Doctor of Nursing Practice, D.N.P.

The School of Nursing & Health Innovations offers an innovative doctor of nursing practice (D.N.P.) program with a focus on primary care, developing a sustained partnership with patients, and providing integrated, accessible health care services in the primary care setting. Students enrolled in the D.N.P. program are registered nurses who hold a bachelor of science degree in nursing or a master's degree in nursing and become primary care family nurse practitioners (F.N.P.s) and earn the D.N.P. degree. The School of Nursing & Health Innovations' D.N.P. program is accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education and is approved by the Oregon State Board of Nursing. 

The D.N.P.-F.N.P. program integrates The Essentials: Core Competencies for Professional Nursing Education (AACN, 2021), Division 51 of the Oregon Nurse Practice Act (OSBN), the Nurse Practitioner Core Competencies (NONPF, 2022), and the Population-Focused Nurse Practitioner Competencies: Family/Across the Lifespan (NONPF, 2013). The D.N.P.-F.N.P. program incorporates the Criteria for Evaluation of Nurse Practitioner Programs (NTF, 2016) and is guided by the Graduate Competencies and Recommendations for Educating Nursing Students (AACN, 2022) and the Integrative Health Competencies for Primary Care Professionals (NCIPH, 2017). 

All students complete a D.N.P. project (120 practicum hours) to improve practice or patient outcomes based on evidence in NRS 661 DNP Project I and NRS 662 DNP Project II. In addition, all students complete NRS 639 Directed D.N.P. Clinical (300 direct care clinical hours), which is designed for students to demonstrate synthesis of knowledge and specific program competencies. Finally, all students complete NRS 663 DNP Integration, in which they finalize and disseminate their D.N.P. project and D.N.P. program portfolio to demonstrate competency in meeting program outcomes and professional standards. 

Graduates are eligible for F.N.P. national certification through the American Academy of Nurse Practitioners Certification Board (AANPCB) or American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC).

D.N.P. Program Outcomes

Informed by ethical, evidence-based practice, social justice, and equitable, compassionate care to diverse individuals and populations, the D.N.P. program graduate will demonstrate innovative and advanced nursing practice competencies in…

1. Appraising and integrating nursing and interdisciplinary sciences, and generating, applying, and disseminating nursing knowledge and scholarship.
2. Applying and utilizing a holistic person-centered and population level care perspective across the spectrum of healthcare environments.
3. Utilizing a systems-based orientation, emerging informatics, and healthcare technologies to analyze, utilize, and assess the principles of quality and safety in the delivery of health care.
4. Cultivating and advancing a nurse-oriented professional identity to enhance healthcare experiences and outcomes through interprofessional partnerships and collaboration with patients, families, and communities.
5. Advancing their own and others’ leadership practices, developing a habit of lifelong learning, and fostering personal well-being across their professional career.

Admission Requirements

1. D.N.P. writing sample.
   • Essay prompts are provided within the application.
2. Current resume/CV.
3. A bachelor's degree in nursing or a master's degree in nursing from a school of nursing accredited by an appropriate national nursing accrediting body.
   • Cumulative G.P.A. of 3.0 or higher (on a 4.0 scale) in the most recently completed nursing program.
4. Official transcripts from all previously attended academic institutions must be submitted directly from the institution either by email to gradschl@up.edu or by mail to the University of Portland, ATTN: Graduate School, 5000 N. Willamette Blvd., Portland, Oregon, 97203.
   • International Applicants: Transcripts from foreign universities must follow the above guideline as well as be in English or be accompanied by an English translation certified as authentic.
5. Current (or eligible to earn) unencumbered registered nurse (R.N). license to practice nursing in state of residence.
   • R.N. licensure in Oregon is recommended.
   • R.N. licensure in the state in which a student completes clinical hours is required.
   • Additional costs may be incurred for clinical placements outside of Oregon.
6. International Applicants: An official score from the TOEFL (minimum score of 100), IELTS (minimum score of 7.5), or Duolingo (minimum score of 120) exam is required.
7. International Applicants: Proof of financial support will be required to attend the University of Portland but is not required for application review.
8. If an applicant meets the minimum requirements, an admission interview will be offered.

D.N.P. Program Progression Requirements

To progress in the D.N.P. program, students must meet the following criteria:

1. Successfully complete all prerequisites for a course prior to enrolling in a course.
2. Earn a grade of C or better in all required non-clinical courses and a grade of Pass in all required clinical courses, NRS 616, NRS 661, NRS 662, and NRS 663.
3. Earn a minimum G.P.A. of 3.0 each semester.
4. Maintain a cumulative G.P.A. of 3.0.
5. Maintain current, unencumbered R.N. licensure in state of residence and any state in which clinical hours are completed.

Courses (non-clinical and clinical) in the D.N.P program are offered once yearly and intentionally sequenced for achieving clinical practice competencies and successful progression in the program. It is therefore imperative that clinical courses be taken sequentially without breaks. 

Dismissal

A D.N.P. student may be dismissed from the program by the School of Nursing & Health Innovations dean or their designee for any of the following reasons:

1. Cumulative grade point average (G.P.A.) falls below a 3.0 (on a 4.0 scale) two or more times during the program.
2. Semester G.P.A. falls below a 3.0 (on a 4.0 scale) two or more times during the program.
3. Receiving a grade of C- or below or a No Pass in a required non-clinical course, or a No Pass in a required clinical course, or withdrawing from a second attempt (repeat) of a required course.
4. R.N. license in state of residence expires or becomes encumbered.
5. Breach of academic integrity.
6. Unsafe clinical performance.