Doctor of Nursing Practice

Georgia Baptist College of Nursing of Mercer University  accepted the inaugural class to the Doctor of  Nursing Practice (DNP) degree program in August 2010!  Five students from the inaugural class graduated in May 2012.

The DNP degree program prepared by nursing faculty at Georgia Baptist College of Nursing adheres to the American Association of Colleges of Nursing (AACN), The Essentials of Doctoral Education for Advanced Nursing Practice. 2006.  The DNP degree program focuses on the three major categories of practice: (1) direct care for individual clients, (2) health care for aggregates, communities, and populations, and (3) management of health care through roles in administration, policy development, and quality assurance. Courses are taught primarily online.

The purpose of the Doctor of Nursing Practice degree program at Mercer University is to build upon the foundation of advanced nursing skills to prepare nurses for leadership roles in health care delivery, and to propose solutions for the improvement of health care outcomes for individuals and for society.  The DNP degree program will prepare advanced practice nurse leaders to:

• Refine advanced practice competencies for increasingly complex practice, academic, and leadership roles.
• Enhance knowledge to improve health outcomes for individuals, groups, and communities.
• Assume leadership roles in health care organizational management, health policy development, and quality assurance.DNP

Please join us for an Information Session.

DNP Program Outcomes

1. Translate current research, existing literature, and scientific findings into high quality evidence based nursing care for individuals, families, and communities.
2. Engage in clinical scholarship through the effective use of information technology to guide practice and improve health outcomes.
3. Integrate principles of business, finance, economics, and health policy with essential leadership/management skills required for success in today's complex health care system.
4. Advocate for social justice, equity, and ethical policies to meet current and future needs of diverse and vulnerable patient populations.
5. Critically assess cultural, political, economic, and sociological factors which influence health care and health care policy.
6. Explore ethical issues, professional responsibilities, legal obligations, and personal convictions as they impact professional and situational dilemmas in health care.
7. Demonstrate leadership skills through interprofessional collaboration to analyze complex practice and organizational issues for improvement of health outcomes.
8. Evaluate outcomes of practice, practice patterns, and systems of care in a variety of health care settings against national benchmarks to determine variances in practice outcomes and population trends.
9. Utilize epidemiologic principles to evaluate population health trends and emerging health issues both nationally and globally.
10. Promote nursing as a professional discipline through the application of theory based nursing to advanced practice.
    

The College is currently accepting applications to the DNP program for fall 2013. The DNP degree program offers a concentrated plan of study which can be completed over five-semesters.  The plan includes coursework during the summer months.  The curriculum plan can also be extended over eight semesters for the student who desires a more part-time plan.

• Frequently Asked Questions
• Five-Semester Curriculum Plan
• Five-Semester Curriculum Plan with Nurse Educator Courses
• Eight-Semester Curriculum Plan
• Admission Process
• Application
  
• Course Descriptions

Graduate Statistics Course

Whether you want to enter one of our doctoral programs or attend another College, often a recent graduate level statistics class is required. Students who are accepted into one of the nursing doctoral programs are automatically considered for placement in the graduate-level statistics course.

Find out more information about the statistical course requirement for graduate students.

Loan Program

For the 2012-2013 Academic Year, Mercer University is the recipient of Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) funding through the Nurse Faculty Loan Program (NFLP). This funding is available to qualified nursing students enrolled in the graduate education which includes coursework in nursing education.  Funding can be applied towards tuition and fees.