APS.DNP.LDR - Doctor of Nursing Practice - Major in Nursing Practice - Specialization in Systems Leadership

• Submission of transcript for a completed master’s degree in nursing from a college or university accredited by an accrediting agency recognized by both the U.S. Department of Education (ED) and the Council for Higher Education Accreditation (CHEA) and national nursing programmatic accreditation (CCNE, ACEN, CNEA).

     OR

• Submission of transcript for a completed master’s degree in a non-nursing field from a college or university accredited by an accrediting agency recognized by both the U.S. Department of Education (ED) and the Council for Higher Education Accreditation (CHEA) with 7 years of experience in nursing practice may also be considered for admission by Portfolio. These candidates may submit a Portfolio which includes a current CV/resume including evidence of accomplishments in nursing based on The Essentials: Core Competencies for Professional Nursing Education, Level 2.

• Earned graduate GPA of 3.25 based on a 4.0 scale or the equivalent.

• GPA for conditional admission:

  • Applicants who do not meet the GPA listed in the criteria for regular admission and have at least a 3.0 undergraduate GPA if applying to the bachelor to DNP or graduate GPA if applying to the DNP may be conditionally admitted and allowed to take 9- credit hours of doctoral nursing courses to establish a graduate GPA.

  • Students who have earned a 3.0 GPA by the completion of 9-credit hours in doctoral nursing courses, will meet the criteria for regular admission.

  • An unsatisfactory grade (B- or lower in any DNP course) while conditionally admitted will result in administrative withdrawal from the program and denial of regular admission. 

  • Students who do not earn a 3.0 GPA by the completion of 9-credit hours in doctoral nursing courses will be denied regular admission.

Application:

• Submit the Indiana Wesleyan University (IWU) Doctoral Nursing application for the DNP program.

• $100 application fee. (Applicants will not be charged the application fee if they have previously paid the fee for enrollment at IWU.)

• A criminal history background check (at the student's expense) must be completed upon admission to any track of the Doctoral Nursing program. A criminal background check must be completed within six weeks following the start of the program. Upon request, documentation of background checks, required health information, immunization information, drug screening results, and other required information may be provided to healthcare facilities where the student will be completing clinical/practicum requirements as part of their required course of study. Progression in the program is dependent on the results of the reports.

• International/Non-English Speaking Students -  Students who do not speak English as their first and primary language must submit satisfactory scores from one of the following prior to admission to the university:

  • Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL). For graduate students, a score of at least 600 (paper-based), 250 (computer-based), or 100 (Internet-based) is required for regular academic admission.

  • International English Language Testing System (IELTS). For graduate students a score of at least 6.5 is required for regular academic admission.

Professional Requirements:

• Submit proof of a current unencumbered RN license.

• Submit proof of a current unencumbered APRN license (if applicable).

• Submit resume/curriculum vitae.

• Submit a 2-3 page document which includes the following: a summary of practice experience, professional goals and a practice-related issue that may serve as the focus of the DNP Scholarly Project.

General Information Regarding Admission:

• The Doctoral Nursing department may request letters of recommendation and an interview with an applicant once all the admission criteria listed above have been met.

• The number of applicants admitted to the DNP program will be limited. Meeting the minimum admission criteria does not ensure that an applicant will be admitted to the program.

• Computer literacy is imperative and proficiency in Microsoft Word, Excel, and Power Point is expected.

• Domestic or international travel during the global healthcare course is required.

• Once an application for the DNP program has been submitted, it will remain valid for 12 months.

Progression Requirements

• Students must maintain an RN license that is active and unencumbered at all times during enrollment in the program. Students must have a valid unencumbered RN license in the state(s) of all practicum sites. If students have multiple state licenses, all must be unencumbered. It is the student’s responsibility to notify the School of Integrated Health if the status of his or her RN license changes. Students will be administratively withdrawn from the program at any point if this status is not maintained.

• Students must meet all practicum agency requirements. 

• Continued enrollment in the program is subject at all times to review of the student's academic record and actions with regard to observance of university policies and regulations. Policies and regulations can be found in the School of Integrated Health Student Handbook (located within each course).

• All courses must be satisfactorily completed with a grade of “B” or above to proceed to the next course.

• Upon earning a second unsatisfactory grade, students will be academically dismissed and ineligible to reapply for admission into the DNP program for 5 years. 

Degree Completion Limits

The DNP program is designed as curriculum to be completed in approximately 26 months. Program completion must be accomplished within four years of starting the program. Students who do not maintain continuous enrollment with their original cohort and curriculum will be required to join a new cohort as space is available, adapt to all subsequent curricular and DNP Project Manual changes, and incur any changes in program tuition costs or fees. Any exceptions to this policy must be requested in writing to the Dean of School of Integrated Health or designated academic leader with the final decision resting with the CAPS Appeals Committee.

DNP Project Continuation

Doctoral students not completing the DNP Project by the end of the second year will be required to maintain continuous enrollment. Students will enroll in a one-hour DNP Project Continuation course (course) continuously for up to seven credits or until the DNP Project is successfully defended. Students will pay the one-credit-hour course tuition and any required fees to maintain continuous enrollment. Each continuation course will be ten weeks in length.

Re-enrollment

A student who wishes to re-enroll in the DNP program must first contact the appropriate advisor to complete a Request for Re-enrollment form and forward to the Dean of School of Integrated Health Doctoral Programs or designated academic leader for approval. Following approval, the student may re-enroll in the program through the Office of Learner Success and will agree to follow the prescribed plan of study. Students sitting out of a core program for more than 90 days are subject to current tuition rates upon returning. Students re-entering after six months are subject to any changes made in curriculum in the intervening time as well as current catalog policy.

A student may re-enroll in the Doctoral Nursing a maximum of two times without an appeal. A request for a third re-enrollment must be accompanied by a petition to the Program Leader. Re-enrollment will be dependent upon the decision of the Program Leader or the CAPS Admission Review Committee if the Program Leader determines a higher level of appeal is required. 

Student Professional Performance Policy

Students are expected to maintain the ethical standards of practice established by American Nurses Association (ANA) Code of Ethics for Nurses with Interpretive Statements. Students whose professional performance affects their ability to be licensed as a registered nurse or advanced practice registered nurse, and/or who do not meet the ethical standards established by ANA, may be recommended for a Performance Improvement Plan (PIP) or other sanction up to and including dismissal from the School of Integrated Health. It is the responsibility of each student to be aware of policies regulating academic and professional conduct found in the IWU Catalog, student handbooks, and clinical guidelines, possible sanctions, and the appeals process. 

• Progressive Discipline: The School of Integrated Health promotes a policy of progressive or corrective discipline; however, serious infractions may warrant immediate removal from clinical or academics setting, imposition of a written reprimand, suspension, or dismissal. Performance concerns may include, but are not limited to the following:

  • Fails to meet generally accepted standards of patient safety, professional conduct, personal integrity, or emotional stability required for professional practice;

  • Fails to demonstrate the effective interpersonal skills necessary to perform professional helping relationships;

  • Fails to adhere to the ANA Code of Ethics;

  • Has been found guilty of criminal misconduct that affects the student’s ability to be licensed as a registered nurse (RN )or advanced practice registered nurse (APRN); or

  • Displays inappropriate or disruptive behavior toward clients, other students, faculty, or staff, which interferes with professional judgment or jeopardizes the best interest of those to whom the student has a professional responsibility.

• Clinical Compliance Documentation:

  • Before beginning any clinical or practicum experiences, students must meet all practicum agency requirements (at the student's expense). All Advanced Practice Registered Nursing students, and as required other students, must complete a second criminal background check and a drug screen, and submit documentation of health clearance, immunizations, and meet any other requirements of the practicum site before any client contact. In addition, random drug testing (ex. annually) or drug testing based on reasonable suspicion can be implemented at any time and without prior notice. Students who do not comply will be dismissed from the program. Progression in the program is dependent on the results of the reports. 

  • Upon request, documentation of required health information, background check reports, drug screening results, and other required information may be provided to healthcare facilities where the student will be completing clinical/practicum requirements as part of their required course of study.

Attendance Policy

The program is a blend of onsite residencies and interactive online workshops. Students are required to attend all onsite residencies and substantively engage in all interactive, online prescribed learning activities.

• Online Attendance - Attendance is determined by activity during a workshop, either through discussions or assignments. A student is reported absent for a workshop if there is not at least one submission (or posting of an assignment or in a discussion forum assigned during that workshop. A student may be allowed one online absence per course.

  • Excessive Absences - If a student exceeds the allowed absences and does not contact the Office of Learner Success to officially withdraw before the first day of the last workshop, the professor is directed to issue the grade of "F" and the student will be withdrawn from the program. 

  • Temporary Leave - Students who are unable to participate in a course due to unavoidable circumstances must arrange for a temporary leave with the Office of Learner Success prior to the beginning of the course. Students who withdraw while in a course may do so with permission of the Associate Dean Director of Doctoral Programs or designated academic leader and by arrangement with the Office of Learner Success prior to the start of the first day of the last workshop of the course, but the regular refund and academic withdrawal policies apply.

Residency

Residency for the DNP program is satisfied by attending three onsite residencies. Students are expected to be in attendance throughout the residency and are not allowed an absence from required workshops, events, or class sessions that are scheduled during the residency. If a student does need to withdraw from a residency, and the withdrawal date is after fees have been spent, residency fees are non-refundable. Business casual is the expected attire. Students are expected to follow the community lifestyle statement of the university while on campus. This includes refraining from the use of alcohol, tobacco, illegal drugs, use of firearms, and unethical or illegal activities.

Incomplete Grades

Students are expected to complete the course requirements by the last day of the final workshop. There may be instances when crisis circumstances or events prevent the student from completing requirements in a timely manner. In these rare situations, a grade of "I" (incomplete) may be issued after completing the following process: 

• The student must request an "I" from the instructor via email. 

• The instructor must obtain approval via email from the program leader. 

• The student must have completed at least 75% of the course. 

• The faculty member and the Dean must both agree to the incomplete grade. 

A grade of "incomplete" may be granted only for extenuating circumstances. The length of time a student has to complete and submit the requirements to the faculty is determined by the faculty member for the course and may not exceed 10 weeks. If, at the end of the extension, the student has failed to complete the course requirements, the faculty will enter the grade the student earned. An incomplete cannot be issued if the student fails to meet the attendance requirements.

• All credits required in the program with a minimum GPA of 3.25.
• All courses passed with a grade of “B”. "B-" is not a passing grade.
• A minimum of 1000 practicum hours.
• Successful completion, defense, and submission of the DNP Project.
• All degree requirements within four years of matriculation.
• Payment of all tuition and fees is required to receive a diploma.