What is the difference between the two DNP tracks?
The DNP for nurse practitioners is designed for those who are not in a leadership role, but are in clinical practice settings without leadership responsibility. The DNP for Nurse Executives accepts all those in a leadership role or aspiring to be in this role; some leadership experience prior to admission is preferred. Although there are two tracks, much of the learning takes place within the cohort where students from the two tracks are combined. Some assignments and group work may be different for the executive track students to better reflect the learning needs of their increased scope of practice.
What is the curriculum plan, and can I pursue this degree either full-time or part-time?
The 30-credit program is taught online with required weekend intensives (first intensive which combines orientation to program, may occur during the week prior to the first semester start) and some synchronous seminar sessions during each course. Generally, there are two intensive weekends (Friday and Saturday) each semester, scheduled toward the beginning and end of each semester. One will be on our Boston campus, and the other will be fully online. There are generally approximately ten synchronous seminar sessions during the first three courses (approximately five sessions in the last course of the program), done virtually during evening hours and recorded; currently, these are on Wednesdays from 7:00 to 9:00 pm EST, The rest of the semester allows you to study on your own time and balance a busy work/life schedule. The program’s dedicated faculty supports you every step of the way, ensuring a personalized and interactive approach to nursing.
What are the required clinical hours?
The DNP is a practice doctorate. As such, the American Association of Colleges of Nursing (AACN), requires students to complete 1,000 supervised clinical practice hours post their baccalaureate degree. Five hundred (500) of those hours must be completed at the DNP level. The other 500 hours are accrued at the Master’s level. Since MGHIHP is a postgraduate program, many have already accrued the maximum allowed 500 hours in their master’s programs. Certification exams for nurse practitioners require a minimum number of practice hours to be eligible to sit for these exams. Those who completed other master’s programs in nursing or those with non-nursing master’s degrees may need to accrue the additional 500 master’s hours (or the difference between hours accrued and 500) during the time they are enrolled in their educational program. Students track their own hours and work with their faculty advisers to ensure they are aligning these with course objectives and student learning outcomes. Accepted applicants will be required to obtain clinical hours accrued from their master’s programs to help determine the total number of hours needed at the DNP level.
How will I know if I have prerequisites to complete?
We do consider applicants with non-nursing master’s degrees for acceptance into our program. Most often, these applicants have prerequisites to complete. As required of all applicants, a graduate-level course in biostatistics within the last ten years is required. Additionally, transcripts are evaluated to determine if there are any additional requirements. The most common deficit assessed on gap analysis is a graduate course in research methods. This course may be available at MGHIHP. Otherwise, the applicant can find an outside course that would need to be pre-approved before registering. Acceptance is granted pending completion of these prerequisites. This is why we encourage consideration for early application to allow time for these to be completed.
Can I apply as an MGH IHP Alum?
Yes, of course! We are happy that you are interested in continuing your graduate studies with us. The Admissions Office will assist you with a streamlined application process as an IHP alum. Please admissions [at] mghihp.edu (email us prior to applying) for more information. Please see the specific pre-requisite and eligibility requirements within this Application Requirements section.
Who do I contact for more information about the academic program, curriculum, or requirements?
Please dnp [at] mghihp.edu (subject: DNP%20for%20Nurse%20Execs%20Question%28s%29) (contact the DNP Program) directly.
Who do I contact for more information about the application process, my application status, or what documents to submit?
Contact our admissions office.
Can I defer my admission to a future term?
Though generally not permitted, deferral requests will be considered on a case-by-case basis and are generally approved only in extreme circumstances or military deployment. admissions [at] mghihp.edu (subject: Requqest%20Deferral) (To request a deferral, email the admission office).
Are there other Conditions of Admission?
Yes. If applicable, final transcripts and test scores must be submitted to satisfy the conditions of admission.
I’m an international student. Can I receive an F-1 visa?
Please see General Information for Prospective International Students.