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Capella University
SCHOOL OF PUBLIC SERVICE LEADERSHIP DEPARTMENT OF NURSING

DNP Doctor of Nursing Practice Doctor of Nursing Practice

What You'll Learn

Outcome goals and graduates' proficiency levels

Each doctoral program and specialization is designed around expected learning outcomes (see Expected Program Outcomes below). End of program performance is determined during the comprehensive exam and dissertation process. Because the work is unique to each learner's dissertation or research topic and the criteria for evaluation are aligned to that work, we do not collect data on proficiency levels for doctoral programs.

Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP)

Quality and Professional Relevance

  • The DNP curriculum incorporates The Essentials of Doctoral Education for Advanced Nursing Practice established by the American Association of Colleges of Nursing (AACN).
  • Capella's BSN, MSN and DNP programs are accredited* by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE).
  • The DNP focuses on practical contributions to the nursing field and can be completed more quickly than a research-focused PhD.
  • The DNP is the preferred credential for advanced practice nurses and will be the required terminal degree for the profession by 2015.
  • Field experiences, along with many of your courseroom assignments, allow you to apply what you're learning and focus on your areas of interest.
  • Capella's DNP focuses on administrative, organizational, and systems leadership competencies to prepare you for a variety of nursing leadership positions.

Expected Program Outcomes

  1. Employ a science-based theoretical foundation to develop and evaluate new practices and approaches to health care delivery.
  2. Lead and create health and care delivery models for quality improvement.
  3. Evaluate and analyze theory and research-based methods to improve the reliability of health care practices and outcomes.
  4. Lead planning and implementation of health care technologies for quality improvement appropriate for specialized areas of practice.
  5. Develop, implement, and advocate for health care policy that meets the needs of specific populations.
  6. Employ inter-professional collaboration skills to improve patient and population health.
  7. Develop, implement, and evaluate evidence-based health promotion, prevention, and intervention service delivery models for individuals, aggregates, and populations.

*The BSN, MSN, and DNP degree programs at Capella University are accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education, One Dupont Circle, NW, Suite 530, Washington, DC 20036, (202) 887-6791 http://www.aacn.nche.edu/ccne-accreditation.