Doctor of Nursing Practice
Program Overview
The healthcare field is rapidly changing and healthcare needs leaders. Bellarmine’s DNP programs are designed for those interested in clinical leadership or executive nursing positions and offer an alternative to research-focused doctoral programs.
The Doctor of Nursing Practice at Bellarmine is available as a post-master’s program or as a BSN-DNP. The Lansing School is also proud to offer the Bellarmine University Juneja Nurse Anesthesia Program, named for Dr. Mushtaque Juneja, a Louisville anesthesiologist, entrepreneur, and alumnus.
Flexible Online Pathways for Working Nurses
Choose a post-master’s DNP track or a BSN-DNP pathway in a program designed for nurses balancing professional and personal obligations. Students can start any semester, and the post-master’s and BSN-DNP Leadership options are fully online.
Advanced Leadership and Nurse Anesthesia Options
Bellarmine offers focused preparation in Advanced Nursing Practice, Executive Leadership, and the Bellarmine University Juneja Nurse Anesthesia Program. These pathways help prepare graduates for advanced clinical leadership, organizational leadership, and specialized anesthesia practice.
“I am forever grateful to Bellarmine University for the doctoral education I experienced while obtaining a Doctorate in Advanced Nursing Practice. From the moment I reached out for information on the DNP program, Bellarmine faculty and staff were extremely helpful and collaborative. The program is strategically structured and provides the doctoral student with the tool kit to be successful. Bellarmine truly sets the bar for academic excellence and achievement.”
Pamela Missi, DNP Graduate; Chief Nursing Officer
35–38
Post-Master’s Credit Hours
68
BSN-DNP Leadership Credit Hours
Any Semester
Flexible Start Terms
Why earn your DNP at Bellarmine?
The healthcare field is rapidly changing and healthcare needs leaders. Bellarmine’s DNP programs are designed for those interested in clinical leadership or executive nursing positions and offer an alternative to research-focused doctoral programs.
The Doctor of Nursing Practice at Bellarmine is available as a post-master’s program or as a BSN-DNP. Bellarmine also offers the Bellarmine University Juneja Nurse Anesthesia Program for students seeking preparation as a Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetist.
Post-Master’s DNP Program
Students who hold an MSN degree may select one of two post-master’s DNP tracks:
- Advanced Nursing Practice: designed for advanced practice nurses and focused on the healthcare of individuals.
- Executive Leadership: designed for those interested in leadership at the organizational and/or system level.
Total credit hours for the program range from 35 to 38 hours, depending on the track selected. The program is fully online and is ideal for students with professional or personal obligations during the typical work week. Students can start any semester.
BSN to DNP Programs
BSN to DNP: Leadership
The BSN-DNP Leadership track is designed for BSN-prepared graduates seeking doctoral preparation for advanced practice as organizational leaders in a variety of healthcare settings. Students focus on the financial and economic aspects of health care, human and resource management, and organizational leadership.
- This program includes a total of 68 credit hours.
- The program is fully online and is ideal for students with professional or personal obligations during the typical work week.
BSN to DNP: Nurse Anesthesia
The Bellarmine University Juneja Nurse Anesthesia Program, named for Dr. Mushtaque Juneja, a Louisville anesthesiologist, entrepreneur and Bellarmine University alumnus, is designed for post-BSN students seeking doctoral preparation for advanced practice as a Nurse Anesthetist.
- The curriculum provides students with the specialized knowledge and skills necessary to care for diverse patient populations.
- Resident Registered Nurse Anesthetists will be assigned to various anesthetizing locations within some of the region’s leading hospitals, affording the opportunity to engage in supervised administration of anesthesia care to individuals across the lifespan.
Areas of Focus
DNP: Advanced Nursing Practice Clinical Leadership
The Advanced Nursing Practice focus prepares advanced practice nurses to function more effectively as clinical leaders. Given the expansion of scientific knowledge required for safe nursing practice and the growing focus on the quality of patient care delivery and outcomes, this track provides students with the specialized knowledge and skills needed by today’s practitioner.
DNP: Executive Leadership
The Executive Leadership focus prepares students for advanced specialty practice at the population, organizational, and/or system level. Given the increasingly complex health care environment, this track provides students with the specialized knowledge and skills needed by today’s nursing leaders.
The Bellarmine University Juneja Nurse Anesthesia Program
The Bellarmine University Juneja Nurse Anesthesia Program is designed for post-BSN students seeking doctoral preparation for advanced practice as a Nurse Anesthetist.
Degree Requirements
Deferred Payment
Bellarmine University offers a deferred payment plan for students who receive tuition reimbursement from their employers and wish to defer payment of tuition until 30 days after grades are available each semester.
Additional Information
The Baccalaureate degree program in nursing, Master’s degree program in nursing, Doctor of Nursing Practice program, and post-master’s FNP certificate program at Bellarmine University are accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (www.ccneaccreditation.org).
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