Alva Review-Courier -

Northwestern Oklahoma State University’s new Doctor of Nursing Practice program has successfully completed its first semester with 20 doctoral students and is underway with its first spring semester. The DNP program is now accepting applications for this coming fall that will begin studying in August. The application deadline is March 1.

A full list of admission requirements and an application to the program and to the university can be found at http://www.nwosu.edu/bsn-to-dnp. Costs for the doctoral program can be found at this link as well.

Northwestern’s DNP program is a practice-focused doctorate, rather than the traditional research-focused doctorate. This online, accredited program will prepare DNPs who can become certified family nurse practitioners in their home communities and surrounding areas without first earning a master's degree.

“The inaugural semester of the BSN-to-DNP program saw students working hard to learn biostatistics, advanced pathophysiology and concepts in policy, ethics and health economics as they learned to navigate the demands of graduate school,” Dr. Shelly Wells, professor of nursing and chair to the Division of Nursing said. “Overall, the students did well and are progressing into this second semester where they will be learning more about nursing research, nursing theory, and leadership – all courses designed to set the DNP family nurse practitioner students apart from peers who may be enrolled in master's degree level programs. As faculty, we have been impressed with the growth in these students after just one semester!”

The curriculum consists of 73 credit hours and 1,020 practicum hours. Students may enter on a full-time (three-year plan) or part-time (four-year plan) basis. Additional plans may be considered on an individual basis.

Acceptance into the program is competitive as there will be a limited number of applicants accepted. This program only accepts applications in the spring for entry into the fall semester class. Acceptance is determined by reviewing all college transcripts, grade-point average (GPA), résumé, written essay, interview and references. Applicants are encouraged to read through the directions thoroughly and gather materials needed for online uploading before filling out the online DNP application form.

Students applying to Northwestern for the first time must submit an application for admission to Northwestern and pay a $15 fee. Students who have attended and/or graduated from Northwestern should fill out the application for readmission.

To apply to this program, students must have earned a BSN degree and obtained a registered nurse license.

Additionally, registered nurses who hold a master of science in nursing (MSN) and have completed an accredited graduate level advanced practice registered nursing education program as a family nurse practitioner (FNP), and are currently certified in an advanced practice specialty consistent with educational preparation, are eligible to apply to complete the DNP at Northwestern. This program will consist of 34 to 36 credit hours. Advanced practice licensure as a family nurse practitioner as prescribed by the applicant's state of residency is required.

Other MSN-prepared nurses will be considered for admission after review of graduate transcripts and meeting with program faculty.

Northwestern is one of only two public universities in Oklahoma to offer a DNP program and is the only public university with a BSN-to-DNP offering.

Questions should be directed to Dr. Pat Thompson, DNP program director in Northwestern’s Division of Nursing, at [email protected] or 580-327-8566.