College of Nursing

Butch de Castro, PhD, MSN/MPH, RN, FAAN, Dean
Melissa Owen, PhD, Interim Associate Dean for Undergraduate Programs
Lisa Abel, DNP, MSN, ARNP, WHNP-BC, Interim Associate Dean of Graduate Programs

Web: https://www.seattleu.edu/nursing/

Seattle University College of Nursing BSN programs, including the Advanced Practice Nursing Immersion Program, were granted full accreditation by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education in 2022 through 2032. The Doctor of Nursing Practice Program and the Post-Doctoral Certificate Programs were granted full ten-year accreditation in 2020. The Nurse Midwifery program is accredited by the Accreditation Commission for Midwifery Education through July 31, 2031.

Objectives

Doctor of Nursing Practice

The Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) graduate is prepared for advanced levels of evidence-based practice, clinical scholarship, and leadership in healthcare systems. Students select the focus for their scholarly DNP Project in consultation with program faculty and mentors in an identified clinical setting. The practice doctorate prepares advanced practice nurses to meet the demands of complex healthcare systems, the rapidly expanding scientific knowledge needed for practice, and increasing opportunities for interdisciplinary collaboration and leadership. After completing the graduate program of study, advanced practice nurses will be able to:

Synthesize knowledge from nursing and other disciplines in the provision of evidence-based advanced practice nursing care
Utilize information systems technology to improve healthcare access, quality, and outcomes
Demonstrate competence in an advanced nursing practice specialty
Exercise leadership through scholarship, advocacy, and community engagement to achieve just and equitable healthcare systems that improve health potential and reduce health disparities of vulnerable populations
Evaluate and influence healthcare systems and health policy at local, state, federal, and global levels
Demonstrate effective communication and interprofessional collaboration in the promotion of healthcare access, quality, and outcomes
Evaluate beliefs, values and ways of knowing to foster lifelong personal and professional development
Apply ethical decision-making in complex clinical situations

The graduate program at Seattle University is grounded in the Jesuit Catholic ideals of teaching, service, education for values, and growth of persons. Graduate faculty members are doctorally prepared and clinically experienced nurses who are also expert teachers. The curriculum focus on care of marginalized and underserved clients actualizes the Jesuit Catholic commitment to social justice. Values-based education emphasizes the ethical, moral, and spiritual dimensions of nursing care. Attention to individual student strengths and needs produces graduates who are knowledgeable, skilled, and confident in their ability to effect positive change.

The Nurse Practitioner option offers population-focused areas in family, adult/gerontological primary care or acute care, nurse-midwifery, or psychiatric mental health. Graduates are eligible for national certification exams in the population-focused areas:Family Nurse Practitioner, Adult/Gerontological Nurse Practitioner, Certified Nurse-Midwifery and Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner. All of the nurse practitioner tracks require more than 600 hours of supervised clinical practice for program completion in addition to the 400 hours of DNP Project/Internship experience.

Full-time two-year postgraduate certificate options are available in each population-focused area for those students who already hold a doctoral degree in Nursing.

Students may enter the DNP program in a variety of ways:

Advanced Practice Nursing Immersion (APNI) for non-nurses
RN/BSN to DNP
Post-Master DNP
Post-Doctoral Certificate

The APNI is an accelerated path to the DNP for non-nurses holding undergraduate degrees in other fields. The APNI prepares graduates to be nurse practitioners and leaders with a population based focus in health care organizations and communities.

APNI students complete a five-quarter pre-licensure curriculum that allows them to sit for the registered nurse licensure examination (NCLEX-RN). Upon achievement of RN licensure, students continue on to population-focused and doctoral foundation courses. After successful completion of all doctoral courses, graduates are awarded the DNP. Students completing the nurse practitioner tracks are eligible to sit for certification examinations in their chosen population-focused area (see above).

Students who enter the DNP program through the APNI program finish their degree in four full time years, including most summers. Students who enter as Registered Nurses/BSN graduates may finish the program in three full calendar years. Post-graduate DNP and certificate students may finish their population-focused certificate in two and a half to three years.

The application deadline for the APNI to DNP and Registered Nurse/BSN to DNP is December 1 for entry to the program in the following June. Post-graduate DNP and certificate applications are due January 15.

Admission Requirements

See Graduate Admissions Programs for admission materials.

All applications are carefully reviewed and selected applicants will be invited to participate in a faculty interview process.

Evidence of the following must be provided to the College of Nursing prior to enrollment:

Washington State RN licensure (not a requirement for APNI applicants).
Professional liability insurance required for RN/BSN to DNP and Post-masters to DNP students
Proof of current immunizations required in clinical sites, and other Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) and state requirements. Students will be informed of these health requirements and will be responsible for compliance. Specific requirements are published in the College of Nursing DNP Student Handbook.

Non-matriculated Option

A prospective registered nurse student may take a maximum of 12 graduate nursing credits as a non-matriculated student without being admitted to the DNP program. These credits may be applied towards a degree once admitted to the DNP program. Clinical courses cannot be taken without formal admission to the DNP program. Enrollment in any course requires permission of the Associate Dean for Graduate Programs and the course instructor.

APNI Applicants

APNI prerequisites include the following undergraduate courses:

College Algebra or higher math	3 to 5 quarter credits
PSYC 1200 Introduction to Psychology	3 to 5 quarter credits
BIOL 2200-2210 Anatomy and Physiology I and II with lab	* 8 to 10 quarter credits
BIOL 2200 Microbiology with lab	*4 to 5 quarter credits
PSYC 3220 Growth and Development	3 to 5 quarter credits
Basic Descriptive and Inferential Statistics	*3 to 5 quarter credits

* Must be completed within the last 5 years. All other prerequisites except chemistry must be completed within 10 years prior to application.

In addition, one year of high school or one quarter of college chemistry is also a major prerequisite.

All prerequisite courses must be completed prior to enrollment in the immersion program. Official transcripts showing successful prerequisite course completion should be sent to the Seattle University Office of Graduate Admissions as soon as possible following completion of course(s). Students will not be permitted to progress if transcripts are not received by the Office of Admissions before or during the first quarter of the immersion.

Transfer Credit for the DNP Program

Up to 9 credits taken at the Master’s level within the past 6 years may be applied to satisfy requirements for the Post-Master’s DNP program. Students admitted to the DNP program may also petition to transfer credits to satisfy program requirements. Courses must be at the Master’s level and within the past 6 years. Approval of transfer credit is based on review of transcripts and course syllabi. Credit must meet the criteria as outlined in the Transfer Credit Policy (Policy 77-1) and must be reviewed and approved by the College of Nursing and the University via a Petition for Exception to Policy.

Graduate students in the College of Nursing are subject to all Seattle University academic policies published in this Graduate Catalog. Policies and procedures specific to the College of Nursing include the following as well as those published in the current edition of the DNP Student Handbook.

Clinical hours: Three contact hours are required for each credit hour for clinical courses/field work in the advanced practice portion of the DNP. The ratio of credit to contact hours for the DNP clinical practica is consistent with University policy.

Academic policies: Graduate nursing academic policies are described in the current edition of the DNP Student Handbook including criteria for admission, progression, probation, and dismissal. Students are responsible for reviewing the handbook and understanding its contents.

Commencement with deficiencies: DNP students scheduled to complete program requirements at the end of summer quarter, and who have completed all degree requirements except a final clinical practicum, may participate in the preceding June graduation ceremony.