Information for prospective Post-Masters DNP students:
For students who are practice-oriented and who already have a master's degree in nursing.
The Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) program prepares nurses for leadership as advanced practice nurses, clinical experts, health care executives, policy experts, and informaticians. The Post-Masters DNP program is for students who already hold a master's degree in nursing and have nursing specialty preparation.
Admission Requirements
To be considered for admission into the Post-Masters DNP program, you must have the following:
Nursing License
As part of your application you must submit a photocopy of a current registered nurse license. You must hold an RN license in the state in which you will complete clinical courses. International students must submit a photocopy of a current RN license from their home country with their application (see further requirements for international students below). If you are an international nurse, you must obtain a Minnesota license by the end of your second semester in residence. You will need to pass the Commission on Graduates of Foreign Nursing Schools (CGFNS) exam and the NCLEX exam in order to obtain a Minnesota license. You are encouraged to take the CGFNS exam in your home country prior to enrollment. For more information, contact the Minnesota Board of Nursing: www.nursingboard.state.mn.us or call 612-617-2270.
Education
You must hold a master's degree in a nursing specialty.
Grade Point Average (GPA)
Successful applicants typically have a GPA of 3.4 or above (on a 4.0 scale). If your GPA is lower than 3.0 but you feel that your grades do not accurately reflect your abilities, you may still apply and be considered for admission. You might wish to submit a Graduate Record Exam (GRE) score and describe the circumstances surrounding the GPA below 3.0.
Graduate Record Exam (GRE) scores
You do not need to submit Graduate Record Exam scores unless you submit narrative, pass/no-credit or other ungraded notations for a majority of the credits toward your baccalaureate degree and/or master's in your major field of study. The GRE must have been taken after October 1, 2003. This revised test includes the new analytic writing test.
English language proficiency
If your native language is not English, you must take the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) and score at least 586 (written) 240 (computerized) or 95 (IBT). Information is available on the TOEFL Web site at www.toefl.org. If the TOEFL is not available in your country, you must take the Michigan English Language Assessment Battery (MELAB) and score at least 85. Information about the MELAB is available at www.lsa.umich.edu/eli/melab.htm. You are exempt from taking the test if, within the past 24 months, you have completed 24 quarter credits or 16 semester credits in residence as a full-time student at a recognized institution of higher learning in the United States. The School of Nursing will accept TOEFL or MELAB exams taken within three years of the time of application.
Application
You must complete and submit the attached application by January 15, 2009 for the fall 2009 semester. Please note that the two sections of the application listed below will receive special attention by the School of Nursing Graduate Admissions and Progressions Committee.
Profile essay
Provide a brief summary (approximately 500 words) informing the Admissions Committee about your short-term and long-term professional goals after you complete the DNP program.
Summary of Proposed Capstone Leadership Project
As part of the DNP program you will be required to complete a project that focuses on identifying and analyzing a nursing practice problem. You will develop and implement an evidence-based innovation and evaluation protocol that could solve a significant health-care problem. As part of your application, you are asked to provide a summary (maximum 1,000 words) describing the practice problem you would like to study and your initial ideas about addressing it.
Links
Information for prospective DNP students:
For RNs who are practice-oriented and who hold, at minimum, a baccalaureate degree in nursing (launches in Fall 2009).
The Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) program prepares nurses for leadership as advanced practice nurses, clinical experts, health care executives, policy experts, and informaticians. The three-year DNP program is for students who already hold a baccalaureate degree in nursing, and involves both coursework and a clinical internship.
Specialties
The DNP program at the School of Nursing offers a wide range of specialties:
The School of Nursing is a leader in distance learning options and internet-enhanced courses. A number of courses are offered in a web-assisted format with mandatory on-campus seminars scheduled each semester.
Admission to the DNP program includes an interview with faculty in the chosen specialty. The nurse anesthesia specialty begins summer term; all other specialties begin fall term.
Application Deadline
The DNP application (available in April 2008) and all corresponding materials must be received by 4:30 p.m., August 1, 2008 for nurse anesthesia, and 4:30 p.m., November 1, 2008 for all other specialties. Late or incomplete applications will not be reviewed.
Admission Requirements
To be considered for admission into the DNP program, you must have the following:
A baccalaureate degree with a nursing major
You must hold an entry level nursing degree (e.g. BSN, BAN, or entry-level Master of Nursing). Some specialty areas have experiential requirements.
Registered nurses without a baccalaureate degree in nursing should complete that degree before applying. If you are not a nurse and have a baccalaureate degree in a major other than nursing, you are not eligible for the DNP program; however, you may consider pursuing the School of Nursing's 16-month Master of Nursing (MN) program. The MN program is specifically designed for individuals who have a bachelor's degree in a non-nursing area.
High scholastic achievement
Successful applicants typically have a Grade Point Average (GPA) of 3.4 or above (on a 4.0 scale). If your GPA is lower than 3.0 but you feel that your grades do not accurately reflect your abilities, you may still apply and be considered for admission.
Graduate Record Examination
Graduate Record Exam scores are required. The GRE must have been taken after October 1, 2003. This revised test includes the new analytic writing test. The GRE code for the School of Nursing is 5942.
Nursing license
As part of your application you must submit a photocopy of a current registered nurse license. You must hold an RN license in the state in which you will complete clinical courses. International nurses must submit a photocopy of a current RN license from their home country.
If you are an international nurse, you must obtain a Minnesota license by the end of your second semester in residence. You will need to pass the Commission on Graduates of Foreign Nursing Schools (CGFNS) exam and the NCLEX exam in order to obtain a Minnesota license. You are encouraged to take the CGFNS exam in your home country prior to enrollment. For more information, contact the Minnesota Board of Nursing: www.nursingboard.state.mn.us or call 612-617-2270.
Professional references
Three references from past or current professors, supervisors or professional colleagues are required. You must use the forms included with the application. The references should attest to your potential for success in the DNP program (including preparation, initiative, and aptitude) and your commitment to the profession. The evaluation must be received, not post-marked, by 4:30 p.m. August 1, 2008 for the nurse anesthesia specialty and November 1, 2008 for all other specialties.
Essays
Essays are required as part of the application process. There will be 2 essays you must submit with the application, and you will also be asked to write an impromptu response to a question while you are at the School of Nursing for your interview.
English Language Proficiency
If your native language is not English, you must take the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) and score at least 586 (written) 240 (computerized) or 95 (IBT). The School of Nursing will accept TOEFL or MELAB exams taken within three years of the time of application. Information is available on the TOEFL Web site at www.toefl.org. If the TOEFL is not available in your country, you must take the Michigan English Language Assessment Battery (MELAB) and score at least 85. Information about the MELAB is available at www.lsa.umich.edu/eli/melab.htm.
You are exempt from taking the test if, within the past 24 months, you have completed 24 quarter credits or 16 semester credits in residence as a full-time student at a recognized institution of higher learning in the United States.
Immunizations
All students enrolled in programs within the Academic Health Center at the University of Minnesota are required to submit immunization documentation to Boynton Health Service (on-campus health center) as a condition of enrollment. If admitted, you will receive a Student Immunization Record Form to be completed by a health care provider. Immunization includes: Mantoux Tuberculin Test (two-step); Measles/Mumps/Rubella (MMR, two-step); Hepatitis B (three-step); Varicella (two-step); Tetanus/Diphtheria. For additional information, see the Boynton Health Service Web site: www.bhs.umn.edu. You may ask to decline the vaccination if it is contraindicated because of potential allergic reactions or pregnancy; however, a health-care provider signature is required.
Interview
Following an initial screening by the Graduate Admission and Progression Committee, you may be invited to participate in an interview to explore your interests in pursuing the DNP degree.
Curriculum Vitae
A current curriculum vitae (preferred) or résumé complete with professional accomplishments and activities.
Official Transcripts from ALL Institutions
Official transcript/s from each post/secondary institution you have attended must be received in a sealed envelope by 4:30 p.m. August 1, 2008 for the nurse anesthesia specialty and November 1, 2008 for all other specialties.
Application Deadline for Fall 2009
You must complete and submit all portions of the School of Nursing DNP application by 4:30 p.m. August 1, 2008 for the nurse anesthesia program, and November 1, 2008 for all other specialties. This includes all letters of recommendation and transcripts. Applicants must send all application materials together in one envelope to the School of Nursing, Office of Student and Career Advancement Services, 5-140 Weaver-Densford Hall, 308 Harvard Street SE, Minneapolis, MN, 55455.
Links
Diversity
The growing diversity of the nation's population underscores the need to prepare future nursing practitioners and researchers who are knowledgeable and sensitive to the population's needs. The School of Nursing seeks to admit and educate a diverse student body, both in order to enrich the students' educational experience and to prepare them to meet the health needs of a diverse society.
Student body characteristics that will enhance diversity in the school include leadership qualities, a strong work record, community or public service record, special talents and interests, gender (males are underrepresented in the nursing profession), and a wide range of economic, social, racial/ethnic and geographic backgrounds.
Financial Aid
For more information about financial aid for nursing students, contact:
Office of Student Finance
200 Fraser Hall
106 Pleasant Street SE
Minneapolis, MN 55455
Phone: 612-624-1111 (toll-free: 800-400-8636)
Email: helpingu@umn.edu
Web: http://onestop.umn.edu/onestop/financialaid.html