The Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) degree at USM is a low residency program that prepares graduates to provide the most advanced level of nursing care for individuals and communities. This practice doctorate provides graduates with the skills and tools necessary to assess the evidence gained through nursing research, to evaluate the impact of that research on their practice and, as necessary, make changes to enhance quality of care. This course of study is targeted towards nurses with a master’s degree in advanced practice nursing (nurse practitioner, clinical nurse specialist, nurse midwife), education or leadership. As an integral part of this degree, students must successfully complete a DNP project at the conclusion of this program. This scholarship must demonstrate the students ability to bring evidence-based knowledge into the practice arena and should embrace learning from both coursework and practice application. The competencies attained by this degree are guided by the AACN Level 2 Essentials (AACN, 2021).
The DNP student is required to complete a total of 1000 contact hours. Up to 600 hours may come from an master’s level nursing practicum leaving many DNP students left to complete 400 DNP contact hours as part of the Doctor of Nursing Practice degree. Those nurses entering with less than 600 hours from their master’s degree may be asked to submit a portfolio of qualified scholarly work for contact hour credit toward their 1000 hour requirement. Students must enter the program with a minimum of 200 hours.
Most coursework, scholarly research and practice application will take place online. This degree is low residency where the majority of the coursework will be asynchronous distance education. In an effort to create a community of learners who move through the program simultaneously, a cohort approach for engaging students in their final project work will be emphasized.
The Doctor of Nursing Practice program at the University of Southern Maine School of Nursing is accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education, 655 K Street NW, Suite 750, Washington, DC 20001, 202-887-6791.
