Post-BSN DNP Online

Admission Requirements:

• Bachelor of Science in Nursing degree from a nationally accredited program. (Applicants currently enrolled in a BSN program can apply for Fall admission as long as you will graduate and obtain your RN license prior to the start of classes).
• BSN grade point average (NSG-GPA) of 3.0 on a 4.0 scale. Applicants who attended a BSN program that issued pass or fail grades resulting in a 0.0 GPA will not be a competitive applicant.
• Preferred cumulative grade point average (CUM-GPA) of 3.0 on a 4.0 scale for undergraduate coursework (official transcripts for ALL post-secondary school coursework are required).
• Undergraduate statistics course.
• Unencumbered, active registered nurse (RN) license in state where practicums will be conducted.
• Three references from professionals knowledgeable about the applicant's academic and nursing leadership potential (must use University forms that are available in the online application).
• Current CV or Résumé.
• Personal essay that includes the applicant's professional goals, reason for wanting to study in a particular area of specialization, and how the applicant anticipates the role and scope of the Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) degree, (500 words typed on one page).
• Interview, if requested, by the Admissions, Progression, and Graduation Committee.
• GRE scores are not required.

International Applicants Due to the distance-education nature of this program, MUSC is unable to issue- I-20 forms to allow students to obtain F-1 student visas. Only U.S. citizens, permanent residents, and those holding other valid U.S. visas will be accepted.

Clinical Experience:

Precepted clinical experiences are individually arranged by students. Students can complete clinical experiences in a local community with an approved preceptor and clinical site.  Students should be prepared to travel to a clinical site.  Students must also be prepared to work around the availability of the clinical site and preceptor.  Particular days and times for clinicals cannot be guaranteed.  Post-BSN DNP students will complete between 1,040 and 1,310 clinical hours upon graduation.  Clinical courses require 180 precepted hours (about 12 hours per week) and 225 precepted hours (about 18 hours per week.)  Students working full-time during the program should understand that time and priority must be devoted to clinicals.

Out-of-state students are responsible for contacting their state nursing board to verify any requirements that are needed in order to conduct clinicals as a student or apply for an APRN license in their state upon graduation from an online, out-of-state program.

Health assessment and clinical courses require an on-campus, intensive learning experience once a semester.   Some of these sessions will take place at the MUSC Healthcare Simulation Center.  The 11,000 square-foot simulation center houses more than $900,000 in sophisticated simulation technology, including more than 50 advanced adult and infant simulators. The simulators are used to provide clinical training to nursing, medical and allied health students, as well as continuing education for practicing health care professionals. MUSC's center includes machines that simulate giving birth, an emergency room with four different patients (including trauma), cardiopulmonary resuscitation, an operating room environment, heart attacks and more.

Programs of Study:

Students may enter the DNP program with a BSN.  Specialty areas for Post-BSN DNP students include adult-gerontology, family, pediatric, and psychiatric mental health practice tracks.  Post-BSN DNP graduates from these tracks will be eligible for certification as a primary care nurse practitioner.  A practice improvement project will be completed during the last year of the program under the direction of faculty.

Full and part-time plans of study are available.  Sample plans of study are found below:

Current plans of study

Adult-Gerontology, Pediatric, Family, or Psychiatric Mental Health: Full-time or Part-time

 

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