Doctor of Nursing Practice (D.N.P.)

The School of Nursing offers an innovative doctor of nursing practice program with a family nurse practitioner population focus. This doctoral program prepares nurses to provide health services at the highest level of clinical nursing practice. The curriculum is designed to develop leaders able to expand their impact on the health of society by improving quality of care, patient outcomes and health policy. The program features an integrative health perspective, which prepares graduates as holistic practitioners who understand many different healing methodologies and who practice collaboratively with those who seek care. There is also an emphasis on caring for disadvantaged populations and eliminating health disparities.

The D.N.P. program incorporates professional standards and guidelines from The Essentials of Doctoral Education for Advanced Nursing Practice (AACN, 2006), the Criteria for Evaluation of Nurse Practitioner Programs (NTF, 2012), the Nurse Practitioner Core Competencies (NONPF, 2012), the Population-Focused Family/Across the Lifespan Competencies (NONPF, 2013) and the Oregon State Board of Nursing in preparation of the curriculum and evaluation of outcomes.

Students will complete a practice improvement project related to advanced nursing practice.  The D.N.P. residency is designed for students to demonstrate synthesis of knowledge and use evidence to improve practice or patient outcomes.

D.N.P. Program Goals

The goals of the D.N.P. program reflect the mission of the School of Nursing with the focus on the profession of nursing, leadership, high quality care for all populations, inquiry, and social justice. The goals, competencies and outcomes are in alignment with professional nursing standards and guidelines.

The goals of the D.N.P. program are to graduate competent, entry-level family nurse practitioners and experienced nurse practitioners who:

1. Practice independently in a variety of primary care health environments, translate best evidence into practice, employ a population focus, incorporate an integrative healthcare perspective, and collaborate with multiple disciplines with the goal of providing effective, comprehensive healthcare;
2. Demonstrate leadership in macro and micro healthcare system change and personal practice improvement; and
3. Proactively strive for social justice, actively address health disparities and function as culturally competent practitioners who relate effectively with diverse and underserved individuals, families and populations.

Non-Nurse Practitioner Applicants (DNP)

1. School of Nursing Graduate Applicant Personal Essay.
2. Current Resume
3. Three recommendation forms and letters
4. Official transcripts (from all previously attended academic institutions)
5. A bachelor of science degree in nursing or a master's degree in nursing from an accredited college or university recognized by the University of Portland
6. A bachelor of science degree in nursing or a master’s degree in nursing from a school of nursing accredited by an appropriate national nursing accrediting body.
7. Cumulative G.P.A. of 3.0 or higher (on a 4.0 scale) in the most recently completed nursing degree program. 
8. Graduate Record Examination (G.R.E.) verbal score of 150 or above (500 or above if exam was completed prior to August 1, 2011) and an analytical writing score of 3.5 or above. Applicants with a cumulative G.P.A. of 3.5 or above in a bachelor of science degree in nursing program or a master's degree from an accredited university or college recognized by the University of Portland are not required to submit G.R.E.  scores. 
9. Current unencumbered R.N. license to practice nursing in state of residence. R.N. license in Oregon is encouraged. Additional costs may be incurred for clinical placements outside of Oregon.
10. College-level statistics course with a grade of B or better within three years of acceptance into the program.
11. Preference given to Oregon and Washington applicants with at least two years experience as an RN.
12. An admission interview upon request of the School of Nursing.

Nurse Practitioner Applicants

1. School of Nursing Graduate Applicant Personal Essay
2. Current Resume
3. Three recommendation forms and letters
4. Official transcripts (from all previously attended academic institutions)
5. A master's degree from an accredited college or university recognized by the University of Portland
6. A master’s degree from a school of nursing accredited by an appropriate national nursing accrediting body.
7. Current nurse practitioner license in state of practice and currently employed as a nurse practitioner in a clinical setting.
8. Current unencumbered R.N. license to practice nursing in state of residence.
9. Cumulative G.P.A of 3.0 or above (on a 4.0 scale) in the most recently completed nursing program
10. College-level statistics course with a grade of B or better within three years of acceptance into the program.
11. An admission interview upon request of the School of Nursing.

Total Credit Hours: 123