BSN to DNP

Specializations and Advanced Practice Registered Nurse (APRN) Tracks

Through Creighton’s Doctor Nursing Practice (DNP) plans of study, you’ll learn to manage the care of individuals and families in specialized areas, including advanced health promotion, diagnostics, medication and therapeutic treatment.

To help you enhance your skills in specific practice areas, our DNP program offers these focused APRN tracks:

• Adult-Gerontology Primary Care Nurse Practitioner — Graduates who complete the Adult Gero Primary Care Nurse Practitioner program meet eligibility for national certification through the American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC) and the American Academy of Nurse Practitioners Certification Board (AANPCB).
• Adult-Gerontology Acute Care Nurse Practitioner — Manage the care of individuals in acute care settings. Graduates who complete the Adult-Gerontology ACNP program meet eligibility for national certification through the American Association of Critical-Care Nurses (AACN) and the American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC). View the course requirements of this track.
• Family Nurse Practitioner — Manage care throughout the lifespan of individuals and families. Graduates who complete the Family NP program meet eligibility for national certification through the American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC) and the American Academy of Nurse Practitioners Certification Board (AANPCB). View the course requirements of this track.
• Neonatal Nurse Practitioner — Care for newborns in level III neonatal intensive care units. Graduates who complete the Neonatal NP program meet eligibility for national certification through the National Certification Corporation (NCC). View the course requirements of this track.
• Pediatric Primary and Acute Care Nurse Practitioners (Dual) — Manage the care of pediatric patients across the entire continuum of health from wellness to critical care. Graduates who complete the Pediatric Dual track program are eligible to take the primary and acute care national certification exams through the Pediatric Nurse Certification Board (PNCB). View the course requirements of this track.
• Psychiatric Mental Health Across the Lifespan — Manage care throughout the lifespan of diverse populations and practice within a variety of acute and primary care settings. Graduates who complete Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner Program meet eligibility for national certification through the American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC). View the course requirements of this track.

For students who aim to make an impact in policy analysis, formulation, implementation or other areas in the health care delivery system, our Nurse Administration and Leadership Track provides the knowledge to help you achieve your goals. This focus area includes:

• Nursing Administration and Leadership — Work as an innovative and collaborative advanced leader in health care organizations, improving the quality of health care. View the course requirements of this track.

The baccalaureate degree program in nursing, master’s degree program in nursing, Doctor of Nursing practice program, and post-graduate APRN certificate program at Creighton University are accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education.

Specific Application Requirements

To be considered for admission to the Doctor of Nursing Practice program, applicants must:

• Complete an application and submit a $50 application fee
• Possess a BSN from an ACEN- or CCNE-accredited college or university with a GPA of at least 3.0
• Have an active, unencumbered RN license with Nebraska eligibility
• Professional nursing work experience required prior to clinical courses:
  • Family NP and Adult-Gerontology Acute Care NP – minimum 2,000 hours of professional nursing work experience in direct patient care
  • Psychiatric Mental Health Across the Lifespan NP – minimum 2,000 hours of direct patient care in psychiatric mental health
  • Neonatal NP – minimum 4,000 hours of direct care in level III or IV NICU
  • Pediatric Acute and Primary Care NP – minimum 2,000 hours of direct care in pediatrics
• Provide official transcripts from all educational institutions attended. Read more about sending transcripts here
  • Must include verification of clinical/practicum hours completed in master’s or certificate program
• Include a resume or curriculum vitae
• Submit three letters of recommendations; one from a supervisor/employer, who can speak to your performance in an academic or professional setting
• Submit a personal statement speaking to your long- and short-term goals
• Successful completion of undergraduate statistics course and physical assessment course (or equivalent) with C (2.0) or higher 

A personal interview may be requested in addition to the above requirements. The interview may be conducted in-person or virtually.

Due to the specific features and requirements of this program, international students cannot be admitted. Unique situations may be discussed with your enrollment specialist.

INTERNATIONAL TRANSCRIPTS

Any course work taken at an accredited institution outside of the United States must be evaluated course-by-course by a NACES approved credentialing agency. A list of approved agencies can be found here. Official evaluations must be sent directly from the agency to Creighton University.