Online BSN to DNP Classes

Healthcare professionals currently face an exciting transitional moment. Not only have aging baby boomers and their increasing need for care stimulated nationwide demand for nurses and other direct-care workers, but also, as a wave of baby boomer healthcare professionals begin to retire, their high-level positions are opening up for the next generation of healthcare leaders.

For nurses seeking to advance their careers, a Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) degree may help with learning the skills required for pursuing the highest tier of nursing positions. Some DNP programs accept students with BSN degrees, often awarding them both MSN and DNP degrees upon completion. Nurses with BSNs eager to pursue leadership positions may find the right fit in online BSN to DNP programs. An online BSN to DNP curriculum is intensive, but choosing a specialized focus can help you get thorough preparation for your intended career path.

Maryville University Online BSN to DNP Curriculum

The accelerated BSN to DNP programs online at Maryville University can provide students with the skills and resources needed to begin the process of achieving their healthcare goals.

Learn more about Maryville’s Online BSN to DNP course offerings here:

Online BSN to DNP Core Curriculum

BSN to DNP | Credits by Concentration

AGPCNP 68 Credit Hours, AGACNP 74 Credit Hours, FNP 74 Credit Hours, PNP 71 Credit Hours, PMHNP 77 Credit Hours

BSN to DNP | Core Courses

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NURS 600	Theoretical Foundations of Nursing Practice	3 Credits
The focus of this course is to critique, evaluate and apply appropriate theory within advanced nursing practice.
NURS 601	Evidence Based Practice in Nursing	3 Credits
This course explores evidence-based practice as it relates to changing and improving current advanced nursing knowledge and application.
NURS 603	Professional Role Development: Advanced Practice Nurse	3 Credits
This course provides a theoretical foundation for exploring, analyzing and evaluating advanced nursing practice roles within the health care system. Legal and ethical contexts are included.
NURS 610	Health Promotion/Disease Prevention	3 Credits
This course focuses on health screening, health promotion and disease prevention at the individual, regional and national level. This includes the exploration at the advanced nursing practice role to direct program planning, development, implementation and evaluation to improve healthcare outcomes.
NURS 611	Advanced Pathophysiology	3 Credits
Provides the basis for understanding the pathophysiology of diseases and the changes in normal function that result in manifestations indicative of illness across the lifespan.
NURS 612	Advanced Health Assessment	5 Credits
This course explores focused and comprehensive health assessments in a variety of settings and patients across the lifespan. This includes development of health promotion strategies and prioritization of care. Prerequisite: Online - NURS 611, NURS 615 Corequisite: On Ground - NURS 615
NURS 615	Advanced Pharmacotherapeutics	3 Credits
This course focuses on the pharmacological foundation for safely prescribing medical regimens of illnesses for individuals across the lifespan. Also included are illness prevention, non-pharmacological and legal implications for prescriptive authority for the nurse practitioner. Note: Selection of appropriate therapies, patient education and evaluation parameters are stressed.
NURS 700	Principles of Epidemiology and Biostatistics	3 Credits
This course is designed to introduce students to the purpose, content, and methods of epidemiology and biostatistics. Students will learn to evaluate and use output from statistical computing software. Prerequisite: NURS 710
NURS 701	Foundations of Clinical Scholarship	3 Credits
This course is designed to explore the phenomenon of interest related to the DNP scholarly project. Students will systematically develop a project protocol that is supported by the literature and submit it for department approval. Course objectives: Develop a clinical question that guides the scholarly project. Read critically from professional nursing literature and other related disciplines to interpret, analyze and apply current research to improve practice. Apply a systematic approach to address clinical problems within healthcare organizations, including outcome measures and a sustainability plan to create meaningful changes in clinical outcomes. Develop a protocol and submit it to the DNP council for project approval. Develop the first chapter of the scholarly project that includes needed sections based on the selected DNP project format.

NURS 702	Integrating and Synthesizing Research	3 Credits
This course is designed to emphasize an objective approach to the integration and synthesis of knowledge. Manuscript preparation and practical use of evidence are incorporated to prepare students for the design of research proposals. Prerequisite: NURS 700 and NURS 701
NURS 703	Ethics For Advanced Nursing Practice	3 Credits
This course is designed to explore ethical principles for the highest level of nursing practice. Students will use evidence-based nursing and interprofessional literature to analyze ethical issues in professional practice.
NURS 704	Quality and Patient Safety in Advanced Nursing Practice	3 Credits
This course is designed to provide students with the foundation of process improvement (PI) and quality improvement (QI) concepts. Evidence-based practice and change management will be integrated with concepts of PI and QI. Systems thinking will be emphasized.
NURS 705	Clinical Inquiry I	3 Credits
This course will allow the students to design an evidence-based project that will guide clinical practice. The feasibility of conducting this initiative will be explored. Potential funding sources and budget issues will be examined. Students will apply the elements of protection of human subjects and complete the Maryville IRB. Prerequisite: NURS 700, NURS 701, NURS 702, and NURS 703
NURS 706	Clinical Inquiry II	3 Credits
This course is designed to expand the students knowledge of clinical project data collection and analysis of data. Students will apply integrated research concepts pertaining to the clinical project. Utilization of various methods of data analysis and data management systems will be explored. Complete project data is needed prior to the start of this course. Prerequisite: NURS 705 and NUS 705L
NURS 707	Clinical Inquiry III	3 Credits
This course is designed to expand the students understanding of methods of dissemination in translational research. Variables that impact the analysis of data related to the scholarly project will be examined. Implications for patients, clinical practice and the healthcare systems will be explored and findings disseminated. Prerequisite: NURS 706
NURS 708	Organizational and Systems Leadership	3 Credits
This course is designed to allow students to analyze organizational, management and social science theories in the context of organizational leadership and change management. Systems thinking is emphasized.
NURS 709	Advanced Health Policy	3 Credits
This course is designed to present the student with knowledge of the American healthcare system. Economically and politically feasible/viable policy changes that would improve the efficiency and effectiveness of the system’s delivery of health care will be explored. The student will analyze the policy making process in preparation to be effective advocates for health policy change.
NURS 710	Graduate Statistics	3 Credits
This course is designed to provide an understanding of the measurement of phenomena as it relates to the research process. Procedures for selecting, applying, and interpreting the correct statistical application to a research problem will be presented with students processing the results. Prerequisite: NURS 700

FNP Concentration Curriculum

For the FNP concentration you will need:

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NURS 620	Adult-Gerontology Health Care I	3 Credits
This course covers the care of adults experiencing acute, chronic and complex health problems of select body systems in this first of two sequential courses. Current research based interventions are analyzed. Individual, family, and group counseling/education for patients and families are incorporated. Included is primary, secondary and tertiary disease prevention and management of complex symptomatology. Prerequisite: NURS 611, NURS 612, and NURS 615 Corequisite: NURS 621 or NURS 621C
NURS 621	Adult-Gerontology Nurse Practitioner Practicum I	3 Credits
This course will cover the theoretical, clinical and role components of care by an advanced practice nurse and are integrated in a supervised clinical practicum. Prerequisite: NURS 611, NURS 612, and NURS 615 Corequisite: NURS 620
NURS 623	Adult-Gerontology Health Care II	3 Credits
This course covers the care of adults experiencing acute, chronic and complex health problems of select body systems in this second of two sequential courses. Current research based interventions are analyzed. Individual, family, and group counseling/education for patients and families are incorporated. Included is primary, secondary and tertiary disease prevention and management of complex symptomatology. Prerequisite: NURS 620 and NURS 621 or NURS 621C Corequisite: NURS 624 or NURS 624C

NURS 624	Adult-Gerontology Nurse Practitioner Practicum II	3 Credits
This course will cover the theoretical, clinical and role components of care by an advanced practice provider and are integrated in a supervised clinical practicum. Opportunity is provided for the assessment, management, and evaluation of adults with chronic and acute health problems in a primary care setting. Prerequisite: NURS 620 and NURS 621 Corequisite: NURS 623
NURS 629	Pediatric/Family Health Care	3 Credits
This course prepares Family Nurse Practitioner students to develop expertise and assume responsibility for health promotion, maintenance, and management of chronic and acute illness of children and women’s health. Emphasis is placed on the child within the framework of the family. Prerequisite: NURS 623 and NURS 624 or NURS 624C Corequisite: NURS 630 or NURS 630C
NURS 630	Pediatric/Family Nurse Practitioner Practicum	3 Credits
This course provides the student with an opportunity to assume responsibility for the primary health care services of individuals and families under clinical supervision. The student is expected to assume increasing responsibility for planning and implementing therapeutic processes and for documenting and evaluating outcomes of care. The role of the FNP in health care promotion and management and collaboration with health professionals. Prerequisite: NURS 623 and NURS 624 Corequisite: NURS 629

AGPCNP Concentration Curriculum

For the AGPCNP concentration you will need:

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NURS 620	Adult-Gerontology Health Care I	3 Credits
This course covers the care of adults experiencing acute, chronic and complex health problems of select body systems in this first of two sequential courses. Current research based interventions are analyzed. Individual, family, and group counseling/education for patients and families are incorporated. Included is primary, secondary and tertiary disease prevention and management of complex symptomatology. Prerequisite: NURS 611, NURS 612, and NURS 615 Corequisite: NURS 621 or NURS 621C
NURS 621	Adult-Gerontology Nurse Practitioner Practicum I	3 Credits
This course will cover the theoretical, clinical and role components of care by an advanced practice nurse and are integrated in a supervised clinical practicum. Prerequisite: NURS 611, NURS 612, and NURS 615 Corequisite: NURS 620

NURS 623	Adult-Gerontology Health Care II	3 Credits
This course covers the care of adults experiencing acute, chronic and complex health problems of select body systems in this second of two sequential courses. Current research based interventions are analyzed. Individual, family, and group counseling/education for patients and families are incorporated. Included is primary, secondary and tertiary disease prevention and management of complex symptomatology. Prerequisite: NURS 620 and NURS 621 or NURS 621C Corequisite: NURS 624 or NURS 624C
NURS 624	Adult-Gerontology Nurse Practitioner Practicum II	3 Credits
This course will cover the theoretical, clinical and role components of care by an advanced practice provider and are integrated in a supervised clinical practicum. Opportunity is provided for the assessment, management, and evaluation of adults with chronic and acute health problems in a primary care setting. Prerequisite: NURS 620 and NURS 621 Corequisite: NURS 623

AGACNP Concentration Curriculum

For the AGACNP concentration you will need:

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NURS 640	Adult-Gerontology Acute Care Diagnosis and Management I	3 Credits
This is the first didactic management course in the Adult Gerontology Acute Care Nurse Practitioner program. Focus is on individuals experiencing illness seen in the acute care setting. Students will analyze practice guidelines and develop differential diagnoses, implement clinical judgment and decision-making, as it relates to evidence based care management. Prerequisite: NURS 611, NURS 612, and NURS 615 Corequisite: NURS 641 or NURS 641C
NURS 641	Adult-Gerontology Acute Care Diagnosis and Management Practicum I	3 Credits
First practicum course in the Adult Gerontology Acute Care Nurse Practitioner (AGACNP) program. Students will apply and integrate concepts presented in NURS-640 with focus on applying knowledge and skills in acute care practice settings. Prerequisite: NURS 611, NURS 612, and NURS 615 Corequisite: NURS 640
NURS 642	Adult-Gerontology Acute Care Diagnosis and Management II	3 Credits
This course is the second didactic management course in the Adult Gerontology Acute Care Nurse Practitioner program. Students will continue to expand on knowledge, decision making and management of acute and emergent physiological alterations in health. Students will analyze practice guidelines and develop differential diagnoses, implement clinical judgment and decision-making, as it relates to evidence based care management. Prerequisite: NURS 640 and NURS 641 or NURS 641C Corequisite: NURS 643 or NURS 643C

NURS 643	Adult-Gerontology Acute Care Nurse Practitioner Practicum II	3 Credits
This is the second practicum course in the Adult Gerontology Acute Care Nurse Practitioner (AGACNP) program. Students will apply and integrate concepts presented in the NURS 642 with focus on comprehensive health care to complex, acute and critically ill patients in a clinical, preceptored practicum experience. Prerequisite: NURS 640 and NURS 641 Corequisite: NURS 642
NURS 644	Adult-Gerontology Acute Care Diagnosis and Management III	3 Credits
This is the final didactic management course in the Adult Gerontology Acute Care Nurse Practitioner (AGACNP) program. Students will continue to analyze practice guidelines and develop differential diagnoses, implement clinical judgment and decision-making, as it relates to evidence based care management in complex symptomology. Prerequisite: NURS 640, NURS 641 or NURS 641C, NURS 642 and NURS 643 or NURS 643C Corequisite: NURS 645 or NURS 645C
NURS 645	Adult-Gerontology Acute Care Nurse Practitioner Practicum III	3 Credits
This is the final practicum course in the Adult Gerontology Acute Care Nurse Practitioner (AGACNP) program. The student will apply and integrate concepts presented in the NURS-644 with focus on comprehensive health care to complex, acute and critically ill patients in a clinical, preceptored practicum experience. Prerequisite: NURS 642 and NURS 643 Corequisite: NURS 644

PNP Concentration Curriculum

For the PNP concentration you will need:

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NURS 650	Health Promotion of the Pediatric Population	3 Credits
This course focuses on growth and development and milestones of pediatric patients using theories and evidence based practice. Students will learn anticipatory guidance techniques, health promotion and illness prevention concepts within the pediatric population, incorporating individual, cultural, ethnic, and spiritual preferences. Prerequisite: NURS 611, NURS 615 and NURS 612 (may also be taken concurrently) Corequisite: NURS 655C
NURS 651	Pediatric Assessment and Diagnosis I	3 Credits
This course is the first in a two-part pediatric primary care didactic sequence. In this course students will focus on acute and chronic primary health care problems of children and adolescents. Prerequisite: NURS 611, NURS 612, NURS 615 & NURS 650 Corequisite: NURS 652 or NURS 652C
NURS 652	Pediatric Assessment and Diagnosis Practicum I	3 Credits
This is the first practicum course in the Pediatric Nurse Practitioner (PNP) program. Students will apply and integrate concepts presented in the NURS-651 with focus on applying knowledge and skills in pediatric primary care practice settings. Prerequisite: NURS 650 Corequisite: NURS 651

NURS 653	Pediatric Assessment and Diagnosis II	3 Credits
This course is second in a two-part pediatric primary care didactic sequence. In this course students will focus on acute and chronic primary health care problems of children and adolescents. Prerequisite: NURS 651 and NURS 652 or NURS 652C Corequisite: NURS 654 or NURS 654C
NURS 654	Pediatric Assessment and Diagnosis Practicum II	3 Credits
This is the second practicum course in the Pediatric Nurse Practitioner (PNP) program. Students will apply and integrate concepts presented in the NURS 653 with focus on applying knowledge and skills in pediatric primary care practice settings. Prerequisite: NURS 651 and NURS 652 Corequisite: NURS 653

PMHNP Concentration Curriculum

For the PMHNP concentration you will need:*

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NURS 660	Psychopharmacology and Advanced Mental Health	3 Credits
This course will cover assessment and identification of discrete aspects of cognition, psychopathology, affect and behavior in the diagnosis and treatment planning of psychiatric illness across the life span. Also included is the appropriate use, monitoring and evaluation of prescribing psychotropic medication, including pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics. Prerequisite: NURS 611, NURS 612 and NURS 615
NURS 661	Psychiatric Mental Health Diagnosis and Management I	3 Credits
In this course theories and models will be used to develop an understanding of the etiologies of acute and chronic mental health disorders among adults and older adults. Selection of appropriate treatment strategies including individual and group psychotherapies will be discussed. Prerequisite: NURS 660 Corequisite: NURS 662 or NURS 662C
NURS 662	Psychiatric Mental Health Diagnosis and Management Practicum I	3 Credits
This practicum course is designed to synthesize advanced practice knowledge relevant to adult and older adult patients with psychiatric illness. A variety of psychotherapeutic strategies will be explored. Prerequisite: NURS 660 Corequisite: NURS 661
NURS 663	Psychiatric Mental Health Diagnosis and Management II	3 Credits
This is the first of two didactic courses designed to assist the student in development of the advanced practice nursing role with the care and management of individuals with a mental health disorder across the lifespan. Prerequisite: NURS 661 and NURS 662 or NURS 662C Corequisite: NURS 664 or NURS 664C

NURS 664	Psychiatric Mental Health Diagnosis and Management Practicum II	3 Credits
This practicum is designed to synthesize advanced practice knowledge relevant to patients with psychiatric illness across the lifespan. Prerequisite: NURS 661 and NURS 662 Corequisite: NURS 663
NURS 665	Psychiatric Mental Health Diagnosis and Management III	3 Credits
This is the second of two didactic courses designed to assist the student in development of the advanced practice nursing role with the care and management of individuals with a mental health disorder across the lifespan. Prerequisite: NURS 663 and NURS 664 or NURS 664C Corequisite: NURS 667 or NURS 667C
NURS 667	Psychiatric Mental Health Diagnosis and Management Practicum III	3 Credits
This practicum is designed to synthesize advanced practice knowledge relevant to patients with psychiatric illness across the lifespan. Prerequisite: NURS 663 and NURS 664 Corequisite: NURS 665

To ensure the best possible educational experience for our students, we may update our curriculum to reflect emerging and changing employer and industry trends. Professional licensure and certification regulations vary from jurisdiction to jurisdiction. Students are encouraged to visit the National Council of State Boards of Nursing for the state in which they intend to practice to verify specific licensure requirements which includes ensuring the program of interest meets the licensure requirements prior to enrolling. Students may visit the professional licensure page or reach out to our team of enrollment advisors for guidance.

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Skills, Concepts, or Opportunities a BSN to DNP Degree Can Provide

An online BSN to DNP curriculum can provide students with the skills and expertise necessary to:

Fill the leadership gap in the current healthcare landscape. As the healthcare industry grows with an influx of new workers, there’s a strong demand for skilled leadership to help oversee their less experienced colleagues. In this landscape, DNPs are highly valued and sought after for a range of high-level positions.
Apply evidence-based research. BSN to DNP programs place a strong emphasis on evidence-based practice, the guiding approach to decision-making about patient care. BSN to DNP students become well-versed in combining their research knowledge with their clinical expertise and understanding of the patient’s values in order to provide the best possible care.
Prepare for an executive, decision-making role. As technology and automation enter further into healthcare, it’s seen as more important than ever that the people in charge of hospitals and healthcare organizations have extensive medical knowledge and clinical experience. Because BSN to DNP programs deliver a well-rounded education that combines research, clinical care, and systems organization training, DNPs are in high demand for executive-level roles that involve overseeing the many moving parts of a hospital or health organization.
Educate fellow nursing professionals. Nursing careers have seen steady growth over the past several years, which has led to an influx of new nursing students eager to join the profession. The curriculum provided with a DNP degree can help you start down the path of teaching the next generation of nurses at the college or graduate level.

Common Courses for BSN to DNP Students

The contents of an online BSN to DNP curriculum may vary slightly by university, but a typical program will offer courses that focus on the following key topics:

Evidence-Based Practice in Nursing. Evidence-based practice, or EBP, is an approach to decision-making about patient care that incorporates three pillars: clinical expertise, patient values, and research evidence. To strengthen their EBP skills, students learn how to apply evidence, how to gather new evidence when needed, and how to determine patient values and preferences.

Advanced Health Assessment. This course prepares students to perform comprehensive health assessments, incorporating health history, physical and psychological changes, and psychosocial variations. These assessments are important for determining health and risk status, developing health promotion strategies, and establishing care priorities. Students will apply concepts in the field, logging a required number of documented clinical hours for the course.

Ethics for Advanced Nursing Practice. In this course, students familiarize themselves with ethical principles and decision-making models for nursing practice at the highest level. Using evidence-based nursing and interprofessional literature, students analyze the kind of ethical dilemmas that arise in advanced nursing practice.

Organizations Theory and Systems Leadership. In this course, students will learn about organizational leadership and change management by analyzing organizational, management, and social science theories. The course trains students in systems thinking, preparing students for potential careers in systems management.

Sources:

Academy of Medical-Surgical Nurses, Evidence-Based Practice

U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Nurse Anesthetists, Nurse Midwives, and Nurse Practitioners

Maryville University, BSN to DNP Online