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Nursing Practice, D.N.P. (Post-Master of Science)

A nursing instructor, wearing a green top and holding an iPad, speaks to a classroom of students.

1. Knowledge for Nursing Practice: Integrates an understanding of nursing’s distinct and shared disciplinary perspectives and applies theoretical and empirical knowledge from the humanities and natural, social, behavioral and nursing sciences to form the basis for clinical judgment and innovation in nursing practice.

2. Person-centered Care: Engages in nursing care through the relational lens, which fosters caring relationships, mutuality, active participation, and individual empowerment in the delivery and communication of compassionate person-centered nursing care through cura personalis.

3. Population Health: Collaborates with diverse stakeholders for the advancement of effective partnerships, health policy and improvement of equitable population health outcomes related to the social determinants of health.

4. Scholarship for Nursing Discipline: Applies, translates, and implements best evidence and client values into clinical decision-making.

5. Quality and Safety: Enhances quality of care while minimizing risk of harm to clients and providers through system effectiveness and individual performance.

6. Interprofessional Partnerships: Collaborates across professions with care team members, clients, clients, families, communities and other stakeholders to optimize care, enhance the healthcare experience and strengthen outcomes.

7. Systems-Based Practice: Effectively and proactively coordinates resources to provide safe, quality and equitable care to diverse populations within complex healthcare systems to address social and structural determinants of health.

8. Informatics and Healthcare Technologies: Utilizes information processes and technologies to manage and improve the delivery of safe, high-quality, and efficient healthcare services.

9. Professionalism: Cultivates a sustainable professional nursing identity, accountability, perspective, collaborative disposition and ethical principles that reflect nursing’s characteristics and values.

10. Personal, Professional, and Leadership Development: Participates in activities and self-reflection through Ignatian pedagogy that foster personal health, resilience, and well-being while supporting the acquisition of nursing expertise, lifelong learning and the leadership continuum.

Admission Requirements

The Trudy Busch Valentine School of Nursing adheres to the principles of a holistic admission process in which selection criteria are broad-based and linked to our University’s and school’s mission and goals. While we do consider academic metrics, we also look at applicant experiences, attributes, potential for success, and how applicants may contribute to the school’s learning environment and to the profession.

SLU accepts applications to the Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) and Master of Science in Nursing-Nurse Practitioner (MSN-NP) programs from students living in the following states: Alabama, Alaska, Arizona, Arkansas, California, Colorado, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Michigan, Minnesota, Mississippi, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, Nevada, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New Mexico, North Carolina, Ohio, Oklahoma, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Vermont, Virginia, Washington, West Virginia and Wisconsin.

Depending on the state, clinical fees may be required. 

General Applicant Criteria

  • A cumulative grade point average of 3.2 or more on a 4.00 scale.
  • A degree in nursing from a program accredited by a nationally recognized accrediting agency.
  • An unencumbered registered nurse license in the state in which clinical experience will be done.

Applicant Criteria for the Doctor of Nursing Practice - Post Master's APRN DNP:

  • This program is available to students who possess a master's degree in an advanced practice area such as a nurse practitioner or clinical nurse specialist. We offer two options within this program: Advanced Nursing Practice and Nurse Executive Leader.  SLU’s 30-credit-hour program requires one trip to campus and can be completed in one year.

  • Must have recognition as an advanced practice nurse in the state in which clinical experiences will be done.

  • Successful completion of advanced pathophysiology, advanced pharmacology, and advanced health assessment at the graduate level.
  • Inferential or biostatistics course within the last five years. (This may be taken at Saint Louis University during the summer prior to the start of the DNP program).

Applicant Criteria for the Doctor of Nursing Practice - Post Master's non-APRN DNP Nurse Executive Leader:

  • This program is available to students who possess a master's degree in a nursing or related health field. This program offers the Nurse Executive Leader track.  SLU’s 30-credit-hour Nurse Executive Leader program requires one trip to campus and can be completed in one year.
  • Must have recognition as a registered nurse in the state in which clinical experiences will be done.

  • Inferential or biostatistics course within the last five years. (This may be taken at Saint Louis University during the summer prior to the start of the DNP program).

Application Requirements

Applying for the Post master-D.N.P. program requires careful planning to ensure that all admission requirements are met. You may experience a delay in processing if the application instructions are not followed exactly as listed.

Please follow the five steps outlined below to apply:

  • Step 1: Application
    Submit the application form and pay the associated fee through NursingCAS. Select Saint Louis University.
  • Step 2: Transcripts
    Please submit your official transcripts from all colleges/universities attended directly to NursingCAS. They will provide details when the application is initiated.
  • Step 3: Resume or Curriculum Vitae
    Attach your CV/résumé documenting your education, clinical nursing experience and service to the nursing profession/community within the NursingCAS application.
  • Step 4: Professional Goal Statement
    Attach your professional goal statement within the NursingCAS application. The goal statement should outline your goals for doctoral study, research translation area of interest for the capstone project and your career goals. The statement should be one-to-two pages and double-spaced.
  • Step 5: RN License
    Attach a copy of your unencumbered registered nurse license in the state in which clinical experience will be done within the NursingCAS application.

International Students

International students on F-1 or J-1 student visas are not eligible for admission to this nursing program because this program is offered completely online. 

Application Deadlines

Admissions are rolling until the following deadlines:

  • Fall semester start: July 15
  • Spring semester start: December 15
  • Summer semester start: April 15

Review Process

Applications will be reviewed shortly after all application requirements have been submitted. 

Program Requirements 

NURS 5000Epidemiology3
NURS 6110Health Care Delivery Systems3
NURS 6130Interprofessional Collaboration (75 Clinical Hours)3
NURS 6140Leadership in Health Care (75 Clinical Hours)3
NURS 6150Clinical Informatics3
NURS 6160Evidence-Based Practice I (75 Clinical Hours)3
NURS 6170Evidence-Based Practice II3
NURS 6805Introduction to Applied Statistics for Healthcare Research3
NURS 6960Doctor of Nursing Practice Project Management (Can be taken over multiple semesters, 3 credits total)3
NURS 6961Doctor of Nursing Practice Project (Can be taken over multiple semesters, 3 credits total, 225 Clinical Hours)3
Total Credits30

Continuation Standards

Students must maintain a cumulative grade point average (GPA) of 3.00 in all graduate/professional courses.

Roadmaps are recommended semester-by-semester plans of study for programs and assume full-time enrollment unless otherwise noted.  

Courses and milestones designated as critical (marked with !) must be completed in the semester listed to ensure a timely graduation. Transfer credit may change the roadmap.

This roadmap should not be used in the place of regular academic advising appointments. All students are encouraged to meet with their advisor/mentor each semester. Requirements, course availability and sequencing are subject to change.

Plan of Study Grid
Year One
FallCredits
NURS 6150 Clinical Informatics (1st session 8-Week Course) 3
NURS 6110 Health Care Delivery Systems (2nd session 8-Week Course) 3
NURS 6160 Evidence-Based Practice I 3
 Credits9
Spring
NURS 6130 Interprofessional Collaboration (1st session 8-Week Course, 75 Clinical Hours) 3
NURS 6140 Leadership in Health Care (2nd session 8-Week Course, 75 Clinical Hours) 3
NURS 6170 Evidence-Based Practice II 3
 Credits9
Summer
NURS 6805 Introduction to Applied Statistics for Healthcare Research 3
NURS 5000 Epidemiology 3
 Credits6
Year Two
Fall
NURS 6960 Doctor of Nursing Practice Project Management 3
NURS 6961 Doctor of Nursing Practice Project (225 Clinical Hours) 3
 Credits6
 Total Credits30

Apply for Admission

For additional admission questions, please contact the School of Nursing's recruitment and enrollment staff:

Undergraduate Inquiries
314-977-8995 
slunurse@slu.edu 

Graduate Inquiries
314-977-8995
slunurse@slu.edu