Department: Nursing
School of Health Sciences
Interim Dean: Heyward Michael Dreher, PhD, RN, FAAN, ANEF
Building 5S, Room 212
Telephone: 718.982.3690
Program Coordinator:
Professor Catherine Paradiso
Building 5S, Room 213
718.982.3838
catherine.paradiso@csi.cuny.edu
The Department of Nursing offers programs leading to the Doctor of Nursing Practice, Adult-Gerontological Health The Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) degree programs has two options: Clinical Nurse Specialist (CNS) and Nurse Practitioner (NP). Students in the two degree programs take many of the same courses but focus their course assignments, competency development and clinical hours on the role of choice. Clinical Nurse Specialists work within the spheres of direct care, nursing personnel, and organizations/networks. Nurse Practitioners work as primary care providers in the adult and gerontological populations.
Restructuring of healthcare organizations and initiatives surrounding healthcare reform have created new roles for advanced practice nurses, especially those with doctoral level preparation.
The DNP program is designed to meet health care workforce needs and to provide education at the highest level of clinical nursing practice. The curriculum is based on the Eight Essentials of DNP Practice:
Scientific Underpinnings for Practice
Organizational and Systems Leadership for Quality Improvement and Systems Thinking
Clinical Scholarship and Analytical Methods for Evidence-Based Practice
Information Systems/Technology and Patient Care Technology for the Improvement and Transformation of Health Care
Health Care Policy for Advocacy in Health Care
Inter-professional Collaboration for Improving Patient and Population Health Outcomes
Clinical Prevention and Population Health for Improving the Nation’s Health
Advanced Nursing Practice
The program requirements are consistent with the Core Practice Doctorate Clinical Nurse Specialist (CNS) competencies published by the National Association of Clinical Nurse Specialists, the Nurse Practitioner (NP) competencies published by the National Organization of Nurse Practitioner Faculties, and the Adult-Gerontological Primary Care Nurse Practitioner Competencies and Adult-Gerontological Clinical Nurse Specialist Competencies published by the American Association of Colleges of Nursing. Nurses who successfully complete the programs are prepared to meet the needs of culturally diverse individuals, families, and communities and will have a competitive edge in the changing, complex environment of health care.
Graduates of the DNP programs are eligible for licensing through the New York State Office of the Professions State Education Department and for certification as specialists in adult-gerontological health nursing through the American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC) and the American Association of Nurse Practitioners (AANP).
Admission Requirements
Applicants should have a bachelor's degree with a major in Nursing from an accredited school or a bachelor's degree in another field, three years of appropriate full time clinical experience in Nursing (one year upon admission and two additional years prior to entering clinical practica) as determined by the doctoral nursing faculty, and completion of required nursing, science and mathematics courses.
A TOEFL score of 550 or higher is required for all students for whom English is a second language.
Applicants will be evaluated on an individual basis when all official transcripts and supporting documents have been received. Application deadline is March 23rd for Fall admission. Applicants will be notified by mail regarding their acceptance. Enrollment with matriculated status is contingent upon satisfaction of admission criteria.
Admission requirements for fully matriculated doctoral status:
Official baccalaureate transcript(s) documenting a cumulative grade point average of 3.0 on a 4.0 point scale in the nursing courses.
Evidence of successful completion of baccalaureate undergraduate courses (or comparable learning experiences approved by the Doctoral Admissions Committee) in nursing research, statistics, and health assessment/physical examination; community health nursing, leadership and management in nursing, general chemistry, and pharmacotherapeutics.
Two recommendation letters supporting the applicant’s potential for completing graduate studies; one must be from a current nursing supervisor or recent professor who can speak to clinical performance.
Recent Curriculum Vitae.
Current and unencumbered New York State RN License.
Personal Statement: Instructions: All doctoral degree applicants must answer 1-4. Your personal statement should be 500 words, 2 to 4 pages in length total, double spaced with one-inch margins, in 12-point font. We want to know more about you – your life and goals, your challenges and strengths, and the clinical path that you have chosen that has lead you to this point in your career.
Interview with admissions committee.
Personal Statement Questions:
1. Why have you decided to apply to this program?
2. How has advanced practice nursing impacted health care delivery in the USA?
3. What are your personal goals as a Doctor of Nursing Practice?
4. Describe an example from your nursing career where your clinical leadership fostered a successful outcome for one or more patient.
Advanced Standing Status
Applicants who have a Master’s degree in Nursing and are working as Nurse Practitioners can apply for Advanced Standing.
Applicants with a non-clinical Master’s degree will have prior credits evaluated through a full gap analysis by the admissions committee.
Advanced standing status applicants must submit:
Official Transcripts of Adult Gerontology Nurse Practitioner /Master’s Degree in Nursing documenting a cumulative grade point average of 3.0 on a 4.0 point scale.
Two recommendation letters supporting the applicant’s potential for completing graduate studies; one must be from a current nursing supervisor or recent professor who can address the applicant’s clinical performance.
Recent Curriculum Vitae.
Current and unencumbered New York State RN License.
Current licensure as an advanced practice nurse in New York State.
ANCC or AANP national certification.
Minimum of three years appropriate full-time clinical experience as a Registered Professional Nurse/Nurse Practitioner/Clinical Nurse Specialist as determined by the doctoral nursing faculty.
Personal Statement: Instructions: Doctoral degree applicants must answer 1-4. Your personal statement should be 500 words, 2 to 4 pages in length total, double spaced with one-inch margins, in 12-point font. We want to know more about you – your life and goals, your challenges and strengths, and the clinical path that you have chosen that has lead you to this point in your career.
Interview with admissions committee.
Personal Statement Questions:
1. Why have you decided to apply to this program?
2. How has advanced practice nursing impacted health care delivery in the USA?
3. What are your personal goals as a Doctor of Nursing Practice?
4. Describe an example from your nursing career where your clinical leadership fostered a successful outcome for one or more patient.
Applicants will be evaluated on an individual basis when all official transcripts and supporting documents have been received. Application deadline is March 23rd, 2020 for Fall admission. Applicants will be notified by mail regarding their acceptance. Enrollment with matriculated status is contingent upon satisfaction of admission criteria.
Requirements for Progression and Retention in all Graduate Programs in Nursing
Students must have a minimum grade point average (GPA) of 3.0 (B) to be retained and to progress.
Progression: Students must achieve a grade of B in all graduate courses in order to progress. Students must provide verification of three years full-time appropriate clinical experience as a registered nurse in order to progress to the clinical courses.
Grades: For a grade lower than a B, the course must be repeated within one year. Students who do not obtain a passing grade in one course may repeat the course only once. Progression in the program cannot occur until the course is repeated successfully. Courses cannot be repeated more than once. Only one course can be repeated throughout the curriculum.
Withdrawals: No more than two (2) withdrawals are permitted throughout the curriculum. When a second withdrawal is requested, permission must be obtained from the Department Chair by requesting permission for the second withdrawal in writing. Permission may be granted based upon previous academic performance, circumstances, and adequacy of the individual’s plan for success.
Academic Probation: Students whose GPA falls below 3.0 will be placed on academic probation, please see policy in Graduate Catalog and the Academic Policy of the College. Improvement of the GPA may require additional coursework. Students on academic probation are not permitted to progress to the clinical courses.
Dismissal: If the student fails any one of the advanced practice core (BIO 670, NRS 682, NRS 702) or role specialization courses (i.e. NRS 720, NRS 721, NRS 722, NRS 723, NRS 735, NRS 736, NRS 737) the student will be dismissed from the program.
Advisement
Each student admitted to the program will be provided academic guidance and career support. Students must meet with their advisor once a semester. Permission to register is granted during advisement.