Post MSN to DNP

The Post-MSN to DNP programs are offered online and address the most contemporary aspects of expert clinical practice and in-depth knowledge and experience in leadership, health systems design and evaluation, evidence-based practice, health policy, and applied research. The programs are designed for current APRNs who wish to further their clinical expertise in their current specialty area or in palliative care. In these programs, a practice improvement project will be implemented with oversight from faculty.

Post-MSN APN graduates do not qualify for certification in an APRN specialty area because the DNP degree is an academic degree that is distinct and separate from the certification process.

Post-MSN Palliative Care graduates are eligible to sit for the Advanced Certified Hospice and Palliative Nurse (ACHPN) exam. More information about the palliative care program can be found below.

Post-Masters DNP APRN Plan of Study

Meet your Lead Faculty, Dr. Whitney Smith

Whitney Smith My name is Whitney Smith and I am the Lead Adult-Gerontology Nurse Practitioner (AGNP). I have been a nurse practitioner (NP) for close to twenty years! I always knew that I wanted to be a health care provider. While I was in college for my Biology degree, I learned about nurse practitioners and how the nursing model guides their holistic patient care - and I was hooked; I knew that this was the type of medicine I wanted to practice! The Medical University of South Carolina (MUSC) was the school I decided on; I received my BSN in 1999, my MSN in 2001, and my DNP in 2017.

I spent much of my clinical career managing acute and chronic illnesses, moving patients toward better health outcomes and a reduction in health care costs. I have worked as a nurse practitioner in women’s health, primary care, and skilled nursing care. I always enjoyed precepting student nurse practitioners and had a desire to eventually teach at the university level. In 2013 I had the amazing opportunity begin my career in academia teaching at my alma mater, here at MUSC!

I am passionate about education; as an educator in the field of nursing I strive to inspire growth and learning in the students I teach. I endeavor to engage their minds and the passions that drive them. I challenge them to become expert diagnosticians as well as compassionate, respectful and innovative providers of medical care. I believe that understanding and teaching quality improvement is integral for enriching patient care, health outcomes and access to care. It is the foundation for the DNP degree. Because my first love was practice, I continue to see patients one day a week at a free clinic. We provide primary care with a focus on chronic disease management for the uninsured and underserved population. We work in interprofessional teams and act as a clinical site for our DN.

Post MSN to DNP Plan of Study

 
Year 1   Fall Semester    
NRDNP 873 Scientific Underpinnings IV 3 sh  (3,0,0)
NRDNP 850 Organizational Theory and Health Care Systems  3 sh  (3,0,0)
NRDNP 860  Applied Epidemiology and Biostatistics  4 sh  (4,0,0) 
Year 1   Spring Semester    
NRDNP 858  Evidenced Based Practice, Quality and Safety  3 sh  (3,0,0) 
NRDNP 846  Frameworks for Leadership  3 sh  (3,0,0) 
NRDNP 708  Advanced Health Policy and Advocacy  3 sh  (3,0,0) 
Year 1   Summer Semester    
NRDNP 862  Practice Inquiry and IRB  3 sh  (3,0,0) 
NRDNP 830  Applied Health Care Economics and Finance  3 sh  (3,0,0) 
Year 2   Fall Semester    
NRDNP 890  Residency  5 sh  (1,0,4) 
NRDNP 836  Informatics in Health Care Delivery  3 sh  (3,0,0) 
Year 2   Spring Semester    
NRDNP  890  Residency  5 sh  (1,0,4) 
 
     

Minimum DNP course work = 38sh