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Dedicate Yourself to Patient Care
Whether you envision yourself in a higher-level care or leadership role, nurture your drive with ACU’s online DNP program structured to empower working adults. As you complete online courses and in-person assignments around your existing obligations, our vibrant, virtual, Christ-centered community embraces your passion for improving care quality, delivery and access.
Introducing
Locked-In Tuition.
Our Locked-In Tuition program guarantees you’ll pay the same price for your entire graduate degree.
About the Program
You have the opportunity to demonstrate leadership that proactively develops, implements and evaluates ethical healthcare policies at all levels. By earning an online Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) degree, you’ll encourage your own career development while helping guide and support colleagues in their own journey in the healthcare profession.
Program Structure
All the Details on Your Degree
ACU’s online DNP program adheres to and aligns with current trends in nursing education and supports recommendations set forth by the American Association of Colleges of Nursing (AACN), the National Academy of Medicine and numerous other healthcare organizations.
Required Hours
39 hours
26 month minimum timeframe
Example Coursework
Informatics to Improve Patient Outcomes
Healthcare Policy and Clinical Practice
Epidemiology and Population Health
Organizational and System Leadership
Department
Upcoming Start Dates
August 22, 2023
January 16, 2024
Common Job Titles
Academic Nurse Leader
Chief Nursing Officer (CNO)
Director of Nursing
Lead Clinician
Director of Clinical Services
Public Health Coordinator
Curriculum
Start your journey with an 18 credit-hour core. Over this sequence, you’ll explore the role of the DNP in today’s healthcare industry, including as a practitioner, patient advocate, leader and scholar. From here, you’ll broaden your mindset through courses diving into epidemiology as a tool to promote population health; research and statistical analysis in healthcare delivery; using data and other technology to better predict patient outcomes; healthcare policies involving finance, regulation, care quality and access; and managing a medical practice, from organization to accommodating patients.
Champion change from within by refining your critical thinking skills, integrating technology and rooting decisions on evidence-based practice. For applying these concepts, you’ll additionally complete 500 clinical hours and two projects requiring you to plan and implement a clinical program and present a paper for review.
Executive Nursing Leadership
You experienced a taste of leadership after earning your MSN or completing ACU’s BSN to DNP pathway program. Continue cultivating related competencies with a concentration highlighting techniques for directing teams of healthcare workers and how finance factors into a clinical practice. Stay connected to industry trends by studying the impact and care of chronic health conditions and learning how to both manage a practice and train beginning to mid-career nursing professionals.
Meet the Program Director
Dr. Linda Gibson, Doctor of Nursing Practice
Dr. Linda Gibson is the program director for the BSN to DNP and Doctor of Nursing Practice programs. Dr. Gibson has been an associate professor within ACU’s School of Nursing for the past three years, though her teaching experience spans 30 years. Much of her clinical experience comes from a VA hospital, and her MSN specialty areas include Medical/Surgical Nursing (RNP), Teaching/Evaluation, and Psychiatric/Mental Health Nursing (CNS).
As a lifelong learner, she went on to complete her DNP and is currently pursuing a homeopathic degree. Dr. Gibson lives in the hills of Tennessee surrounded by her children and grandchildren.
Spotlight
Student Spotlight: Dr. Shecarra Cook
One conference was all it took to inspire a dream. Learn how a connection with ACU Online led to Dr. Shecarra Cook discovering her calling and earning her Doctor of Nursing Practice.
Everything You Need to Know About ACU Online’s DNP Program
Nurses who want to enact change may consider advancing their skills with a DNP degree. Learn all about ACU Online’s DNP program and how it will prepare you to be a leader in the nursing industry.
Faculty Spotlight: Sandra Cleveland
According to Dr. Sandra Cleveland, associate professor in the Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) program, there is no traditional nursing path. Some are called to it early on, while others are introduced to it through time and life experiences. Taking great pride in her teaching philosophy, Sandra believes that nursing can open doors to new opportunities, including self-discovery. And while her story doesn’t fit the mold for those called to the profession, Sandra believes that her unique journey has allowed her to see and understand her students as more than just healthcare professionals but rather as people.
How to Take Your Nursing Career to the Next Level
Are you ready to rise to the highest level of your nursing career? ACU offers an online Doctor of Nursing Practice program that will help you advance your healthcare career through developing your clinical and leadership skills.
How to be an Effective Nurse Leader
Looking to inspire, lead and motivate your team of nurses so you can provide the best possible care for patients? Here are 5 traits you need to be an effective nurse leader.
Telemedicine: The Future Of Healthcare
Telemedicine has seen an explosive renaissance in the last two years. Learn about its history and how ACU Online is equipping medical professionals for this new modality.
Take a leap forward not only with your career but for the future of healthcare delivery. Reflecting demand for a more nuanced, elevated skill set, the Bureau of Labor Statistics has identified 45% growth for nurse anesthetists, nurse midwives and nurse practitioners between 2020 and 2030. Our DNP program gives you an edge to unleash your potential and persevere in today’s medical environments as a:
- lead clinician;
- chief nursing officer (CNO);
- director of nursing;
- director of clinical services;
- public health program director or coordinator;
- informaticist;
- clinical nurse specialist;
- certified nurse midwife; or
- nurse educator.
To be considered for admission, students must:
- Complete the online program application accompanied by a non-refundable processing fee.
- Have a Master’s in Nursing from an accredited school of nursing (ACEN, CCNE).
- Submit official transcripts from the accredited colleges or universities that awarded the baccalaureate and master’s degree to the applicant sent in a registrar’s sealed and stamped/signed envelope or official electronic transcripts.
- Have a minimum nursing cumulative GPA of 3.0 on a 4.0 scale.
- Supply two professional recommendation letters that attest to the applicant’s character, work ethic and professional abilities.
- Author a 500-word purpose statement outlining your interest in the Doctor of Nursing Practice and your intended scholarly project topic, written in APA format.
- Submit a professional CV or resume.
- Provide proof of unencumbered registered nurse licensure in the United States.
- Complete an undergraduate level statistics course with a “C” or better.
The Doctor of Nursing Practice program at Abilene Christian University is accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education, 655 K Street NW, Suite 750, Washington, DC 20001, 202-887-6791
NOTICE
As part of its accreditation process, the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE) plans to visit the Abilene Christian University School of Nursing for Review of the Doctor of Nursing Practice program on April 3-5, 2023.
In accordance with CCNE procedure, constituents of this program are invited to submit comments to CCNE related to the quality of the program under review. Your comments are considered third party and any specific third party, signed comments concerning the accreditation process need to be received by March 13, 2023. 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