Concentration Overview
Barnes-Jewish College Goldfarb School of Nursing offers the Doctor of Nursing Practice degree for MSN-prepared registered nurses interested in pursuing advanced leadership roles in nursing practice. The goal of the Post-Master’s DNP Program is to prepare graduates who provide quality healthcare to patients, families, and communities by assuming a leadership role in the healthcare system and are able to propose, implement, and evaluate evidence-based changes.
The program requires 27 credit hours of DNP coursework. All courses are offered online. Students are required to complete a minimum of 1,000 clinical contact hours. This may include clinical hours taken during the student’s master’s program not to exceed 500 hours. Clinical practice hours are individualized to assist the Post-Master’s DNP student in meeting doctoral competencies. Hours may be completed at the student’s place of employment as long as the experiences differ from their work assignments and they do not receive any monetary compensation.
The planning, implementation, and evaluation components of evidence-based research in clinical practice are the scientific underpinnings of clinical scholarship. Clinical significance is as important in guiding practice as statistical significance is in evaluating research. The DNP project is designed as an evidenced-based experience and meets the criteria of the AACN The Essentials: Core Competencies for Professional Nursing Education
What Makes Us Different
Our Doctorate of Nursing Practice (DNP) degree program has many benefits to students, but here are a few that help us stand apart:
First-Rate Faculty and Courses
Our DNP curriculum is taught by doctorally-prepared faculty who are experts in their fields. Your 30 hours of coursework will solidify your foundation in nursing practice and build your competencies in areas such as health policy, epidemiology, informatics, and health care economics.
Convenient for Students Nationwide
If you’re considering Doctor of Nursing Practice programs that are close to home, our all-online program is a good match. Students from across the country are invited to apply and complete their coursework without needing to travel.
Personalized Approach to Clinical Practice Hours
Students are required to complete a minimum of 1,000 clinical contact hours, which may include clinical hours taken during the student’s Master’s program (not to exceed 500 hours). Clinical practice hours are individualized to assist the DNP student in meeting doctoral competencies. Hours may also be completed at the student’s place of employment as long as the experiences differ from their work assignments and they do not receive monetary compensation.
Advance Practice with Evidence-Based Projects
A key part of earning your DNP degree is planning, implementation and evaluation of a scholarly evidence-based project. The project’s location is driven by student interests and location and meets the criteria of the AACN Essentials.
Career Prospects
Graduates will be able to provide quality health care to patients, families and communities by assuming a leadership role in the health care system. In addition to proposing, implementing and evaluating evidence-based changes, you’ll earn the professional standing of other health care providers with doctoral training.
The Goldfarb School of Nursing at Barnes-Jewish College is excited to add the Doctorate of Nursing Practice degree program to our full slate of academic offerings. To learn more about starting your DNP degree, review our admissions requirements and reach out to an admissions advisor using the form on this page.
Sample Course Sequence
NOTE: Courses and sequencing are subject to change.
TERM 1 (SPRING) | |
Biostatistics and Epidemiology | 3 |
Health Promotion Theory and Population Health | 3 |
Foundations of Scholarly Writing & Evidence-Based Practice | 3 |
TERM 2 (SUMMER) | |
Health Systems Policy | 3 |
Leadership and Collaboration for Quality and Safety | 3 |
Informatics, Economics and Financial Principles | 3 |
TERM 3 (FALL) | |
NO COURSE THIS TERM | |
TERM 4 (SUMMER) | |
Systems-Based Practice and DNP Project I | 3 |
TERM 5 (FALL) | |
Systems-Based Practice and DNP Project II | 3 |
TERM 6 (FALL) | |
Systems-Based Practice and DNP Project III | 3 |
DNP Project (optional credit if project not completed) | 1 |
TOTAL | 27 |
Admissions Requirements
- MSN and APRN certification as either an NP, CNM, CNS or CRNA
- Completion of a master’s degree in nursing from a nationally accredited institution
- One transcript from each post-secondary institution attended.
- Minimum 3.0 on a 4.0 cumulative GPA for graduate work is required
- An unencumbered Registered Nurse license
- An APRN licensure in your home state, if required
- APRN national board certification as a CNS, NP, CNM or CRNA in your area of specialty as appropriate. Applicants without national certification will be individually evaluated.
- Strong professional references from two (2) persons who can address academic skills including oral and written communication or clinical competence
- An essay, one to two pages, of an example of a frequent occurrence in clinical practice that the applicant would like to see improved.
- Curriculum vitae or resume
NOTE: All course grades will be included in the cumulative GPA calculation. The Admissions Department may provide 10-year forgiveness for cumulative GPA calculation. The student must submit a petition for forgiveness of prior grades to the Admissions Department. This letter will be placed in the student’s file. The GPA will then be appropriately calculated.
After applying online, please submit the following to the Admissions Office:
- One transcript from each post-secondary institution attended
- A copy of a current unencumbered Registered Nurse license
- A copy of an APRN license if required in your home state
- A copy of APRN national board certification as a CNS, NP, CNM or CRNA
- Two references from persons who can address academic skills or clinical competence. Preferably one reference from a doctorally prepared nurse.
- One two-page essay
- Curriculum vitae or resume
All required information must be received before an application file can be reviewed for admission.
Please send all application materials to:
Barnes-Jewish College Goldfarb School of Nursing
Attn: Admissions Office
4483 Duncan Avenue
Mailstop 90-36-697
St. Louis, MO 63110
For more information about the program, contact us at gson-admissions@barnesjewishcollege.edu or call 1-800-832-9009 or 314-454-7055, or visit us at barnesjewishcollege.edu.
Tuition and Fees
Barnes-Jewish College Goldfarb School of Nursing reserves the right to adjust tuition and fees at any time. For additional information, please contact our Business Office.
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