Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP)
Deepen your expertise and expand your career.
Next Start
Fall 2023
Executive Format
Online courses with on-campus learning 1-2 times per semester
Designed for
Working Nurses
Academic Support
Individualized guidance and program plans
Clinical Placement
Coordinated for you by our dedicated, full-time placement coordinator
We care about you.
We know that the COVID-19 pandemic has taken a physical and emotional toll on nurses everywhere. We see you and are so grateful for your service.
In the midst of this significant personal and professional challenge, we understand that graduate school may feel daunting. We care for our students and have designed our Doctor of Nursing Practice program to meet the unique needs of working students in this new healthcare reality. Let us help craft a program and schedule that meets your needs and enables you to make your professional goals a reality.
Before you begin your application, contact the Office of Student Services for your personalized program plan and to discuss how we can support you through your academic journey.
- Call us: (616) 331-7160
- Email us: [email protected]
The Doctor of Nursing Practice (D.N.P.) program is designed for nurses seeking a terminal degree in nursing practice. It is the only program of its type in West Michigan.
The DNP curriculum is designed to fit the busy schedule of today's working nurses. Courses are delivered in an executive-style format meaning we offer online classes with required experiential on-campus experiences 1-2 times per semester. You will have access to a dedicated full-time placement coordinator who manages all of your clinical placements and academic advisors who create tailored program plans for each student. Choose from full-time and part-time schedules to integrate graduate school into your busy life.
DNP coursework is designed around the national agenda to transform American health care through interprofessional collaboration, health care policy advocacy, patient-centered care, quality/safety initiatives, and the use of informatics. We offer multiple emphasis areas:
- Advanced Nursing Practice
- *NEW* Child/Adolescent Acute Care Nurse Practitioner
- *NEW* Dual Child/Adolescent Primary Care/Acute Care Nurse Practitioner
- *NEW* Family Nurse Practitioner (FNP)
- Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner
- Child/Adolescent Primary Care Nurse Practitioner
- Adult/Older Adult Primary Care Nurse Practitioner
- Post-MSN to DNP Program with specializations in:
- Informatics
- Palliative and Hospice Care
- Clinical Nurse Leader
- Leadership
Meet Some of Your Faculty
Our faculty are experts in their fields and have direct experience as a working nurse. They meet students where they are, helping to make connections between coursework and their jobs.
Dr. Heather Chappell
Assistant Professor
Dr. Della Hughes Carter
Assistant Professor
Dr. Anne McKay
Assistant Professor
Dr. Christina Quick
Assistant Professor
Dr. Nicole Harpold
Assistant Professor
Dr. Donna Rinker
Affiliate Faculty
Dr. Marie VanderKooi
Associate Professor
Dr. Amy Manderscheid
Associate Professor
Contact Us
Let's talk about your academic goals today!
Contact the Office of Student Services to schedule an appointment with an academic advisor:
[email protected]
(616) 331-7160
Related Programs
Master of Science in Nursing (MSN)
Financial Aid
GVSU is a great place for students to invest in their futures. The Office of Financial Aid & Scholarships can help you maximize your investment by working with you to determine how to most effectively meet your unique needs.
The Kirkhof College of Nursing’s Master of Science in Nursing degree, Doctor of Nursing Practice degree, and Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner certificate programs prepare registered nurses to take the national certification exam in their area of specialty (clinical nurse leader, primary care adult/gerontology nurse practitioner, primary care pediatric nurse practitioner, psychiatric mental health nurse practitioner, or nurse executive). Graduates seeking to practice in a state other than Michigan must meet the requirements of that state. For more information regarding state licensure/certification requirements, please visit the National Council of State Boards of Nursing (NCSBN) website at https://www.ncsbn.org/14730.htm.