Sacred Heart University – Online Post-Master’s Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP)

The College of Nursing at Sacred Heart University offers an online Post-Master’s Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) program. This is a cohort-based, practice-focused degree program that can lead to the highest level of nursing leadership roles available. It is ideal for full-time working masters-educated midwives, nurse administrators, clinical nurse leaders, nurse practitioners and similarly educated nurses. Topics covered may include systems leadership and thinking, the scientific basis for nursing practice, population health, health care policy and advocacy, information technology, and analytical methods.

The online DNP comprises 39 credits and begins in the fall, spring, or summer. Part-time students can complete the program in three years. The DNP includes online coursework, an on-campus orientation, and one on-campus residency with an additional residency option available. A DNP scholarly project includes practice hours at the healthcare organization with which students complete the project. Students may need to travel some distance to access clinical practicum sites.

Sacred Heart University uses the Blackboard Learning Management System (LMS) to deliver courses asynchronously and combines this with online group discussions. Students take three to six credits each semester during the first year, two courses per semester during the second year, and complete the project courses the third year. SHU utilizes multimedia tools such as VoiceThread, Quizlet, podcasts, FlipGrid, Mentimeter, and Group Me.

Courses for the online DNP include courses such as Theoretical Components of Nursing Science; Healthcare Policy, Advocacy, & Ethics; Strategic Leadership & Collaboration in Healthcare Organizations; Advanced Care of Special Populations; Epidemiology & Population Health; and Clinical Scholarship & Analytical Methods for Evidence-Based Practice I-II. Students choose one elective from Palliative Care or Executive Leadership. The scholarly project courses include DNP Project Topic Development; Methodology Development; Proposal Presentation; Responsible Conduct of Research; Implementation & Data Analysis; Project Presentation, Dissemination, & Evaluation; and DNP Scholarship & Advanced Practice I-II.

Sacred Heart University is accredited by the New England Commission of Higher Education (NECHE). The online DNP is accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE).