• advanced

The Direct-entry DNP accelerated degree program prepares individuals with a baccalaureate degree in a field other than nursing to provide primary care as advanced practice registered nurses (APRNs).

Students choose one of two tracks: Adult-Gerontology Nurse Practitioner (AGNP) or Family Nurse Practitioner (FNP).

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Curriculum

The Direct-entry DNP degree program is designed for the individual who holds a bachelor’s degree in a non-nursing field and who has decided to pursue graduate nursing education. Students do not earn a BSN degree, but progress directly to the DNP. The program is designed to be completed in 11 semesters.

Degree Requirements – Adult-Gerontology Nurse Practitioner (106 Credits)

Semester 1

  • GRNS 6000: Professional Nursing Issues
  • GRNS 5280: Pharmacology
  • GRNS 6020: The Science of Nursing: Adults and Elders-I
  • GRNS 6030: Practicum: Adults and Elders
  • GRNS 5130: Pathophysiology

Winter Intersession

  • GRNS 6040: Practicum: Adults and Elders II

Semester 2

  • GRNS 6050: Practicum: Complex Nursing Care of Adults and Elders
  • GRNS 6060: The Science of Nursing: Mental Health
  • GRNS 6080: The Science of Nursing: Women and Newborns
  • GRNS 6090: Practicum: Women and Newborns
  • GRNS 5320: The Science of Nursing: Children
  • GRNS 6120: The Science of Nursing: Adults and Elders II

Semester 3

  • GRNS 6070: Practicum: Mental Health
  • GRNS 6110: Practicum: Children
  • GRNS 6140: The Science of Nursing: Community/Public Health
  • GRNS 6150: Practicum: Community/Public Health

Semester 4

  • GRNS 6350: Advanced Pathophysiology
  • GRNS 7040: Advanced Pharmacology
  • GRNS 7060: Advanced Health Assessment
  • STAT 5000: Biostatistics & Epidemiology

Semester 5

  • GRNS 7070: Optimizing Health & Management of Community Health Issues
  • GRNS 7080: Practicum: Optimizing Health & Management of Community Health Issues
  • GRNS 7050: Advanced Neuropharmacology
  • NH 6899: Fundamentals of Critical Inquiry

Semester 6

  • GRNS 6240: Theoretical Foundation of Nursing Science
  • GRNS 6260: Health Care Ethics, Policy & Politics

Semester 7

  • GRNS 7120: Advanced Nursing Practice of Older Adults
  • GRNS 7130: Practicum: Nursing Older Adults
  • GRNS 6210: Professional Role Development
  • GRNS 6270: Advanced Topics in Health Informatics

Semester 8

  • GRNS 7170: Management of Women Gendered Health Care
  • GRNS 7180: Practicum: Women Gender Specialty
  • GRNS 6280: Quality in Health Care
  • GRNS 6250: Genetics for Clinicians
  • GRNS 7220: DNP Project & Seminar I

Semester 9

  • GRNS 7000: Population-based Health for Advanced Practice Nursing
  • GRNS 7230: DNP Project Practicum I
  • GRNS 7300: Practicum: Immersion

Semester 10

  • GRNS 7140: Primary Care Management of Acute & Common Health Conditions
  • GRNS 7150: Practicum: Acute & Common Health Conditions AGNP
  • GRNS 6220: Organization, Delivery & Financing of Health Care
  • GRNS 7240: DNP Project & Seminar II
  • GRNS 7250: DNP Project Practicum II

Semester 11

  • GRNS 7190: Primary Care Management of Chronic & Complex Conditions
  • GRNS 7200: Practicum: Chronic & Complex Conditions
  • GRNS 7010: Leadership of Health Care Systems
  • GRNS 7260: DNP Project & Seminar III
  • GRNS 7300: Practicum: Immersion

Post-DEPN Year 1 (Semester 1-3) Total Credits: 69.5

Year 2-4 (Semester 4-11) Total Clinical Hours: Minimum of 1000 direct + indirect clinical practice hours

Degree Requirements – Family Nurse Practitioner (112.5 Credits)

Semester 1

  • GRNS 7300: Professional Nursing Issues
  • PRNU 3228: Pharmacology
  • GRNS 6020: The Science of Nursing: Adults and Elders-I
  • GRNS 6030: Practicum: Adults and Elders
  • GRNS 5130: Pathophysiology

Winter Intersession

  • GRNS 6040: Practicum: Adults and Elders II

Semester 2

  • GRNS 6050: Practicum: Complex Nursing Care of Adults and Elders
  • GRNS 6060: The Science of Nursing: Mental Health
  • GRNS 6080: The Science of Nursing: Women and Newborns
  • GRNS 6090: Practicum: Women and Newborns
  • GRNS 5320: The Science of Nursing: Children
  • GRNS 6120: The Science of Nursing: Adults and Elders II

Semester 3

  • GRNS 6070: Practicum: Mental Health
  • GRNS 6110: Practicum: Children
  • GRNS 6140: The Science of Nursing: Community/Public Health
  • GRNS 6150: Practicum: Community/Public Health

Semester 4

  • GRNS 6350: Advanced Pathophysiology
  • GRNS 7040: Advanced Pharmacology
  • GRNS 7060: Advanced Health Assessment
  • STAT 5000: Biostatistics & Epidemiology

Semester 5

  • GRNS 7070: Optimizing Health & Management of Community Health Issues
  • GRNS 7080: Practicum: Optimizing Health & Management of Community Health Issues
  • GRNS 7050: Advanced Neuropharmacology
  • GRNS 7090: Pediatrics Concepts for APRNs
  • NH 6899: Fundamentals of Critical Inquiry

Semester 6

  • GRNS 6240: Theoretical Foundation of Nursing Science
  • GRNS 6260: Health Care Ethics, Policy & Politics

Semester 7

  • GRNS 7100: Primary Care Management of Children & Adolescents
  • GRNS 7110: Primary Care Management of Children & Adolescents Practicum
  • GRNS 7120: Advanced Nursing Practice of Older Adults
  • GRNS 6210: Professional Role Development
  • GRNS 6270: Advanced Topics in Health Informatics

Semester 8

  • GRNS 7170: Management of Women Gendered Health Care
  • GRNS 7180: Practicum: Women Gender Specialty
  • GRNS 6280: Quality in Health Care
  • GRNS 6250: Genetics for Clinicians
  • GRNS 7220: DNP Project & Seminar I

Semester 9

  • GRNS 7000: Population-based Health for Advanced Practice Nursing
  • GRNS 7230: DNP Project Practicum I
  • GRNS 7300: Practicum: Immersion

Semester 10

  • GRNS 7140: Primary Care Management of Acute & Common Health Conditions
  • GRNS 7160: Practicum: Acute & Common Health Conditions FNP
  • GRNS 6220: Organization, Delivery & Financing of Health Care
  • GRNS 7240: DNP Project & Seminar II
  • GRNS 7250: DNP Project Practicum II

Semester 11

  • GRNS 7190: Primary Care Management of Chronic & Complex Conditions
  • GRNS 7200: Practicum: Chronic & Complex Conditions
  • GRNS 7010: Leadership of Health Care Systems
  • GRNS 7260: DNP Project & Seminar III

Post-DEPN Year 1 (Semester 1-3) Total Credits: 76

Year 2-4 (Semester 4-11) Total Clinical Hours: Minimum of 1000 direct + indirect clinical practice hours

NOTES: The Direct-Entry (DEPN) program prepares students to progress into the DNP-Primary Care Nurse Practitioner track. This program is not a stand-alone accelerated Registered Nurse (RN) completion program and a Bachelor of Science in nursing is not awarded. Completion of the first direct-entry year (semester 1-3) allows students to take the National Council Licensure Examination (NCLEX-RN ®) in Vermont. Students who successfully pass the NCLEX exam complete the individual state Board of Nursing licensing requirements to be eligible to practice as a Registered Nurse (RN). Holding an active Vermont license is a requirement for completion of the nurse practitioner clinical training. Please refer to the individual state board of nursing for licensing requirements, completion of the first direct-entry year does not necessarily transfer to other states for licensure as an RN. The UVM Course Catalogue details specific requirements as designated by catalogue year. Academic standards are outlined in the CNHS Nursing Graduate Student Handbook.

Admission Requirements

  • Bachelor's degree
  • College grade point average of 3.0 or higher
  • Three letters of recommendation
  • Personal statement and resume
  • Prerequisite courses (grade point average of 3.0 or higher)
    • Anatomy and Physiology I and II
    • Microbiology
    • Nutrition
    • Statistics

Graduate Record Examination (GRE) scores are not required, but may be included to complement your application.

For International Applicants:

  • International students are eligible to receive an I-20 immigration document to participate in this program. However, whether a student has Vermont RN licensure or not to begin the program, UVM is unable to authorize students for nursing employment experiences while in the Program as off-campus authorization (CPT) would not be possible because of the curricular structure of our program. While limited on-campus work would be possible, the UVM Medical Center is not an on-campus employment location, so students should expect not to have any paid nursing opportunities if they come to the program as an F-1 student. Post-Graduate OPT would be an option for students completing the program. This program is not on the STEM Designated list and thus not eligible for OPT beyond one year. Further questions can be directed to internationalstudents@uvm.edu.

Virtual Info Sessions

Email cnhsgrad@uvm.edu to register for an information session.

Student Outcomes

 

National Certification Exam Pass Rate

Academic Year 2022

Academic Year 2021

Academic Year 2020

Percentage of UVM students who passed the national certification exam 

100%

100%

100%

 

Frequently Asked Questions

How long will the program take to complete?

A full-time student may expect to complete the program in a minimum of four years. Full-time status for graduate students is 9 credits per semester.

What are the DNP degree requirements?

Successful completion of nurse practitioner coursework (semester 4-11) with a grade point average of 3.0, clinical practice experiences, and a comprehensive exam are required for graduation with the DNP degree. Upon completion of these requirements, students are eligible to sit for the national nurse practitioner certification exam. Students who successfully pass the NP board exam AND complete the individual state Board of Nursing Advance Practice Registered Nurse (APRN) licensing requirements are eligible to practice in the primary care population in which the student is prepared (Family Nurse Practitioner or Adult Gerontology Nurse Practitioner) .

Will courses be online, hybrid, or on campus?

Some courses are offered live on campus at scheduled times; others are offered in hybrid format with remote synchronous delivery or asynchronous delivery online. A car is needed for travel to rural sites.

What about financial aid and tuition costs for the program?

For current information about financial aid, tuition, and fees, refer to the Student Financial Services website. If you have questions about whether you are an in-state or out-of-state resident, refer to the Registrar's Residency Policy.

How can I find out if UVM has received my transcripts (or any other materials)?

UVM will notify you when application materials have been received.

When will I learn whether I have been admitted to the program?

All applications will be reviewed in December and decisions will go out by the end of January.

Can international students work while in the program?

International students are eligible to receive an I-20 immigration document to participate in this program. However, whether a student has Vermont RN licensure or not to begin the program, UVM is unable to authorize students for nursing employment experiences while in the Program as off-campus authorization (CPT) would not be possible because of the curricular structure of our program. While limited on-campus work would be possible, the UVM Medical Center is not an on-campus employment location, so students should expect not to have any paid nursing opportunities if they come to the program as an F-1 student. Post-Graduate OPT would be an option for students completing the program. This program is not on the STEM Designated list and thus not eligible for OPT beyond one year. Further questions can be directed to internationalstudents@uvm.edu.

 

Accreditation: The Doctor of Nursing Practice program at the University of Vermont is accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (http://www.ccneaccreditation.org).

Contact Us

 

 

PROGRAM SNAPSHOT

Application Deadline: December 1

Term Start Date: August

Credits: 106 - 112.5

Duration: 4 years

Learning Format: On campus

For tuition information, visit the UVM Student Financial Services website.

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