Doctor of Nursing Practice (Post-Master's)

Develop a deeper understanding and stronger relationship with the science of nursing by earning a Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) post-master's degree at Lincoln Memorial University! The DNP is a doctoral degree program in the Caylor School of Nursing (CSON) that may be completed in just six semesters of full-time study. Part-time study options are also available.

Offered 100% online, the DNP program will serve as a nuanced way to challenge you as an academic and to help you uncover refreshing ways to view yourself, the art and science of nursing, and the world as a whole! By pursuing the DNP degree program, you'll be opening up a wide variety of personal and professional benefits, including increased career opportunities, potential salary increases, improved self-confidence, and a love and commitment to nursing.

Established in 2015, the DNP program was designed to provide you with the opportunity to both achieve a terminal degree in nursing and to develop a tight-knit community of nursing scholars with a focus on adaptive leadership and practice. During your time in LMU's post-master's DNP program, you will develop the skills necessary to fully implement emerging science and practice innovation in health care, as well as to prepare you for practice-oriented community-based roles that reflect translation of research into practice by incorporation of:

• incorporation of health policy
• principles of epidemiology
• information technology
• evidence-based practice
• business principles
• collaboration
• health systems

Apply to the DNP Program

Review the list of details below to ensure that you are eligible for the Doctor of Nursing Practice (post-master's) degree program at LMU. To qualify, you must have:

• Earned a Master's of Science in Nursing (MSN) from a nationally accredited CCNE of ACEN.
• Been certified as a Nurse Practitioner, Certified Nurse-Midwife, Clinical Nurse Specialist, or Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetist
  - OR MSN with an Administration concentration and/or at least one year of experience in a nursing administration role
  - OR earned a MSN in a different specialty than listed above will be considered on an individual basis. A longer program of study and/or additional requirements may be required to fulfill required practice hours and consideration is not a guarantee of admission.
• Unencumbered licensure in the United States as a registered nurse. Practice will determine specific state licensure.
• A minimum of two years of full-time work experience (or equivalent) in nursing as a registered nurse (RN).
• Earned a grade point average (GPA) of at least 3.0 on a four-point grading scale.
• Graduate Record Exam (GRE) scores (if your cumulative grade point average is less than 3.4 as reported by the MSN institution)
• Completed a basic statistics course
• Submitted a completed application packet, including:
  • Completed DNP application
  • Official GRE scores (if applicable)
  • Current resume, including employment history, military service, academic scholarships, awards and/or honors, professional memberships and awards, professional presentations or publication, and community service activities.
  • Three-page typewritten letter discussing your goals and personal reasoning for pursuing doctoral education. The letter should clearly indicate your career plans upon program completion.
  • Three letters of reference pertaining to your academic ability, professional proficiency, and personal integrity. One letter should be from your current supervisor, one from a faculty member who has worked with you during your previous academic study, and one from a professional reference of your choice.
  • An optional telephone or in-person interview as part of your admission process.

If you are an international student, you will need to demonstrate the ability to read, write and speak English with a minimum score of 550 on the TOEFL. As an international student, you will also need to submit your official transcripts for evaluation to either World Education Services ( www.wes.org) or Josef Silny & Associates ( www.jsilny.com).

Once you have completed all of the admission requirements, your application will be reviewed and considered for the graduate program. If you choose to interrupt the NURS course sequence for any reason, your admission application must be resubmitted to the Graduate Nursing Office. Being readmitted into the DNP program is not guaranteed. 

When you have been officially accepted, you must submit a completed medical profile form, immunization record, background check, and urine screen prior to matriculation. You must have and maintain the following for the duration of the program:

• an unencumbered RN license
• current infant, children and adult CPR certification
• health insurance
• current immunization according to the CDC guidelines
• negative drug screen

At LMU, we have "rolling admissions," meaning submitted applications are reviewed and potentially approved in the order that they are received. Because of this, we recommend that you submit your application early, preferably one or two semesters prior to the semester you intend to begin at LMU, but we will consider later applications.

To apply for the DNP program, you must submit your application through the LMU portal.

After completing the DNP program at LMU, you'll open a whole new door for career opportunities. Depending on your professional path of choice and your geographical location, you could be earning an average of $101,000 per year! Pursue new careers in positions like:

• Health Care Executive
• Nursing Faculty
• Advanced Practice Registered Nurse
• Health Care Lobbyist
• Clinical Researcher
• and many more!

Want to learn more about the DNP program at LMU? Reach out to us at any time and we will be happy to help!

Crystal Hunnicutt, DNAP, CRNA
Program Director/Assistant Professor
Caylor School of Nursing 
Lincoln Memorial University
Phone: 423.869.6723
Email: Crystal.Hunnicutt@lmunet.edu