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2026-2027 Undergraduate & Graduate Catalog [In Progress]

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Doctor of Nursing Practice

The changing demands of the nation's complex health care environment requires the highest level of integration of scientific knowledge into practice to improve the health of society. The Kirkhof College of Nursing (KCON) offers programs of graduate study leading to a Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) degree. The DNP program prepares nurses with advanced knowledge, skills, and competencies that are used in innovative roles after graduation to achieve improved healthcare outcomes. The Doctor of Nursing Practice degree is the terminal degree for nursing practice. The DNP program prepares nurse leaders who will contribute to the nursing profession and improve the health of society with emphases on advanced practice registered nursing (APRN) roles as a certified clinical nurse specialist (CNS), family nurse practitioner; psychiatric/mental health nurse practitioner; adult/older-adult primary care nurse practitioner, child/adolescent primary or acute care nurse practitioner or dual certification as a nurse practitioner in primary and acute care child/adolescent populations. The DNP curriculum is student-centered, flexible and designed for full and part time options for Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) to DNP. A post master's DNP with specialization emphasis is available to allow other non-nurse practitioner role options for master's to doctorate to enhance opportunities of students who wish to obtain a post master's DNP degree.

KCON D.N.P. graduates are prepared to:

  • Provide advanced and complex nursing care within their chosen area of specialization that is scientific and evidence-based and incorporates the science of nursing and other disciplines to optimize the functioning of individuals, families, and communities.
  • Use organizational and systems leadership, information technology, interprofessional collaboration, and policy advocacy to improve and transform health care.
  • Contribute to the practice of nursing through clinical scholarship for evidence-based practice and active leadership in local and national professional groups.

Admission

The DNP program is designed for nurses that hold either a BSN or MSN. All applicants must have earned their degree from a program accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE) or Commission for Nursing Education Accreditation (CNEA). Applicants who have not completed a BSN must do so before enrolling.

  1. Complete the GVSU graduate application available at gvsu.edu/kcon specifying the DNP option.
  2. Select a program emphasis:
    1. Nurse Practitioner emphases include clinical family nurse practitioner, psychiatric/mental health nurse practitioner, adult/older-adult primary care nurse practitioner, child/adolescent primary care nurse practitioner, acute care nurse practitioner, or dual primary/acute care nurse practitioner.
    2. Clinical Nurse Specialist emphases include adult-gerontology or pediatric.
      • If outside of Michigan, reside in a state that participates in the State Authorization Reciprocity Agreement (SARA)
    3. Post-master's DNP with specialization
  3. Submit transcripts from all previous undergraduate and graduate coursework outside of GVSU.
  4. Have a minimum cumulative GPA of 3.0 (on a 4.0 scale) for all undergraduate and graduate coursework.
  5. Submit a current curriculum vitae/resume.
  6. Submit a scholarly writing sample, using the guidelines in the online application.
  7. Participate in a qualifying interview with KCON faculty.
  8. International student applicants must meet TOEFL (Test of English as a Foreign Language), or IELTS (International English Language Testing System), MELAB (Michigan English Language Assessment Battery) or PTE (Pearson Test of English Academic).

Additionally, full admission is contingent on successful completion of the following:

  • Current licensure to practice as a registered nurse in Michigan.
  • Current licensure to practice as a registered nurse in their state of residence for clinical nurse specialist students.
  • Criminal background check and drug screen.
  • Compliance with health record, immunization, and other KCON graduate program requirements.

New DNP program cohorts begin each fall semester. The application and supplemental materials must be received by May 1 of the calendar year in which the student desires entry. Applications received after May 1 will be considered based upon program capacity.

Nurse Executive Certification

Students completing the leadership track will be qualified for and encouraged to sit for national certification as a nurse executive.

Advanced Practice Registered Nurse Certification

Students pursuing an Advanced Practice Registered Nurse (APRN) emphasis must complete the didactic and clinical courses in a selected population or specialty area that qualifies them to sit for national specialty certification. Options include adult/gerontology, child/adolescent primary care, child/adolescent acute care, dual certification in primary care and acute care child/adolescent, psychiatric-mental health or family nurse practitioner; or adult/gerontology or pediatric clinical nurse specialist.

Program Requirements

  • Completion of 75-87 credits (depending on the chosen emphasis) is required for the D.N.P. degree.
  • Completion of 35 credits is required for the post-M.S.N. to D.N.P. degree. A formal gap analysis will be conducted to evaluate each student's prior coursework, experiential learning, and demonstrated competencies in relation to the 2021 AACN Essentials. This individual assessment ensures that all Post-M.S.N. students achieve the expected program outcomes while avoiding duplication of previously attained competencies, consistent with a competency-based education model. Up to 400 hours (equivalent to 8 credits) from the previously completed MSN degree may be applied towards the 1,000 requisite hours required by the AACN if the student can demonstrate that at least 400 hours of clinical practice were completed during their master's program.

Clinical Nurse Specialist Emphasis Core Courses

The following courses are required for all D.N.P. students pursuing a CNS emphasis in either Adult-Gerontology or Pediatric. The program totals 75 credits.

Semester 1

Semester 2

Semester 3

Semester 4

Semester 5

Semester 6

Semester 7

Semester 8

Nurse Practitioner Emphasis Core Courses

The following classes are required for all NP emphases (Adult/Older-Adult, Child/Adolescent Primary or Acute Care, Child/Adolescent Dual Track Primary and Acute Care, Family Nurse Practitioner, or Psych-Mental Health NP). All single-track emphases are 75 credits, with the exception of the Family Nurse Practitioner track which is 78 credits. The Dual Track Child/Adolescent emphasis is 87 credits.

Semester 1

Semester 2

Semester 3

Semester 4

Semester 5

Semester 6

Semester 7

Semester 8

Semester 9 (ONLY Child/Adolescent Dual-Track Primary & Acute Care NP Students)

*Adult/Older Adult Primary Care, Single-track Child/Adolescent, and Psychiatric Mental Health NP students will take 3 credits for NUR 782, NUR 784 and NUR 786; Family Nurse Practitioner and Dual-Track Child/Adolescent Nurse Practitioner students will take 4 credits.

**NP Clinical Practicum courses (NUR 785, NUR 787, NUR 789, NUR 791) are offered in varying amounts of course credit with 1 credit = 75 hours of practicum. Single-track nurse practitioner students must attain a minimum of 750 hours or 10 credits of clinical practicum; dual-track child/adolescent nurse practitioner students must attain a minimum of 1200 hours or 16 credits of clinical practicum.

The following additional course(s) are required for students completing the psychiatric-mental health track.

The following additional course(s) are required for students completing any non-psychiatric-mental health nurse practitioner track.

The following additional courses are required for students completing the child/adolescent dual-track primary and acute care track.

Post-MSN DNP Core Courses

Semester 1

Semester 2

Semester 3

Semester 4

Semester 5


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