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- UMass Online allows you to attend the same high-quality programs and learn from the same world-class faculty as students at the University of Massachusetts' Amherst, Boston, Dartmouth, Lowell or Worcester campuses
- Ranked Top 10 Online Degrees Colleges- September 2009 (Online Degree Reviews.com)
- Our faculty are internationally recognized and include winners of the world's most prestigious awards, including the Pulitzer Prize, Nobel Prize, National Book Award for Poetry, and the Draper Award in Engineering
- Master's in Gerontology - Management of Aging Services awarded Best Buy Masters Healthcare, 2009 by Get Educated
Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP)
Online Program
The Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) is a 39-credit doctoral program at UMass Boston's College of Nursing and Health Sciences, open to applicants holding a Master's degree in Nursing with preparation as family, gerontological, or adult nurse practitioners, or clinical nurse specialists, as well as those holding an MS in Nursing and certified as nurse midwives and nurse anesthetists. The DNP is differentiated from the PhD by its focus on developing graduates at the highest level of excellence in nursing practice and clinical leadership. The DNP degree program focus is on increasing the appropriate supply, diversity, and distribution of highly trained advanced practice nurses to meet emerging health care system needs. Graduates will gain knowledge and competence in health systems leadership, policy development, and interdisciplinary collaboration to improve health care quality and increase health care access for all populations. Course work and internships focus on preparing graduates with transformational leadership skills in program development and policy change.
Students build on knowledge acquired in their master's degree in advanced practice nursing and post graduate clinical experience. Faculty scholars and clinical leaders distinguished in practice, education, and research guide students as they develop competence in the role of Doctor of Nursing Practice.
The scope of knowledge addressed in the UMass Boston CNHS core and specialty courses reflect the student outcome competencies cited in The Essentials of Doctoral Education for Advanced Nursing Practice (AACN, 2006) document including:
- advanced scientific underpinnings for practice;
- organizational and systems leadership for quality improvement and systems thinking;
- clinical scholarship and analytic methods for evidence-based practice;
- technology and information for the improvement and transformation of healthcare;
- health care policy for advocacy in health care;
- interprofessional collaboration for improving patient and population healthcare outcomes;
- clinical prevention and population health for improving the nation's health; and
- advanced nursing practice at the highest level of clinical expertise.
The College of Nursing is accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education through 2011. In the Spring of 2011, the CNHS will under go a Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education re accreditation site visit prior to the graduation of the first DNP class at UMass.
Curriculum for the DNP program
The DNP Program can be completed in three years full-time. Courses are offered in the classroom and online; selected online courses are offered in collaboration with UMass Amherst.
Year One
Semester One - Fall (6cr)
- NURSNG715 Health Informatics *
- NURSNG760 Introduction to Biostatistics: Biostatistics I *
Semester Two - Spring (9cr)
- NURSNG616 Evidence Based Practice I
- NURSNG770 Biostatistics II: Advanced Statistical Methods in Healthcare Research
- NURSNGXXX Principles of Epidemiology *
Semester Three - Summer
Summer courses TBA with Advisor
Year Two
Semester Four - Fall (7cr)
- NURSNG722 Quality Outcomes
- NURSNG761 DNP Internship I
- NURSNG716 Evidence Based Practice II
Semester Five - Spring (7cr)
- NURSNG704 Seminar in Health Care Financing
- NURSNG762 DNP Internship II
1 Credit:
Emphasis is placed on translation of research into practice as a means to improved the delivery of health care. In supervised clinical experiences, students continue to develop competence in the role of the DNP including experiences in leadership, consultation, advocacy, and interdisciplinary collaboration, and translation of research and theory into practice. Clinical learning is directed at discovering the history, and contextual evidence, and current strategies related to problems affecting patient safety and the quality of health care services. Students participate in leadership and change agent experiences consistent with behaviors expected of the Doctor of Nursing Practice. Students investigate clinical problems in context of the health care system and analyze influencing factors; seek IRB approval and defend the capstone project proposal. Students successful in defending their proposal may move forward to the action phase of the capstone.
Pre-requisite: NURSNG 616, 760 and 761, PBHLTH Informatics
Corequisite: NURSNG 716 - Elective (one of the following):
- NURSNG637 Psychosocial Mental Health
3 Credits: 3-lecture hrs/week
Multicultural individuals and families at risk for mental and psychosocial problems are considered within the context of urban living. Nursing theory and research is applied to developing processes of care for individuals across the life span with mental health and psychosocial problems. Students learn evidence-based care including cognitive-behavioral, psychopharmacological, and non-traditional approaches to psychosocial and related physical problems. Research related to environmental, psychosocial, genetic, economic, family systems, developmental risk factors, drug efficacy, and non-pharmacological approaches for individuals with mental and psychosocial illness is investigated. The impact of contemporary health care policy and legislative proposals on quality, cost and access to care is investigated.
- NURSNG697 Special Topics in Nursing
3 Credits: 3-lecture hrs/week
This advanced course offers intensive study of selected topics in the field of nursing. Course content and credit vary according to the topic and are announced prior to registration.
- NURSNG618 Health Policy, Finance, Ethics
3 Credits: 3-lecture hrs/week
This course is designed to examine how ethical, financial, and health policy issues and concerns are linked in the health care delivery system. The role of the nurse in developing a professional ethical framework, understanding the economic implications of health care, and shaping and formulating health policy will be stressed. Several decision-making models and strategies in health policy, finances, and ethics will be compared. Relevant research in health policy, finances, and ethics will be analyzed.
- NURSNG705 Health Disparities
3 Credits: 3-lecture hrs/week
Health disparities in the United States are examined historically and within the context of global health, globalization, and neo-liberal economic and social ideology. Despite considerable progress in the overall health of the American population, disparities continue to exist, notable among ethno-racial groups and those at the lower end of the socio-economic scale. This course identifies and analyzes the complex causes of health disparities and surveys multi-level interventions, strategies and policy approaches to elimination disparities and improving health care outcomes for all. Students will critically analyze literature and materials relative to the broad range of topical areas covered across the course. Learning outcomes will position students to be informed and deliberative when planning programs, conduction research, participating in the policy process or otherwise working to mitigate or eliminate disparities in health care.
Semester Six - Summer
Summer courses TBA with Advisor
Year Three
Semester Seven - Fall (4cr)
- NURSNG763 DNP Internship III
- NURSINGXXX Organizational Analysis & Skills
3 Credits: 3-lecture hrs/week
This course focuses on the organization of the future, identifying its characteristics and exploring the strategic design and political and cultural implications for working in and managing such an organization. It examines the impact of the new organization on the roles and careers of individual managers, the functioning of groups, the processes that exist within organizations, the relationships of organizations with their environments, and the learning and change practices needed to enhance global performance. First-semester MBA students are introduced to a variety of skills that they will be called upon to use throughout their MBA experience (case analysis, analytical writing, self-awareness, team-building, oral communication).
Semester Eight - Spring (6cr)
- NURSNG765 Leadership and Management in Health Care
3 Credits: 3-lecture hrs/week
The course will provide an introduction and overview of leadership, management, and organizational behavior in health care. Students will integrate theory with practice in the development of skills necessary to provide organizational and systems leadership in health care settings. Students will apply content from lectures and readings to cases studies as well as to actual experiences from their own workplaces. Topics include leadership and management theories/models, strategic planning, fiscal management, human resource management, and managing change in a complex environment. - NURSNG764 Capstone Seminar and Internship IV
3 Credits: 3-lecture hrs/week
Students continue to integrate the role of the DNP in the clinical practice context that includes leadership, consultation, advocacy, and interdisciplinary collaboration. They will synthesize the highest level of scientific knowledge and clinical practice expertise to the solving of an identified health care delivery problem for populations at risk. Following DNP committee and IRB approvals of the capstone project work done in preceding courses, students complete the Doctor of Nursing Practice immersion experience, summarize their portfolio experiences to reflect their meeting the Essentials Competencies, and submit and defend their scholarly capstone project work. In seminars, students meet to explore the projects and findings of their colleagues and discuss application of evidence and theory to solving health services delivery problems.
Prerequisites: NURSNG 722, 761, 762, 763 and MBA 650
Please Note:
* Courses that may be offered during the Summer
Capstone Experience
The program of study culminates in the Capstone experience. During the final term, students are guided by faculty in completing a Capstone project demonstrating the student's ability to analyze and guide a change in health care delivery. Knowledge learned in the program is applied to a health-related issue.
Course Descriptions
NURSNG715 Health Informatics *
Students learn advanced practice nursing competencies related to computer skills, informatics skill, and informatics knowledge. Application of information theory and computer technology skills is directed towards improving the organization and delivery of healthcare to multicultural populations receiving primary, secondary, and tertiary health care. Health Informatics deals with using technology tools for optimizing the collection, verification and utilization of data that relates to generating knowledge that informs best practices and leadership in both public and private health systems; Students are directed to the investigate ways in which information systems can address disparities in health services.
NURSNG760 Introduction to Biostatistics: Biostatistics I *
This is the first course in a two-semester Biostatistics sequence. The course introduces students to the basic concepts and methods of biostatistics. The course is focused on some fundamental theories of biostatistics and basic methods of statistical inference at a conceptual level. It also covers some important topics in study design, such as different types of study design, sampling methods, sample size, and power calculation. Students will understand the concepts and methods of statistics, and apply them in critiquing literature in the field of clinical and population based research.
NURSNG616 Evidence Based Practice I
Course Description This course focuses on theory-guided and evidence-based advanced practice nursing research to prepare students to become proficient in the utilization of research findings. Critical analysis of qualitative and quantitative research methods and design, and strategies to improve dissemination and application of nursing research findings in advanced practice settings, will be emphasized. Through an integrative literature review, students will synthesize research in an area of interest and develop skills in the use of electronic databases. Ethical issues in the conduct of research will be explored.
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NURSNG770 Biostatistics II: Advanced Statistical Methods in Healthcare Research
This is the second course in a two-semester Biostatistics sequence. This course covers several advanced methods of statistical analysis that are most often used in Healthcare research, including multiple linear regression, logistic regression, log-linear (Poisson) regression, Cox proportional hazards regression, and longitudinal data analysis. This course also discusses the methods and techniques in assessing the presenting confounding and interaction effects, and handling missing values. The primary purpose of this course is to help students gain understanding of the advanced statistical methods and use these concepts to critique literature in the field of clinical and population based research.
NURSNGXXX Principles of Epidemiology *
The course provides an epidemiological perspective on health by addressing general approaches for describing patterns of disease in populations. Students will identify, analyze, and compare practice patterns and health problems by geographic regions and ethnic groups.
NURSNG722 Quality Outcomes
This course includes review of theoretical frameworks and research methods used to implement quality improvement in health care. Approaches to solving actual problems in clinical settings are considered, with emphasis on patients with chronic illnesses and other vulnerable patient populations. Students gain familiarity with quality improvement techniques from management, policy, and clinical perspectives.
NURSNG761 DNP Internship I
Theory and evidenced based research are applied with the goal of improving health care outcomes. In supervised clinical experiences, students integrate the role of the DNP into the clinical practice context that includes leadership, consultation, advocacy, and interdisciplinary collaboration. Clinical learning is directed at discovering the history, and contextual evidence, and current strategies related to problems affecting patient safety and the quality of health care services for populations at risk. Emphasis is placed on translating research into practice as a means to improve the delivery of health care. Students investigate clinical problems, and refine the in-depth review of the literature started in Evidenced Based Practice I and further refine the capstone project proposal work commenced in Evidenced Based Practice II.
Prerequisite: NURSNG 616, 760 and PBHLTH Informatics
Corequisite: NURSNG 716
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NURSNG716 Evidence Based Practice II
In this course students will refine and extend the competencies introduced in Evidence Based Practice I with emphasis on generating evidence for practice in implementing practice innovations. Emphasis will be placed on the evaluation of practice, practice improvement initiatives and the development and utilization of evidence-based practice. The end product of this course will serve as the foundation for the Capstone project in the last year of study.
NURSNG704 Seminar in Health Care Financing
This course will provide an overview of the structure and operations of various contemporary health care financing and reimbursement systems and related policy issues. The course will address the broad role of financial incentives in health delivery systems from the perspective of payers, patients, and providers. We will analyze historical, current, and proposed policy options in health care financing, including private health insurance and government programs, and issues of provider reimbursement.
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NURSNG762 DNP Internship II
Emphasis is placed on translation of research into practice as a means to improved the delivery of health care. In supervised clinical experiences, students continue to develop competence in the role of the DNP including experiences in leadership, consultation, advocacy, and interdisciplinary collaboration, and translation of research and theory into practice. Clinical learning is directed at discovering the history, and contextual evidence, and current strategies related to problems affecting patient safety and the quality of health care services. Students participate in leadership and change agent experiences consistent with behaviors expected of the Doctor of Nursing Practice. Students investigate clinical problems in context of the health care system and analyze influencing factors; seek IRB approval and defend the capstone project proposal. Students successful in defending their proposal may move forward to the action phase of the capstone.
Pre-requisite: NURSNG 616, 760 and 761, PBHLTH Informatics
Corequisite: NURSNG 716
Elective (choose one of the following)
NURSNG637 Psychosocial Mental Health (Elective Choice)
Multicultural individuals and families at risk for mental and psychosocial problems are considered within the context of urban living. Nursing theory and research is applied to developing processes of care for individuals across the life span with mental health and psychosocial problems. Students learn evidence-based care including cognitive-behavioral, psychopharmacological, and non-traditional approaches to psychosocial and related physical problems. Research related to environmental, psychosocial, genetic, economic, family systems, developmental risk factors, drug efficacy, and non-pharmacological approaches for individuals with mental and psychosocial illness is investigated. The impact of contemporary health care policy and legislative proposals on quality, cost and access to care is investigated.
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NURSNG697 Special Topics in Nursing (Elective Choice)
This advanced course offers intensive study of selected topics in the field of nursing. Course content and credit vary according to the topic and are announced prior to registration.
NURSNG618 Health Policy, Finance, Ethics (Elective Choice)
This course is designed to examine how ethical, financial, and health policy issues and concerns are linked in the health care delivery system. The role of the nurse in developing a professional ethical framework, understanding the economic implications of health care, and shaping and formulating health policy will be stressed. Several decision-making models and strategies in health policy, finances, and ethics will be compared. Relevant research in health policy, finances, and ethics will be analyzed.
NURSNG705 Health Disparities (Elective Choice)
Health disparities in the United States are examined historically and within the context of global health, globalization, and neo-liberal economic and social ideology. Despite considerable progress in the overall health of the American population, disparities continue to exist, notable among ethno-racial groups and those at the lower end of the socio-economic scale. This course identifies and analyzes the complex causes of health disparities and surveys multi-level interventions, strategies and policy approaches to elimination disparities and improving health care outcomes for all. Students will critically analyze literature and materials relative to the broad range of topical areas covered across the course. Learning outcomes will position students to be informed and deliberative when planning programs, conduction research, participating in the policy process or otherwise working to mitigate or eliminate disparities in health care.
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NURSNG763 DNP Internship III
In supervised clinical experiences, students continue to develop competence in the role of the DNP including experiences in leadership, consultation, advocacy, and interdisciplinary collaboration, and translation of research and theory into practice. During the third clinical immersion experience, students continue to seek out opportunities to develop professional and scholarly behaviors consistent with the DNP Essentials; Competencies. In conjunction with their advisor and internship facilitator, learning is directed implementing the approved capstone project proposal and developing a scholarly paper that summarizes the state of the science of the problem, the processes to address the problem, and the outcomes achieved.
Prerequisite: NURSNG 616, 760, 761, 762 and PBHLTH Informatics
Corequisite NURSNG 716
NURSINGXXX Organizational Analysis & Skills
This course focuses on the organization of the future, identifying its characteristics and exploring the strategic design and political and cultural implications for working in and managing such an organization. It examines the impact of the new organization on the roles and careers of individual managers, the functioning of groups, the processes that exist within organizations, the relationships of organizations with their environments, and the learning and change practices needed to enhance global performance. First-semester MBA students are introduced to a variety of skills that they will be called upon to use throughout their MBA experience (case analysis, analytical writing, self-awareness, team-building, oral communication).
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NURSNG765 Leadership and Management in Health Care
The course will provide an introduction and overview of leadership, management, and organizational behavior in health care. Students will integrate theory with practice in the development of skills necessary to provide organizational and systems leadership in health care settings. Students will apply content from lectures and readings to cases studies as well as to actual experiences from their own workplaces. Topics include leadership and management theories/models, strategic planning, fiscal management, human resource management, and managing change in a complex environment.
NURSNG764 Capstone Seminar and Internship IV
Students continue to integrate the role of the DNP in the clinical practice context that includes leadership, consultation, advocacy, and interdisciplinary collaboration. They will synthesize the highest level of scientific knowledge and clinical practice expertise to the solving of an identified health care delivery problem for populations at risk. Following DNP committee and IRB approvals of the capstone project work done in preceding courses, students complete the Doctor of Nursing Practice immersion experience, summarize their portfolio experiences to reflect their meeting the Essentials Competencies, and submit and defend their scholarly capstone project work. In seminars, students meet to explore the projects and findings of their colleagues and discuss application of evidence and theory to solving health services delivery problems.
Prerequisites: NURSNG 722, 761, 762, 763 and MBA 650
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