Degree Information
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This program prepares nurses to function in executive leadership and management roles that focus on creating or redesigning healthcare systems.
Admissions Requirements
The Doctor of Nursing program is a joint program with ETSU that includes several concentrations that the applicant must choose from: Adult-Gerontology Acute Care Nurse Practitioner, Nursing and Healthcare Leadership, Family Nurse Practitioner, Pediatric Nurse Practitioner-Primary Care, Psychiatric/Mental Health Nurse Practitioner, and Women’s Health Care Nurse Practitioner. There are different levels of admission depending upon prior credentials of the applicants and whether or not they hold a BSN, MSN, BSN, or a Master’s in another discipline. Students seeking admission to the Doctor of Nursing program are required to have:
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- Licensure: Unencumbered licensure as a Registered Nurse in the United States and eligibility for licensure in Tennessee or equivalency for lnternational students;
- Work Experience: All applicants are required to have at least two years of full-time work experience (or equivalent) in nursing as a registered nurse;
- Letters of Recommendation: Three letters of recommendation are required: one from the applicant’s current (most recent) supervisor, one from a faculty member who has worked directly with the applicant during previous academic study, and one from an individual selected by the applicant;
- Writing Sample: All applicants will be required to complete a writing sample describing a problem the applicant has identified in clinical practice, whether as a student or a practicing RN, and what steps were taken to resolve or improve the situation;
- Interview: All applicants will participate in an interview;
- Cover Letter: All applicants must submit a cover letter expressing the applicant’s personal goals for doctoral study; and
- Resume or Curriculum Vitae: All applicants must submit a current resume or vitae
International students are required to demonstrate competency in spoken and written English by taking appropriate standardized tests. See accepted standardized tests and minimum required scores »
- » Additional Requirements for Applicants with a BSN
- Undergraduate Degree: a Bachelor’s in Nursing
- For international applicants, a bachelor's degree in nursing or equivalency (for BSN to DNP applicants), or a non-nursing master's degree or equivalency (for MSN to DNP applicants) from a nationally accredited nursing program or comparably recognized non-U.S. institution, with a cumulative grade point average of at least 3.0 on a 4-point scale
- » Additional Requirements for Applicants with an MSN
All four MSN options for the Nursing and Healthcare Leadership concentration require at least one year of experience in a nursing administration role. Nursing and Healthcare Leadership applicants must have an MSN or a BSN and a Master's in a non-nursing business or health related field (MBA, MPH, MHA, MMCH, etc.)
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- Certification in the nursing specialty you have selected for your concentration (ex: Certified FNP for the FNP concentration, Certified WHNP in the WHNP concentration, etc.), OR
- a Master’s in Nursing in a specialty different than the intended concentrations (will require a longer program of study adapted to the previous Master’s specialty and nursing experience), OR
- Non-nursing master’s with a BSN from a nationally accredited nursing program (will require a longer program of study adapted to the previous Master’s specialty and nursing experience), OR
- For the General (No Concentration) MSN-DNP, Master’s in Nursing with advanced practice registered nurse (APRN) certification (Nurse Practitioner, Clinical Nurse Specialist, Nurse Midwife, or Nurse Anesthetist) or master’s level nursing administration/ healthcare systems leadership concentration
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- » ETSU Admission Requirements
The completed application form and fee, transcripts of all previous undergraduate and graduate work, essay, documentation of nursing licensure In the United States, MSN certification (where applicable), letters of recommendation and resume or vita must be submitted to the ETSU College of Graduate and Continuing Studies or the TTU Graduate College, depending upon the applicant's choice. International students must also forward the additionally required documentation to the appropriate school.
Factors given consideration in the admission decision include: previous grade point average (GPA), clarity of the applicant's selected problem as stated in the writing sample and during the interview, writing ability, professional work experience and achievements, professional honors and awards, Interest In rural and underserved population groups, and quality of references/recommendations. The ETSU-TTU DNP Program Admission Committee may recommend admission to a promising applicant who has not met all the admission standards on a conditional or provisional basis.
The completed application form and fee, official transcripts of all previous undergraduate and graduate work, essay, documentation of nursing licensure in the United States, MSN certification (where applicable), letters of recommendation and resume or vita must be submitted to the ETSU School of Graduate Studies or the Tennessee Tech Graduate College, depending upon the applicant’s home school. International students must also forward the additionally required documentation to the appropriate home school.
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