Nursing (Doctoral)

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Doctoral Programs and Requirements

Degrees/Programs
Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP)
Emergency Nurse Practitioner (DNP) (Post-Master’s)
Family Nurse Practitioner (BSN to DNP)
Family Nurse Practitioner w/ENP Specialty (BSN to DNP)
Family Nurse Practitioner (DNP) (Post-Master’s)
Nurse Leader (DNP) (Post-Master’s)
Nurse Anesthesia (BSN to DNP) (see the Nurse Anesthesia  section for details)
Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner (DNP) (Post-Master’s)

Older Programs*
Advanced Practice (DNP) *
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*The Advanced Practice DNP is closed to new admits. Students enrolled in this program should refer to the catalog edition (2023-2024 or earlier) for their year of admission.
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The Moffett & Sanders School of Nursing offers innovative options in programs leading to a doctor of nursing practice degree (DNP). Graduates are prepared to practice in an advanced role to meet and/or manage health care needs of families across the life span.

Through the BSN to DNP option, the School of Nursing provides students who currently hold a bachelor’s degree in nursing the opportunity to earn a DNP in nurse anesthesia or nurse practitioner.

Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) (Post-Master’s)

The doctor of nursing practice (DNP) program will fulfill a need within the profession for advanced nursing practice who can provide leadership in the healthcare system of the 21st century. The DNP will be a visionary leader for the practice of nursing and the delivery of health care in all settings. This program prepares graduates to demonstrate competencies, including organizational and systems leadership, advanced clinical skills, the ability to mobilize interdisciplinary teams, the ability to establish collaborative relationships to solve complex clinical problems, and to initiate policy and programmatic changes. The DNP program will prepare clinicians (nurse practitioners, nurse anesthetists, and clinical nurse specialists) and nurse administrators for leadership roles, evidence-based practice, and to fully implement the emerging science and practice innovations in health care.

The post-master’s doctor of nursing practice (DNP) offers concentrations including leadership, emergency nurse practitioner, family nurse practitioner, and psychiatric mental health nurse practitioner.

DNP Outcomes*

*Students enrolled prior to summer 2025 will refer to the catalog of the year of enrollment for program information.

Integrate knowledge and evidence from nursing and other sciences into advanced specialty nursing practice.
Design evidence-based person-centered care within multiple contexts across the health continuum.
Formulate strategies to improve equitable population health outcomes among diverse populations.
Engage through scholarship and analytical methods for evidence-based practice to affect optimal health outcomes.
Facilitate quality of care and culture of safety at individual and system levels.
Collaborate, building on core nursing and interprofessional values, to optimize integrated team-based care.
Coordinate innovative system-based solutions to address complex health problems for diverse individuals and populations across settings.
Incorporate information systems and technologies for the provision and/or transformation of healthcare delivery and nursing practice.
Model nursing’s unique professional identity and ethical behaviors across roles, relationships, and settings.
Participate in activities and self-reflection that promote well-being, resilience and leadership in self and others.

Admission Requirements

For complete admission requirements and instructions, visit www.samford.edu/nursing.

Transfer Credit

Graduate students are permitted to transfer a maximum of 12 graduate credits from a CCNE, CNEA, or an ACEN (formerly NLNAC) accredited college or university. To do so, students should complete a course substitution form and attach a copy of the syllabus. Transfer credits will be evaluated by the associate dean of the graduate program for applicability to the program.

Progression Policies

For complete progression policy information, please refer to the Graduate Nursing Student handbook.

Academic Policies

Students who receive a grade below a B in any required or prescribed course or whose cumulative GPA falls below a 3.00 will be placed on academic probation and must:

Repeat any nursing course in which a grade received was below a B and receive a grade of B or better.
Be aware that a required nursing course can only be repeated one time.
Be aware that failure of the same course twice or failure of two separate courses constitutes dismissal from the program

Students who fail to successfully complete a required nursing course within one calendar year of the academic probation notification will be dismissed from the program.

Students must be aware that matters of plagiarism, unethical, unprofessional or unsafe conduct may result in immediate dismissal from the School of Nursing.

Program Interruptions

Students who need more than four years to complete the program may petition the School of Nursing graduate program to request an additional year for completion (a total of five years for completion).

Readmissions Policy

A student who has been dismissed from the Moffett & Sanders School of Nursing graduate program may apply through the Office of Graduate Student Services for readmission after an intervening period of not less than one semester. The appropriate graduate admission committee will consider such requests for readmission on presentation of substantial evidence of a responsible and successful period of work or study during the intervening period. There is no guarantee, however, that a student will be readmitted. The decision regarding readmission rests with the dean and is based upon the faculty’s evaluation of the likelihood of the applicant’s ability to perform successfully in graduate coursework.

Programs

Doctoral

Courses

Nursing - Doctoral