Overview

The College of Nursing at the University of Rhode Island offers a Post-baccalaureate Doctor of Nursing Practice (D.N.P.) degree with nurse practitioner concentrations in adult-gerontology acute care, adult-gerontology primary care and family. 

The purpose of the Post-B.S. to D.N.P. program track is to prepare outstanding and compassionate advanced practice nurses to implement advanced practice at the highest level, translate and implement scientific findings into practice, evaluate outcomes and programs, produce clinical scholarship, transform health care systems and influence policy. Students in the Post-B.S. to D.N.P. program track simultaneously meet the master’s program outcomes and the D.N.P. program outcomes below. Graduates are eligible to register to sit for the certification examination in their clinical specialty offered by national certification organizations (e.g., ANCC and AANP).

Post B.S. – D.N.P. Program Track Requirements

Program requirements include a minimum of 72 credits. D.N.P. required first-level course work (13 credits) includes NUR 651, 652, 660 and HDF 527. Required advanced practice core courses (11 credits) include NUR 503, NUR 504 or 508, NUR 535 and NUR 582. Students choose one of three advanced practice specialty concentrations: adult-gerontology acute care nurse practitioner, adult-gerontology primary care nurse practitioner, or family nurse practitioner, and complete the didactic and clinical practicum courses for that specialty concentration.

The adult-gerontology acute care nurse practitioner specialty concentration courses (18 credits) include NUR 565, 566, 567, 568 and 590. The adult-gerontology primary care nurse practitioner specialty concentration courses (18 credits) are NUR 561, 562, 563, 564 and 590. The family nurse practitioner specialty concentration courses (18 credits) are NUR 531, 532, 533, 534 and 590. Students who wish to obtain their master’s degree after completion of the concentration courses before continuing on to complete the D.N.P. must take NUR 520 (1 credit) and complete a master’s comprehensive exam. The remaining second-level D.N.P. program courses (28 credits) include NUR 549, 551, 680, 686 (6 credits), 688 (7 credits), PHP 540, MBA 540 and 0 to 2 elective credits depending on concentration.

Tuition

Additional information on tuition and a full breakdown of fees can be located on the Enrollment Services Tuition  and Fees webpage.

Financial Aid

A variety of traineeships, graduate assistantships and loans are available to help finance graduate education. More information can be found on the Graduate School Financial  Support webpage.

Admission

Application Requirements

Application deadline is February 15 for matriculation in the following Fall semester. The following are required to complete the online application to the URI Graduate School:

• Transcripts from all post-secondary institutions attended. PLEASE NOTE: If you attended URI as an undergraduate student, you will still need to upload your transcripts. Unofficial copies can be uploaded into the online application. Upon admission, official copies will be required prior to course registration. If any courses were transferred as credit toward your baccalaureate degree, please be sure to upload those transcripts as
• Three letters of recommendation (academic and professional) attesting to the applicant’s ability for graduate study, one of which must be by a doctorally (PhD or DNP) prepared nurse.
• Curriculum vita or resume.
• 1-2 page goal statement which includes your reasons for pursuing advanced study in nursing and planned progression through the program (i.e., part-time or full-time study). Nursing license history will be verified for all clinical track graduate students. Any applicant with license restrictions or recorded incidence should briefly explain the circumstances as part of their goal statement.
• The TOEFL is required for all international applicants for whom English is not the primary language. A TOEFL score > 100 is preferred. 

Admission Requirements

Prospective graduate student applications are reviewed in their entirety. Admission decisions are not based on any single element. Review criteria include the following:

• Completed application with all materials.
• Minimum G.P.A. of 3.0 required; G.P.A. > 3.3 preferred.
• Baccalaureate degree in nursing from a program accredited by the American Association of Colleges of Nursing or the National League for Nursing.
• Eligibility for RN licensure in Rhode Island.
• Goal statement that reflects writing ability and reasons for pursuing education as a nurse practitioner and advanced study in the D.N.P. program.
• Clinical nursing experience prior to enrollment in the advanced practice clinical courses is preferred.
• An introductory statistics course.

Curriculum

The Post-B.S. to D.N.P. Program track requires a minimum of 72 credits. For those students admitted prior to 2020, the curriculum is organized in four areas and includes:

• N.P. required first-level course work (13 credits) includes NUR 651, 652, 660 and HDF 527.
• Second-level D.N.P. program courses (28 credits) include NUR 549, 551, 680, 686 (6 credits), 688 (7 credits), PHP 540, MBA 540 and 0 to 2 elective credits depending on concentration.
• Required advanced practice core courses (11 credits) include NUR 503, NUR 504 or 508, NUR 535 and NUR 582.
• Students choose one nurse practitioner specialty concentration and complete the courses required for that specialty concentration.

The adult-gerontology acute care nurse practitioner specialty concentration courses (18 credits) include NUR 565, 566, 567, 568 and 590. The adult-gerontology primary care nurse practitioner specialty concentration courses (18 credits) are NUR 561, 562, 563, 564 and 590. The family nurse practitioner specialty concentration courses (18 credits) are NUR 531, 532, 533, 534 and 590. Students who wish to obtain their master’s degree after completion of the concentration courses before continuing on to complete the D.N.P. must take NUR 520 (1 credit) and complete a master’s comprehensive exam.