Post Master-Doctor of Nursing Practice

The Doctor of Nursing Practice - Post Master (PM-DNP) program at Wichita State University is a terminal degree in nursing that offers an alternative to PhD research-focused doctoral programs. The DNP is a degree that meets the need of nurses who would like to pursue doctoral study, and focus on clinical practice, leadership, and quality improvement in their profession.

The American Association of College of Nursing (AACN) has promoted the DNP degree as the highest level of nursing education in response to the increased complexity of healthcare, the disparity among healthcare disciplines, and the vast amount of knowledge needed for advanced practice nurses.

Key Program Features

  • Students learn patient and practice management. Students receive education in evidence-based practice, quality improvement and healthcare system leadership.
  • Students receive advanced clinical practice content in pathophysiology and pharmacology geared towards practicing APRNs
  • Expert and guided instruction. The DNP program offers online courses and ample interactions with expert faculty.
  • Systematic approach in course completion.
  • Students engage in active clinical practice as an APRN. 
  • Students lead a quality improvement project in their current practice site,  community or side by side with a WSU nurse faculty researcher to assess, evaluate, and improve outcomes.

Program Facts

  • Program entry point is in the Spring
  • Average program length is 2-3 years, with full and part time options
  • Completely online
  • Application deadline is October 15th (Priority Deadline July 15th)
  • Application ratio varies
  • GPA to apply is 3.5
  • Current APRN licensure and national board certification in specialty area are required

Note: All post master DNP applicants continue with the Advanced Practice Registered Nurse specialization area completed in their MSN degree.

Program Requirements

Course Title Hours
Core and Specialization Preparatory Courses  
NURS 757 Teaching Strategies for Nursing Education 3
NURS 801 Health Policy 3
PHS 807 Healthcare Informatics 3
NURS 824 Advanced Pathophysiology II 2
NURS 901 Organizational Systems and Leadership 3
NURS 902 Population and Social Determinants of Health 3
NURS 924 Advanced Pharmacotherapy for Advanced Practice Nursing 3
NURS 956 Practice Management 2
Capstone Courses  
NURS 899B Introduction to Translational Research 1
NURS 826 Evidence-Based Nursing Project I 2
NURS 826L DNP Project Lab I 1
NURS 828 Evidence-Based Nursing Project II 2
NURS 828L DNP Project Lab II 1
NURS 959 Evidence-Based Nursing Project III 1
NURS 962 Evidence-Based Nursing Project IV 1
Total Credit Hours 31

DNP Quality Improvement Project

Students complete an evidence-based project. Students work collaboratively with at least one graduate nursing faculty member who is chairperson of their committee and one other graduate faculty member to identify an evidence-based practice problem and plan the implementation to address the problem. Successful defense of the evidence-based project proposal is the expected outcome within the Evidence-Based Project III course. After successful completion and defense of the Evidence-Based Project III proposal, the candidate may enroll in NURS 962. The Evidence Based Nursing Project IV allows the student to complete/disseminate the results of the project and develop a portfolio documenting practice scholarship. The residency hours may be taken in 2-, 4- or 6-hour increments and may be repeated until requirements are met. The candidate completes an oral defense of the project at the end of the residency.