Doctor of Nursing Practice

Program Overview

The Doctor of Nursing Practice degree at UVM equips you for national certification as a nurse practitioner, offering AGNP or FNP tracks. You'll benefit from personalized attention by expert faculty clinicians and small class sizes, ensuring the support necessary for success. Our dedication to diversity and inclusion fosters a welcoming educational atmosphere, complemented by our collaboration with a premier Academic Medical Center and NP primary care practice, providing you with essential hands-on experience. 

Accreditation

The baccalaureate degree program in nursing, Doctor of Nursing Practice program and post-graduate APRN certificate program at the University of Vermont are accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education. The Master of Nursing program is a new program and as such is currently under review in the accreditation process.  The Office of Professional Regulation in the Vermont Secretary of State's office governs Vermont licensure requirements.

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Concentrations

• Adult-gerontology nurse practitioner (AGNP)
• Family nurse practitioner (FNP)

Curriculum

The program comprises 69.5 to 76 credit hours of coursework, 800 to 870 hours of clinical experience, and an additional 240 practicum hours related to the D.N.P. project.

A student with a bachelor's degree may complete the program in three and a half years. A full-time student who has a master's degree in nursing can expect to earn the degree in approximately two years. Nurses with a master's degree in nursing may advance to a postgraduate D.N.P. degree, specializing in primary care or executive nurse leadership.

Adult-Gerontology Nurse Practitioner Program

Semester 1 Courses

• Advanced Pathophysiology
• Advanced Pharmacology
• Advanced Health Assessment
• Biostatistics and Epidemiology

Semester 2 Courses

• Optimizing Health and Management of Community Health Issues
• Practicum in Optimizing Health and Management of Community Health Issues
• Advanced Neuropharmacology
• Fundamentals of Critical Inquiry

Semester 3 Courses

• Theoretical Foundations of Nursing Science
• Healthcare Ethics
• Policy and Politics in Healthcare

Semester 4 Courses

• Advanced Nursing Practice for Older Adults
• Practicum in Nursing for Older Adults
• Professional Role Development
• Advanced Topics in Health Informatics

Semester 5 Courses

• Management of Gendered Healthcare in Women
• Practicum in Women's Gender Specialty
• Healthcare Quality
• Genetics for Clinicians
• DNP Project & Seminar I

Semester 6 Courses

• Population-Based Health for Advanced Practice Nursing
• DNP Project Practicum I: Immersion Practicum

Semester 7 Courses

• Management of Acute and Common Health Conditions in Primary Care
• Acute and Common Health Conditions AGNP Practicum
• Organization, Delivery, and Financing of Healthcare
• DNP Project and Seminar II
• DNP Project Practicum II

Semester 8 Courses

• Management of Chronic and Complex Conditions in Primary Care
• Practicum: Chronic and Complex Conditions, Leadership in Healthcare Systems
• DNP Project and Seminar III
   

Total Credits: 69.5

Total Clinical Hours: A minimum of 1000 direct and indirect clinical practice hours.

Upon program completion, graduates are eligible to sit for the national APRN certification exam. Specific requirements are detailed in the UVM Course Catalog, relevant to the catalog year. Academic standards are outlined in the Nursing Graduate Student Handbook.

Family Nurse Practitioner Program

Semester 1 Courses

• Advanced Pathophysiology
• Advanced Pharmacology
• Advanced Health Assessment
• Biostatistics & Epidemiology

Semester 2 Courses

• Optimizing Health & Management of Community Health Issues
• Practicum: Health & Community Health Issues Management
• Advanced Neuropharmacology
• Pediatric Concepts for APRNs
• Fundamentals of Critical Inquiry

Semester 3 Courses

• Theoretical Foundations of Nursing Science
• Health Care Ethics, Policy, and Politics

Semester 4 Courses

• Primary Care Management of Children and Adolescents
• Practicum: Children and Adolescents Primary Care
• Advanced Nursing Practice for Older Adults
• Professional Role Development
• Advanced Health Informatics Topics

Semester 5 Courses

• Women's Gendered Health Care Management
• Practicum: Women's Gender Specialty
• Quality in Health Care
• Genetics for Clinicians
• DNP Project & Seminar I

Semester 6 Courses

• Population-Based Health in Advanced Nursing Practice
• DNP Project Practicum I
• Immersion Practicum

Semester 7 Courses

• Primary Care Management of Acute & Common Health Conditions
• Practicum: FNP Acute & Common Conditions
• Health Care Organization, Delivery, and Financing
• DNP Project & Seminar II
• DNP Project Practicum II

Semester 8 Courses

• Chronic & Complex Conditions Primary Care Management
• Practicum: Chronic & Complex Conditions
• Health Care Systems Leadership
• DNP Project & Seminar III

Total Credits: 76

Total Clinical Hours: Minimum of 1000 direct and indirect clinical practice hours

Upon program completion, Doctor of Nursing Practice (D.N.P.) graduates are eligible for the national Advanced Practice Registered Nurse (APRN) certification exam. Specific requirements are detailed in the UVM Course Catalog, based on the catalog year. Academic standards are outlined in the College of Nursing and Health Sciences Nursing Graduate Student Handbook.

Deadlines

Program applications are due April 1.

Admissions

• Bachelor's degree in nursing
• RN licensure in Vermont prior to initiating coursework
• College grade point average of 3.0 or higher
• Three letters of recommendation
• Prerequisite courses: Basic physical assessment, Statistics

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

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.

Outcomes

In 2023, UVM nursing graduates attained a 100% pass rate on the NCLEX-RN, significantly surpassing the national average of 87%, and also exceeded a 95% pass rate on the FNP and A/GNP certification exams.

Costs and Funding

Learn more about program costs and financial support options.

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Will courses be online or on campus?

Some courses are available live on campus at set times, while others are provided in a hybrid format with either remote synchronous or asynchronous online delivery. Travel to rural sites requires a car.

How will I know my transcripts and other materials have been received?

UVM will inform you upon the receipt of application materials.

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.