Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP)

About the Program

Our DNP program educates advanced practice registered nurses and nurse leaders who seek to develop or expand their leadership roles in the health care system. With the knowledge and skills acquired through UML's DNP program, our graduates will be prepared to propose solutions to improve patient care and health care outcomes. This is achieved through an interdisciplinary curriculum which provides nurses with knowledge and skills in evaluation research, health policy, organizational leadership and financing, evidence-based practice and health care informatics. Our DNP graduates will have a positive impact on the health care system by using an evidence-based approach to improve health care delivery.

By enriching our DNP program with content on cultural competency, DNP graduates are prepared to reduce health care disparities for culturally diverse and underserved populations. Our graduates will also have advocacy skills that are essential in influencing governmental and organizational policy decisions.

The DNP Program offers 3 pathways for the completion of the DNP degree:

• Post Baccalaureate DNP (BS-DNP) - may be completed in 4 years full time, including summer semesters, or 5 years, part-time, including summer semesters. Courses are delivered in a hybrid format. Students choosing this option have up to 8 years to complete the requirements for graduation.
  • The BS-DNP pathway offer 2 options:
    1. Adult-Gerontology Primary Care Nurse Practitioner (A-GPCNP)
    2. Family Nurse Practitioner (FNP)
• Post Master's DNP (MS-DNP) - for APRN and non-APRN prepared applicants - may be completed in 3 academic years part time or 2 academic years full time. Courses are delivered in an online format with 5 on campus intensives. Students have up to 5 years to complete requirements for graduation. There is a pathway for APRNs and Non-APRNs.
• Fast Track BS-DNP - GPA of 3.500 is required for applicants from UMass Lowell Solomont School of Nursing baccalaureate program. Students who are completing their BS program in the spring are eligible to apply for the Fast Track BS-DNP option for admission in the following fall term. Students have up to 8 years to complete the requirements for graduation.
  • The BS-DNP pathway offer 2 options in preparation:
    • Adult-Gerontology Primary Care Nurse Practitioner (A-GPCNP)
    • Family Nurse Practitioner (FNP)

See below for the:

• Doctor of Nursing Practice Scholarly Project

BACCALAUREATEPost Baccalaureate Doctor of Nursing Practice Option (BS-DNP)

Specific application requirements include:

• Program application and all required documents submitted through the Graduate Admissions office.
• A baccalaureate degree with a major in Nursing from an accredited program.
• An undergraduate scholastic average of 3.000 or better.
• Official transcripts, from all of previous degree coursework (Associates and Bachelors in Nursing) as well as any completed or in progress graduate courses.
• An introductory course in statistics. Course grade B (3.000 or better) must be on transcripts.
• License to practice nursing in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. Out of state RN licenses are accepted for application review, but all accepted students will need to obtain Massachusetts License prior to practicum courses.
• A resume, summarizing educational and professional nursing experience and any other related honors, special skills or certifications.
• Two letters of recommendation preferably from nursing faculty, supervisors or nurse leader in your organization.
• A goal statement highlighting: relevant work history, immediate and long term professional goals as an advanced-practice nurse, and the reason you chose the BS-DNP Doctor of Nursing Practice degree option. Goal statements should be congruent with the specialty tacks offered at UMass-Lowell (FNP or AGNP) and demonstrate and understanding of the Doctor of Nursing Practice degree.
• Computer literacy with WORD, email, internet searches and electronic learning platforms and programs.
• Completed application and fees.
• An interview.

Degree Pathway Information

• Fall 2024 and beyond

Spring 2024 and prior:

• POST-MASTERSBS-DNP & Fast Track Part-time Pathway
• BS-DNP & Fast Track Full-time Pathway

Interested students may reach out to their faculty advisor to work on a part-time schedule.

POST-MASTERSPost-Masters Doctor of Nursing Practice Option (MS-DNP)

Specific application requirements include:

• Program application submitted to the Graduate Admissions office.
• MS in Nursing with APRN preparation with national certification as an APRN or board eligible for certification OR MS in Nursing with a current RN license.
• Prior official transcripts from undergraduate and graduate programs.
• Two letters of recommendation (one academic recommendation preferred).
• Interview with nursing faculty.
• Minimum cumulative GPA of 3.000 on a 4.0 scale in a nursing Master’s degree program, 3.300 GPA preferred.
• Written narrative of professional goals.
• 500 Master's or Post-Master's practicum hours. Applicants who are not APRNs must provide evidence of practice hour equivalents from their master's program.
• Resume.
• TOEFL if appropriate.

Degree Pathway Information

Fall 2024 and beyond:

• For Non-APRNs
• For APRNs

Spring 2024 and prior:

• MS-DNP & Fast Track Part-time Pathway
• MS-DNP & Fast Track Full-time Pathway

Interested students may reach out to their faculty advisor to work on a part-time schedule.

BSBS-DNP Option (Fast Track)

Specific Application Requirements include:

• Application and all required documentation submitted through Graduate Admissions Office.
• Application fee being waived.
• Applicants must be in their final year of their BS program at UMass Lowell.
• A 3.500 or better GPA in the SSON BS program at the time of application, graduation and a acceptance will be conditional upon passing the NCLEX exam.
• Two letters of recommendation, one from faculty and one from current employer.
• A goal statement highlighting: relevant work history, immediate and long term professional goals as an advanced-practice nurse, and the reason you chose the Doctor of Nursing Practice degree option. Goal statements should be congruent with the specialty tacks offered at UMass-Lowell (FNP or AGNP) and demonstrate and understanding of the Doctor of Nursing Practice degree.
• An interview.

Please note:

Students must be matriculated in the BS to DNP program or MS program to register for the listed below courses:

• NURS.6510,
• NURS.6511,
• NURS.6512,
• NURS.6513
• NURS.6520,
• NURS.6521,
• NURS.6522,
• NURS.6523,
• NURS.6524

Students must be matriculated in the BS to DNP program or DNP program to register for the listed below courses:

• NURS.7700,
• NURS.7710,
• NURS.7720,
• NURS.7730,
• NURS.7740

Contact

Lisa Ann Marchand, DNP, FNP-C, FNAP
Email: Lisa_Marchand@uml.edu

DocNursePracticeDoctor of Nursing Practice SCHOLARLYScholarly Project

• Criteria for DNP Project
• Types of DNP Projects
• DNP Scholarly Project Guidelines
• DNP Proposal
• Completing the DNP Project

The DNP scholarly project reflects the culmination of academic studies completed throughout the DNP program that demonstrates the ability of the student to effect positive change in a health care setting/arena through the careful syntheses of evidence as well as to evaluate the effectiveness of the change.

CDNPSPCriteria for the DNP Scholarly Project

The DNP Scholarly Project Should:

• Focus on a change that impacts healthcare outcomes either through direct or indirect care.
• Have a system (micro-, meso-, or macro-level) or population or aggregate focus.
• Demonstrate implementation in the appropriate arena or area of practice.
• Use a systematic approach and collect data using methods and tools that meet accepted standards.
• Be conducted according to ethical principles and is approved by UMass Lowell Institutional Review Board if applicable.
• Include a plan for sustainability (e.g. financial, systems, or political realities).
• Include an evaluation of processes and/or outcomes (formative or summative).
• Be disseminated to the appropriate audiences.

TDNPSPTypes of DNP Scholarly Projects

Some examples of scholarly projects include, but are not limited to:

• Quality improvement projects to address gaps in practice.
• Evaluation of implementation of evidence-based practice guidelines.
• Development of models of care or programs.
• Evaluation of financial analyses to compare models of care.
• Analysis of policies related to health care practice.
• Development of inter-professional and/or intra-professional collaborative projects to implement policy or evaluate care models.

DNPSPGDNP Scholarly Projects Guidelines

Students choose a DNP Project Chair at the designated point in course work. The Chair, A UMass Lowell faculty member or emeritus with a terminal nursing degree, guides the student through the development to the conclusion of the project acting as the PI if an IRB is required at UML. A Community Mentor, who represents the health care setting, is selected by the student and the Chair, and is the third member of the DNP Scholarly Project Team. The UMass Lowell IRB may determine that the project is expedited or exempt. IRB status may be determined by the health care setting in which the project is conducted. Students are required to complete the DNP Scholarly Project Team Request Form (DocuSign).

DNPPropDNP Proposal

The Scholarly Project Proposal must be approved by the Scholarly Project Team. A proposal hearing is required, and upon successful completion of the hearing, the DNP Scholarly Project is completed and signed. DNP Scholarly Project Proposal Approval Form (DocuSign).

Oral Presentation

Students are required to present a final oral presentation of their DNP Scholarly Project. Upon successful completion of the presentation the student's DNP Project is approved and the DNP Scholarly Project Approval is signed. DNP Scholarly Project Approval Form (DocuSign).

CDNSPCompletion of the DNP Scholarly Project

Students are required to complete all course work, present a final an oral presentation, prepare a manuscript of publishable quality, disseminate the project through an approved means, and complete their portfolio. The Project Approval Form is completed and signed. DNP Project Paper Approval Form (DocuSign).

Stop Out Procedure

1. Students with less than the 60 credits completed of the required courses who wishes to stop out with a master's degree, may petition to drop down to the master's program on a space available basis in the master's program. These students must have an earned GPA of at least a 3.0, be in good standing with GPA attainment as indicated above. The students who wish to return to complete the DNP degree must reapply. Students may be readmitted on a space available basis.

DNP Program Outcomes

1. Translate, integrate, and apply evidence from nursing and other disciplines to improve the quality of care and provide innovation in the practice of advanced nursing care.
2. Lead and collaborate in the delivery of holistic, compassionate, evidence-based person-centered care through the assessment, diagnoses, management, and evaluation of advanced nursing practice.
3. Apply leadership skills in traditional and non-traditional partnerships across the health care continuum to improve equitable population health outcomes.
4. 4Advance the practice of nursing through the translation of evidence to generate clinical practice improvements to transform health care.
5. Lead, integrate, and operationalize principles of safety and improvement science to support performance measures that promote a culture of quality and safety in healthcare organizations.
6. Lead interprofessional collaborations with care team members, patients, families, communities, and other stake holder in the delivery of safe, effective, care.
7. Respond to and lead organizational and systems approaches across complex healthcare systems to foster cost-effective, safe, quality, and equitable care to diverse populations.
8. Utilize, incorporate, and appraise informatics and healthcare technologies used to gather data, form information to drive decision making, and comply with best practices and professional and regulatory standards to inform change that improves the delivery of safe, high-quality, and efficient healthcare services.
9. Model a professional identity that incorporates accountability, ethical comportment, and a collaborative disposition that reflects the characteristics and values of an advanced nursing practitioner.
10. Model responsibility for lifelong learning, personal well-being, professional career development, and reflection for personal growth as an advanced practicing nurse and support the acquisition of nursing experience and the assertion of leadership.

Updated 7/17/2024.