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Post-Master's to DNP Nurse Practitioner
Mount Mercy’s DNP program offers a unique curriculum focused on primary health care for individuals and populations—including rural health, experiences in innovation, and entrepreneurial skills. Graduates are prepared to be transformational leaders providing excellence in health care.
Entry Options
- MSN (with NP) » DNP | 27 credits (1½ years)
- MSN (no NP) » DNP-FNP | 45 credits (2 years)
Who We Admit
- DNP-FNP: Registered nurses with master's degree in nursing. Graduates are awarded a Doctor of Nursing Practice and are eligible to sit for national NP certification exam.
- DNP: Certified nurse practitioners (any specialty) and do not seek an additional national FNP certification. Graduates are awarded a Doctor of Nursing Practice.
Why Mount Mercy (1:14)
The once-a-week, face-to-face classes in 5-week blocks align with how Ashley Umoren '22 DNP likes to work.
Why Get Your DNP (1:23)
Ashley Umoren '22 DNP talks about the importance of being the best provider possible and reading research critically.
Journey to Becoming a Nurse (1:39)
Ashley Umoren '22 DNP was working as a phlebotomist when a patient passed out on her. That moment led her to be a nurse.
Farm Life & Nurse Life (0:41)
Ashley Umoren '22 DNP grew up on a farm. She explains how farm life is similar to health care.
DNP Overview (0:53)
Dr. Sharon Guthrie, director of graduate nursing programs, gives an overview of the DNP program.
Curriculum
Rural health, innovation, and entrepreneurial skills.
These three areas are emphasized throughout Mount Mercy’s DNP curriculum—empowering you to practice in health care provider shortage areas and establish your own practice if desired.
With Mount Mercy’s 5-week block system, you’ll focus on one class at a time, one day a week, with in-person instruction, labs, team projects, and clinicals in primary and specialty care settings.
I had been looking for a DNP program for five years before learning about Mount Mercy’s program. I was looking for something I could do in person because I felt like an online setting wouldn’t support the personal attention needed for a final DNP project.
Program Outcomes
Upon DNP degree program completion, graduates will:
- Innovate approaches in advanced nursing practice and leadership using scientific evidence and theoretical concepts from nursing and other scientific disciplines
- Lead culturally-proficient, population-focused, continuous quality improvement initiatives in health care services influenced by systems thinking
- Critically translate best evidence from nursing and across scientific disciplines to inform quality improvement strategies aimed at safe, effective, and reliable patient-centered care
- Evaluate and communicate health care system performance outcomes resulting from the adoption of information systems and patient care technology
- Influence the development and implementation of equitable and ethical health care policy that improves health outcomes and advocates for the nursing profession within health care policy communities
- Employ consultative and leadership skills with intraprofessional and interprofessional teams to create change needed to improve the quality and delivery of health care for individuals and populations
- Propose and evaluate interventions and care delivery models to influence improvement of individual and population health with health promotion/disease prevention based on epidemiology, ethical, cultural and environmental considerations
- Role model an independent advanced nursing practice using refined clinical judgment, systems thinking, and accountability in delivering and evaluating evidence based, health promotion/disease prevention health care to individuals, aggregates, and diverse populations