Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) Program

Program Description

Mount Carmel College of Nursing’s Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) program will set you apart as a transformational driver of creative, innovative and effective solutions in nursing practice, education, and healthcare. Graduates of the program are positioned to meet the current and future challenges of the dynamic healthcare environment as experts in leadership and practice. Possessing evidence-based practice, systems thinking, leadership and change management competencies, graduates are equipped to influence policy formulation, utilize technology and information systems and lead interdisciplinary strategic initiatives that drive quality patient outcomes and exceptional patient experiences. Mount Carmel’s unique, faith-based, innovative approach to DNP education engages learners in a supported and personalized learning experience as they tackle the challenges of assuring the quality, safety, equity, and efficiency of care while shaping and inspiring care delivery as it is seen through the eyes of the patient, family, and care provider.

The online Doctor of Nursing Practice program offers two track options: The Leader in Clinical Practice DNP and the Executive Leader DNP.

Admission Criteria

1. Official Transcripts: Applicants must submit an official transcript from each post-secondary institution attended. Applicants must have completed a master’s degree in nursing from a nationally accredited institution attended. Applicants must have completed a master’s degree in nursing from a nationally accredited institution. A minimum 3.25 cumulative GPA for graduate work is preferred. Mail transcripts to:

Mount Carmel College of Nursing (MCCN)
Office of Admissions
127 South Davis Ave.
Columbus, OH 43222

Electronic and official paper transcripts must be sent directly from the institution to MCCN.

Transfer Credit

Transfer credit is considered for courses taken elsewhere within five years of admission. Work presented for transfer credit must be from an accredited college and is subject to evaluation in light of the degree requirements of the university.

To have a course considered for transfer credit, applicants must make the request at least six (6) weeks before the course begins and submit this petition to the Graduate Advisor, Kimberly Ramsay (kramsay@mccn.edu) with the course syllabus enclosed. A maximum of six (6) credits can be considered for credit. The program director approves transfer credit for all DNP courses. If transfer credit is approved, it will appear on the student’s official transcript and the hours earned will count toward the DNP.

2. Registered Nurse Licensure: An unencumbered Registered Nurse license must be presented.
3. Resume or curriculum vitae
4. Letters of Recommendation: Strong professional references from two professionals prepared at the doctoral level who can speak to the applicant’s current abilities and potential for academic and clinical competence. One recommendation must be from a nurse who is prepared at the doctoral level.
5. Statement of Purpose: The statement of purpose written by the applicant that outlines the applicant’s goals and objectives for the pursuit of doctoral studies including the anticipated area of interest for the DNP project. The types document is approximately 3-4 paragraphs and should include:

• Professional and academic background, skills and accomplishments
• DNP project - target setting of interest
• Why the program is a good fit for your interests and career goals

6. Technical Requirements: Mount Carmel College of Nursing considers the Internet communication interface an essential learning resource for doctoral students. DNP students will be required to have a home computer, printer and reliable Internet service provider that has high-speed broadband Internet access. Technical requirements can be found here .
7. Interview: After the initial review of this application, applicants may be contacted for an interview.
8. A minimum score of 79 for internet-based, 213 on computer-based and 550 on paper-based TOEFL for International students

• Official TOEFL scores apply to students for whom English is not the native language; minimum required TOEFL score of 550 (paper based), 213 (computer based) or 79-80 (Internet based); TOEFL scores are valid two years from the test date. TOEFL scores must be sent directly from the Educational Testing Service (ETS) to MCCN (institution code 1502). To learn more about the TOEFL, visit www.ets.org/toefl.

Admission Criteria for DNP, Leadership in Advanced Clinical Practice

1. Advanced Practice Certification: Applicants must have Advanced Practice Registered Nurse (APRN) national certification as a CNS, NP, CNM or CRNA in their areas of specialty as appropriate.
2. Advanced Practice Registered Nurse Licensure: Applicants must have APRN licensure in their home state, if required.

Admission Criteria for DNP, Executive Leadership in Healthcare or Academic Nursing

1. Advanced Practice Certification: Advanced specialty certification in nursing through a nationally recognized organization is preferred but not required.
2. Non-Nursing Master’s or non-advanced practice Master’s Degree Candidates: For individuals holding a non-nursing master’s degree or those who have an earned master’s degree in nursing in non-advanced practice specialty, an individualized plan of study will be developed as indicated.

Application Deadline

• November 20, 2019 (Spring Semester 2020 Start)

• March 20, 2020 (Summer Semester 2020 Start)

Application Process

• Questions regarding the application process or admission status should be directed to: DNP Admissions via email: DNP@mccn.edu
• Admitted DNP candidates who accept admittance must provide a non-refundable Confirmation Fee of $300 will be applied to spring semester tuition

International Students

Mount Carmel College of Nursing does not issue Immigration Form I-20 from the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS). Therefore, the College is not eligible to accept new or transfer international students who need I-20 credentialing. The College welcomes international applicants who do not require an I-20 clearance.

International transcripts must be evaluated by an international transcript evaluation service. The evaluation must be sent directly from the credentialing service to MCCN. Click here  for a specific list of accepted National Association of Credential Evaluation Services (NACES) members.

Post-Baccalaureate Practice Hours

• A maximum of 500 post-baccalaureate practice hours are granted by holding advanced nursing practice national certification
• Students who have earned a Master’s in Nursing who are not eligible for national advanced specialty certification or who do not hold national advanced specialty certification complete the required post-baccalaureate practice hours throughout the DNP program.

Dates of Required On-Site Immersive Experiences for 2019-2020

• Spring Semester Start
  • Session 1: January 29 - February 2 (Wednesday - Sunday)
  • Session 2: May 29 - June 2 (Friday - Tuesday)
• Summer Semester Start
  • Session 1: June 3-7 (Wednesday - Sunday)
  • Session 2: August 27-30 (Thursday - Sunday)

Confirmation Fee

A non-refundable confirmation fee of $300 will be applied to spring semester tuition.

Annually:

Annual Compliance Education - students doing practicums in nursing schools, hospitals and health agencies will be required to meet the individual agency’s annual compliance education requirements. It is the student’s responsibility to be knowledgeable of these agency requirements.

DNP Program Outcomes

1. Apply the broad range of integrative and nursing sciences and principles of healthcare economics to improve the nation’s health through ethical, evidence-based advanced nursing practice, leadership and policy development (DNP Essentials I, V, VII).
2. Demonstrate leadership attributes that can be used to shape health policy and or organizational policy in support of the ethical and equitable provision of health care (DNP Essentials V).
3. Generate innovative models of care and advanced nursing and academic practices to improve the quality, safety and outcomes of care delivery through the synthesis, translation application and evaluation of evidence and the generation of evidence through practice (DNP Essentials I, III).
4. Employ advanced nursing, leadership and or academic practice and care delivery models that represent evidence-based political, ethical, professional, economic, socially just and culturally appropriate services for diverse patient populations in a variety of health care settings (DNP Essential VII, VIII).
5. Demonstrate organizational and systems leadership that fosters innovation and the transformation of complex systems; driving patient-centered care dynamics steeped in evidence, safety, data driven decision making through the integration of healthcare technology and informatics, continuous quality improvement, patient safety, and quality outcomes through effective change management that transforms healthcare and academic nursing practices (DNP Essentials II, IV, VIII).
6. Lead and participate as a component member of interprofessional teams to facilitate optimal care, desired outcomes by identifying and addressing relevant health care challenges to advance the quality and safety of health care and to enhance the health of populations (DNP Essentials II, VI, VIII).
7. Advance nursing practice through the effective translation and utilization of evidence to create innovative practices aimed at achieving targeted quality outcomes (DNP Essential I, III).

Graduation Requirements

In order to qualify for graduation, doctoral degree candidates must complete the following requirements.

• Submit a completed Graduation Application by the posted deadline.
• Complete all required coursework with a minimum 3.00 cumulative GPA.
• Complete all academic requirements of the DNP Project.
• Program completion within 5 years of the date of first enrollment.
• Fulfill all financial obligations to Mount Carmel College of Nursing.
• Fulfill all library obligations to Mount Carmel College of Nursing.
• Complete the online graduation exit survey and interview.
• Complete a Financial Aid Exit Interview (required of every student who received any type of loan).
• Complete a Business Affairs Exit Interview (for students who received Nursing Student Loans).
• Order authorized graduation attire from http://jostens.com (earliest order date will be announced to graduating students).

DNP students may participate in the Commencement Ceremony in May, if at least 33 of the required program credits and the DNP project are completed by the last day of the Spring Semester. The official diploma will be received when all program requirements are completed.

DNP Clinical Practicum Hours and Project

The Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE) permits that post-graduate students be credited up to a maximum of 500 hours of mentored clinical experience associated with graduate program count toward the required post-baccalaureate clinical hours required for the DNP degree. The total number of supervised clinical practice hours accepted is determined during the admission process. Students complete a minimum of an additional 500 documented supervised clinical practice hours in the DNP program.

The DNP Project is conducted within the coursework and practicum experiences. The doctoral student comes prepared with the knowledge and expertise of their advanced nursing practice specialty and focuses on the development of new skills at the systems level. The student designs an evidence-based project to improve practice or patient outcomes. Leadership development, application of epidemiology and biostatistics, use of informatics, outcome analysis, system change, compliance with ethics, and incorporation of finance and policy are the experiences sought for the practicum. The DNP Project, practicum site, hours, and mentorship are planned for, approved, and secured during early in the program of study. Approved practice and mentor relationships are designed to benefit jointly Mount Carmel College of Nursing doctoral students and the practice site and mentor.

Faculty supervising these final experiences are course faculty working in collaboration with the approved mentor. The DNP project team consists of the assigned DNP Project Faculty Mentor and a DNP project content expert who may be the student’s site mentor who assists in the evaluation of the project.

Selection of Mentor and Site

Practicum experiences can be accomplished in a variety of settings that best match the student’s project. The practicum experiences are collaborative endeavors between the student, faculty, and mentor at the practicum site.

Individuals who serve as mentors for DNP students are required to be experts in nursing or other related disciplines who can provide opportunities for meaningful student engagement within the practice environments. Formal education, professional experience, and licensure as required for the professional role and practice area are mandatory.

The student identifies the principal mentor and site for the practicum hours, obtains approval and completes requirements associated with the mentor and the site of the practicum.

DNP Curriculum Plan

The Doctor of Nursing Practice degree is offered online and consists of 5 consecutive semesters for a total of 37 total semester credits. The Program accepts new students into a cohort that starts each Spring and Summer Semesters. All students in the DNP program follow the same curriculum progression plan based on the elective specialty identified by the student.

Onsite immersive experiences during semesters 1 and 2 of the program of study are required. A virtual immersive experience is required during semester 4.

DNP SP20 Plan of Study