DNP Residency Coursework includes the DNP Project Planning and Development, Residency I, Residency II, and Residency III. Students who need to change their DNP project focus after successfully completing the DNP PP&D course will be required to retake PP&D for project redesign prior to moving forward in the residency courses. Students who need to change a DNP Residency course clinical site after approval of the original project idea must meet with the DNP Program Director, DNP Department Coordinator, DNP Specialty Track Coordinator, and Faculty Advisor. The DNP PP&D as well as any previously completed Residency courses may be required of the student before progressing to a subsequent residency course.
Scientific Review Committee Policy
The DNP project will be reviewed by the USA College of Nursing DNP Scientific Review Committee to evaluate rigor and feasibility. The review process will occur during Project Planning and Development. The DNP project must be reviewed by the Scientific Review Committee before enrolling in Residency I.
Graduation Information
The program must be completed in seven years of matriculation for the MSN to DNP for Advanced Practice Nursing Roles Pathway. Each candidate for the Doctor of Nursing Practice degree must submit an application for the degree the semester preceding their anticipated graduation through the Registrar's Office. See the University Calendar for specific deadlines. Deadlines for each semester application are located on the Registrar’s Graduation Website.
