Georgia Southern University - College of Health and Human Sciences

Graduate Programs - Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP)

Georgia Southern University approved to offer
Doctor of Nursing Practice degree - University’s 5th Doctorate

With approval from the Board of Regents, Georgia Southern University will offer the Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) degree beginning in the fall of 2008 and is the University’s fifth doctoral degree program. The DNP program, offered online through the University’s School of Nursing, is one of only two such degree programs in Georgia. “This is a major milestone not only for the School of Nursing and Georgia Southern University, but for the profession within the state and region,” said Fred Whitt, dean of the College of Health and Human Sciences at Georgia Southern University. “By delivering the program online, students will have access to one of the nation’s top nursing programs at any location with an Internet connection.” Since being classified a doctoral research university by the Carnegie Foundation for Teaching in 2006, the University has added doctoral degrees in psychology (PsyD) and public health (DrPH), and now DNP. Two doctor of education degrees (EdD) were first offered in 1995.

The DNP will prepare graduates to provide the most advanced level of nursing care for individuals and communities, including direct care of individual patients, management of care for individuals and populations, administration of nursing systems, and the development and implementation of health policy. With additional coursework in education, the DNP will also prepare graduates to serve as nurse educators in schools of nursing. The DNP program builds on Georgia Southern’s outstanding record in graduate nursing education. The University’s graduate nursing programs have been ranked number 11 in the country by U.S. News and World Report for the past three years. The Family Nurse Practitioner program, which provides the foundation for the DNP, is recognized as a model graduate program by the National Organization for Nurse Practitioner Faculties. Today, graduate programs in the School of Nursing boast a sustained 100 percent pass rate on certification exams.

“With the approval of this program, Georgia Southern University takes a leadership role in moving graduate nursing education to a new standard,” said Jean Bartels, director of the University’s School of Nursing. “Georgia faces an unprecedented and critical shortage of doctoral-prepared nurses, and the approval of this new degree program could not have come at a better time.” In addition to a general statewide and regional shortage of nurses, universities are facing shortages in nursing faculty and advanced nurse practitioners. The shortage has a negative impact on nursing education and on the healthcare industry in general. Interest in Georgia Southern University’s DNP program is already high, with more than 70 prospective students on a waiting list for admission.

Welcome!

This page provides links to information regarding the Doctor of Nursing (DNP) Practice degree offered at Georgia Southern University. The DNP degree prepares nurses to provide the most advanced level of nursing care for individuals and communities. This preparation includes the direct care of individual patients, management of care for individuals and populations, administration of nursing systems, and the development and implementation of health policy. With additional coursework in education and pedagogy, the DNP can also be used to prepare graduates as nurse educators in Schools of Nursing.

A cohort of 10 doctoral students will be admitted every fall semester. Please see the admission materials for information and direction (see application materials link). The deadline for receipt of all admission materials for each Fall admission is March 1st. Courses begin mid August. The first cohort of students began August, 2008.

The DNP curriculum is offered at this time as a Post-Master’s in Nursing program (see course descriptions link). Our future plans include expansion to offer a BSN to DNP option. The curriculum is offered over 3 years taking two courses per semester (see curriculum_POS link). The curriculum is a total of 40 credits with 9 credits of Electives for those who would like a focus in education, public health, epidemiology or other options. Attendance at a 3 to 4 day intensive workshop on-campus during the summer semesters is required.

Please note that you must complete two applications: the College of Graduate Studies application at http://cogs.georgiasouthern.edu/ and the DNP application below. We look forward to reviewing your application materials. An interview with faculty is required for admission consideration. If you have any questions, please contact the Graduate Nursing Program at 912-478-0017.

Regards,
Donna R. Hodnicki, PhD, FNP-BC, FAAN
Professor
Graduate Nursing Program Director
dhodnick@georgiasouthern.edu
912-478-0017 FAX 912-478-1679