DNP Palliative Care

CON Palliative Care Education

Curriculum

Our program focuses on caring for individuals with life-threatening, progressive illness, emphasizing respect for patients’ and families’ beliefs, values, and choices. Additionally, students will identify a problem in palliative care and address it with evidence-based practice and quality improvement principles. 

MUSC Post-Master’s DNP in Palliative Care prepares students to:

  • Become a leader among advanced practice nurses. Meet all requirements to sit for the Advanced Certified Hospice and Palliative Nurse (ACHPN) exam, including both didactic and clinical hours.
  • Demonstrate expertise in advanced nursing practice roles based on mastery of a specialized area of knowledge relative to palliative care derived from a strong scientific foundation.
  • Evaluate local community and national palliative and hospice care resources for their relevance as an adjunct to care in the management of chronic and advanced pediatric illnesses.
  • Integrate professional, legal, moral, and ethical standards into practice and care of patients on a palliative care trajectory
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There are two areas of study for the Doctor of Nursing Practice - Post-MSN program, which are Advanced Practice Nursing and Lifespan in Palliative Care.

Advanced Practice Nursing

Year 1, Fall B (8/25/25-12/12/25)

NRDNP850 Organizational Theory & Healthcare Management 3
NRDNP860 Applied Epidemiology & Biostatistics 4
NRDNP873 Scientific Underpinnings IV 3
Semester Total 10

Year 1, Spring (1/5/26-5/1/26)

NRDNP858 Evidence-based Practice, Quality & Safety 3
NRDNP846 Frameworks for Leadership 3
Semester Total 6

Year 1, Summer A, Trailer (5/4/26-8/14/26)

NRDNP862 Practice Inquiry & IRB 3
NRDNP830 Applied Healthcare Economics & Finance 3
Semester Total 6

Year 2, Fall B (8/25/25-12/12/25)

NRDNP890 Residency 5
NRDNP836 Informatics in Healthcare Delivery 3
Semester Total 8

Year 2, Spring (1/5/26-5/1/26)

NRDNP890 Residency 5
NRDNP708 Advanced Health Policy & Advocacy 3
Semester Total 8
Curriculum Minimum Total 38

Year 1, Spring (1/5/26-5/1/26)

NRPHD708 Advanced Health Policy & Advocacy 3
NRDNP846 Frameworks for Leadership 3
Semester Total 6

Year 1, Summer A, Trailer (5/4/26-8/14/26)

NRDNP860 Applied Epidemiology & Biostatistics 4
Semester Total 4

Year 2, Fall B (8/25/25-12/12/25)

NRDNP836 Informatics in Healthcare Delivery 3
NRDNP873 Scientific Underpinnings IV 3
Semester Total 6

Year 2, Spring (1/5/26-5/1/26)

NRDNP890 Residency 2
NRDNP858 Evidence-based Practice, Quality & Safety 3
Semester Total 5

Year 2, Summer A, Trailer (5/4/26-8/14/26)

NRDNP830 Applied Healthcare Economics & Finance 3
NRDNP862 Practice Inquiry & IRB 3
Semester Total 6

Year 3, Fall B (8/25/25-12/12/25)

NRDNP850 Organizational Theory & Healthcare Management 3
NRDNP890 Residency 3
Semester Total 6

Year 3, Spring (1/5/26-5/1/26)

NRDNP890 Residency 5
Semester Total 5
Curriculum Minimum Total 38

Lifespan in Palliative Care

Year 1, Fall B (8/25/25-12/12/25)

NRDNP850 Organizational Theory & Healthcare Management 3
NRDNP860 Applied Epidemiology & Biostatistics 4
NRDNP873 Scientific Underpinnings IV 3
Semester Total 10

Year 1, Spring (1/5/26-5/1/26)

NRDNP846 Frameworks for Leadership 3
NRDNP858 Evidence-based Practice, Quality & Safety 3
NRDNP874 Palliative Care Management I 3
Semester Total 9

Year 1, Summer A, Trailer (5/4/26-8/14/26)

NRDNP830 Applied Healthcare Economics & Finance 3
NRDNP875 Palliative Care Management II 3
NRDNP862 Practice Inquiry & IRB 3
Semester Total 9

Year 2, Fall B (8/25/25-12/12/25)

NRDNP836 Informatics in Healthcare Delivery 3
NRDNP890 Residency 5
Semester Total 8

Year 2, Spring (1/5/26-5/1/26)

NRPHD708 Advanced Health Policy & Advocacy 3
NRDNP890 Residency 5
Semester Total 8
Curriculum Minimum Total 44

Year 1, Spring (1/5/26-5/1/26)

NRPHD708 Advanced Health Policy & Advocacy 3
NRDNP846 Frameworks for Leadership 3
NRDNP874 Palliative Care I 3
Semester Total 9

Year 1, Summer A, Trailer (5/4/26-8/14/26)

NRDNP860 Applied Epidemiology & Biostatistics 4
NRDNP875 Palliative Care II 3
Semester Total 7

Year 2, Fall B (8/25/25-12/12/25)

NRDNP873 Scientific Underpinnings IV 3
NRDNP836 Informatics in Healthcare Delivery 3
Semester Total 6

Year 2, Spring (1/5/26-5/1/26)

NRDNP858 Evidence-based Practice, Quality & Safety 3
NRDNP890 Residency 2
Semester Total 5

Year 2, Summer A, Trailer (5/4/26-8/14/26)

NRDNP862 Practice Inquiry & IRB 3
NRDNP830 Applied Healthcare Economics & Finance 3
Semester Total 6

Year 3, Fall B (8/25/25-12/12/25)

NRDNP850 Organizational Theory & Healthcare Management 3
NRDNP890 Residency 3
Semester Total 6

Year 3, Spring (1/5/26-5/1/26)

NRDNP890 Residency 5
Semester Total 5
Curriculum Minimum Total 44

Additional palliative care clinical hours may also be added dependent on individual student goals/needs with the course NRDNP 876.

Graduate students can elect to add Nurse Educator courses to include:

  • NURSM615 Methodology of Online Teaching, 3 credit hours
  • NURSM703 Instructional Processes, 3 credit hours
  • NURSM713 Curriculum Design & Development, 3 credit hours
  • NRPHD800 Mentored Teaching, 3 credit hours