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Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP)

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*27 credits post-masters to DNP completion

The Clarion and Edinboro Universities' DNP Program is a 27-credit online program that offers you the opportunity to advance your skills and education through the study of:

  • leadership
  • policy
  • population health
  • clinical practice

The program is designed to be flexible, affordable and professionally rewarding. The online, part-time structure accommodates employment while pursuing the DNP, thus easing the financial burden. 

Admission Requirements

Applicants must have a master's degree in nursing or health science from a nationally accredited program.  This may be direct care such as:

  • nurse practitioners
  • nurse anesthetist
  • clinical specialist
  • nurse midwife
  • in-direct care such as nurse administrators, nursing informatics and nurse educators

If you hold a Master's Degree other than the MSN, for example an MBA, you must also have a BSN.

  • Completed online application form
  • Non-refundable application fee ($40 payable at the time of online application submission)
  • Official transcripts from all undergraduate and graduate institutions attended
  • Bachelor of Science in Nursing or other bachelor's degree from an accredited program with a GPA of 3.25 or higher (Applicants must have at least one degree in nursing, either a BSN, BSN equivalent, or a Master of Science in Nursing (MSN).  Applicants with only a diploma degree in nursing or ASN cannot be accepted).
  • MSN or other master's degree from an accredited program with a GPA of 3.25 or higher (Applicants with a master's degree other than nursing may require additional coursework prior to enrollment, as determined by a review of official transcripts)
  • A graduate course in research with a grade of "B" or higher or successful completion of graduate thesis (Note: Completion of a graduate level capstone project will be considered upon review of the project)
  • Two professional recommendations; excluding peer reference
  • Resume/CV
  • Current unencumbered licenses as a Registered Nurse Written documentation of completed clinical hours in a master's program (DNP degree requires a total of 1000 hours of clinical time between the master's and doctoral programs)
  • A type-written 1-2 page personal statement describing your learning goals and a telephone interview

*If you have not yet completed your master's degree:  Admission can be granted contingent upon anticipated graduation from your master's degree program during your first semester in the DNP program.


Admission Criteria

Curriculum

Approved Internship Hours

Click here to determine if the Department of Nursing is authorized to enroll online MSN-DNP from your state.

Apply


Application Deadline: Accepting applications until all seats are full. Classes begin May annually.
Please submit all application materials to:

Graduate Admissions, PennWest Clarion, 840 Wood Street, Clarion, PA 16214

Tuition and Fees 

callout dnp grad

Kelly Martin


December 2017 commencement

callout dnp cadre

DNP Graduates


Inaugural cadre of nine DNP graduates in May 2017.

ccne

 

Our Doctor of Nursing Practice is accredited by Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE). CCNE ensures the quality and integrity of baccalaureate, graduate and residency programs in nursing.

PennWest University, including Clarion, California, and Edinboro campuses, will be submitting a self-study and hosting a site visit for our accrediting body, CCNE. The site visit will be on March 29-31, 2023.  This serves as formal notification of the upcoming visit and provides an opportunity for third-party comments concerning the program’s qualifications for accreditation.  

Written third-party comments regarding programs must be received by CCNE by no later than 21 days prior (March 1, 2023) to the first day of the scheduled on-site evaluation. Only signed comments are accepted by CCNE. CCNE shares third-party comments with members of the evaluation team prior to the visit, but at no time during the review process are these comments shared with the program. During its review of the program, the evaluation team considers third-party comments that relate to the accreditation standards. All third-party comments submitted to CCNE must be written in English, consistent with CCNE's policy on Conduct of Business in English.

If you would like to submit a third-party comment for a program currently under review, please submit to thirdpartycomments@ccneaccreditation.org.

Or, if you prefer, mail comments to:
Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education
Attn: Third-Party Comments
655 K Street, NW, Suite 750
Washington, DC 20001

MISSION 

 

Congruent with the missions of the Pennsylvania State System of Higher Education, PennWest Clarion, and PennWest Edinboro, the mission of the DNP program is to meet regional needs in health care and clinical nursing education through a program that is accessible to advanced practice nurses who have work and family responsibilities.

VISION

The vision of DNP program is to develop advanced practice nurses as leaders in nursing and practice experts whose actions and innovations will improve and transform the health of individuals, populations, and systems in the region, state, and global community.

CORE VALUES

  • Excellence
  • Integrity
  • Social justice
  • Professionalism
  • Innovation
  • Independence

Program Objectives:

The overall purpose of the DNP program is two-fold: a. to prepare advanced practice nurses to critically evaluate, integrate, and disseminate the highest level of professional nursing practice possible, and b. to respond to regional and national shortages of primary care providers and clinical nursing faculty.

PROGRAM OUTCOMES

The terminal learning outcomes for the Clarion and Edinboro Universities’ DNP program are to prepare advanced practice nurses to be able to:

  1. Apply clinical scholarship through advanced nursing practice within complex health systems.
  2. Design, implement, analyze, and disseminate research that translates evidence to practice.
  3. Demonstrate advanced leadership skills for empowering and influencing others to bring about change.
  4. Utilize information and management systems to support evidence-based practice.
  5. Establish inter-professional relationships to provide comprehensive delivery of advanced practice nursing.

Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education
655 K Street, NW, Suite 750
Washington, DC 20001
P: (202) 887-6791 
F: (202) 887-8476 

For detailed information about the accreditation status of this program, please visit the CCNE accredited program website.

DNP Questions?  

Elizabeth Farbotnik, FNP-BC
DNP Coordinator
+1 814 732 1135

Patti Shontz 
Clerical Support
+1 814 393 1251


Clarion and Edinboro universities’ Doctorate in Nursing program will be submitting a self-study and hosting a site visit for our accrediting body, the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE). The site visit will be on March 21-23, 2022.  This email serves as formal notification to our constituents of the upcoming visit and provides an opportunity for third-party comments concerning the DNP program’s qualifications for accreditation.  

Written third-party comments regarding programs must be received by CCNE by no later than 21 days prior (February 28, 2022) to the first day of the scheduled on-site evaluation. Only signed comments are accepted by CCNE. CCNE shares third-party comments with members of the evaluation team prior to the visit, but at no time during the review process are these comments shared with the program. During its review of the program, the evaluation team considers third-party comments that relate to the accreditation standards. All third-party comments submitted to CCNE must be written in English, consistent with CCNE's policy on Conduct of Business in English.

If you would like to submit a third-party comment for a program currently under review, please submit to thirdpartycomments@ccneaccreditation.org.

Or, if you prefer, mail comments to:
Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education
Attn: Third-Party Comments
655 K Street, NW, Suite 750
Washington, DC 20001

Last Updated 2/27/23