The Executive Track in the Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) program is a dynamic and engaging academic curriculum that prepares the nurse executive for the multiple dimensions of administrative responsibilities within varied healthcare environments. The Executive DNP track extends and enhances the knowledge, skill, and performance of healthcare system leaders in a wide variety of clinical and administrative environments.
The DNP Executive Track meets the unique needs and taps the talent of nurse executives through experiential learning and leadership projects in a team-centered environment. It provides enrolled executives the opportunity to interact with prominent healthcare experts who address emergent and challenging issues for nurse leaders and encourages networking with colleagues across local and state healthcare and policy organizations.
Program Objectives
The objectives of the DNP program are to prepare graduates to:
- Critically analyze complex clinical situations and practice systems and disseminate findings.
- Assume leadership roles in the development of clinical practice models, health policy, and standards of care.
- Develop practice models that support diagnostic reasoning skills and clinical judgment through the use of the evidence-based practice.
- Analyze the social, economic, political, epidemiological, and other scientific data to improve individual, aggregate, and population health.
- Demonstrate information fluency and advanced communication skills to lead quality improvement initiatives to improve patient care and health care systems.
- Design, implement, and evaluate comprehensive care models for populations and/or systems and disseminate findings.
The Executive Track in the Doctor of Nursing Practice program prepares nurses at the highest level of practice for the current healthcare environment based on a strong scientific foundation for practice; offers flexibility and emphasis on evidence-based practice, leadership, and organizational analysis, and provides analytic skills to examine practice innovations. Details about this program are located in the Executive DNP Handbook. For the Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP), total graduate credit must equal or exceed 42 credit hours.
Total Credit Hours Required: 42 Credit Hours Minimum beyond the Bachelor's Degree
Please note: Executive Nursing (DNP) may be completed fully online, with student practice hours completed within their local practice environment. Newly admitted students choosing to complete this program exclusively via UCF online classes may enroll with a reduction in campus-based fees.
You may pursue this UCF College of Nursing online program as long as you will be physically located in a Nurse Licensure Compact (NLC) state for the duration of your education.
UCF College of Nursing faculty is authorized to teach in NLC states. Due to nursing education restrictions imposed by non-NLC states, UCF is unable to offer courses, clinicals, or other educational services regardless of modality within non-NLC states. Should you be physically located within a non-NLC state for more than a vacation or brief visit, regardless of your legal state of residence or the type of license you have, you will be unable to apply or continue your nursing degree program at the UCF College of Nursing. This includes, but is not limited to, students accepting traveling nurse positions in a non-Nurse Licensure Compact state.
Track Prerequisites
- MSN with a leadership or healthcare systems focus (eg: Nursing Administration, Healthcare Systems, or Leadership) or Master's Degree in a related administration field (eg: MBA, MHA, or MPA) from an accredited institution.
- Applicants with an MSN with a non-leadership focus will be considered for conditional admission. Qualified applicants will be required to complete 9 credit hours, NGR 5720 Organizational Dynamics, NGR 6722 Financial Management and Resource Development, NGR 6723 Nursing Leadership and Management prior to beginning DNP courses. Additional practicum hours will be required.
- RN license the state in which you practice.
Degree Requirements
Required Courses
27 Total Credits
- Complete the following:
- NGR6874 - Nursing Environment Management (3)
- NGR7673 - Epidemiology Principles in Advanced Practice Nursing (3)
- NGR7793 - Leadership and Economics in Advanced Practice Nursing (3)
- NGR7827 - Concepts, Measurement, and Data Management (3)
- NGR7820 - Innovative Technologies in Healthcare (3)
- NGR7892 - Healthcare Systems and Policy (3)
- NGR7855C - Evidence-Based Practice Development for DNP (3)
- NGR7779C - Program Development and Management for DNP (3)
- NGR7778L - Advanced Leadership Selective for DNP (3)
Elective
3 Total Credits
- Earn at least 3 credits from the following types of courses: Graduate Elective (chosen from an approved list)
DNP Executive Residency
3 Total Credits
- Complete all of the following
- The DNP Residency provides an in-depth clinical experience for students. This advanced practice experience provides the opportunity to link policy making with clinical systems, translate research into practice and serve as change agents for health care.
- Complete the following:
- NGR7976L - Executive DNP Residency (3)
DNP Professional Practice Immersion
0 Total Credits
- DNP clinical requirements are 1000 hours post-baccalaureate. Immersion hours depend upon record review of hours completed at the master's level. NGR 7942L - DNP Professional Practice Immersion VAR Credit Hours (60-180 practice hours) Can be repeated.
DNP Project
9 Total Credits
- Complete all of the following
- The DNP Project is the product of the culminating or comprehensive experience of an independent project that demonstrates application of advanced clinical and evidence-based practice. The DNP Project is guided and evaluated by an academic committee. It will serve as a foundation for future scholarly practice. The DNP Project is related to advanced nursing practice and benefits a group, population or community rather than an individual patient. It addresses identified needs and builds on an evidence base.
- Complete the following:
- NGR7911C - Doctoral Project I (3)
- NGR7912C - Doctoral Project 2 (3)
- NGR7913 - Doctoral Project 3 (3)
Grand Total Credits: 42
Application Requirements
For information on general UCF graduate admissions requirements that apply to all prospective students, please visit the Admissions section of the Graduate Catalog. Applicants must apply online. All requested materials must be submitted by the established deadline.
In addition to the general UCF graduate application requirements, applicants to this program must provide:
- One official transcript (in a sealed envelope) from each college/university attended.
- MSN with a leadership or healthcare systems focus (eg: Nursing Administration, Healthcare Systems, or Leadership) or Master's Degree in a related administration field (eg: MBA, MHA, or MPA) from an accredited institution.
- The GRE is not required for admission to this program.
- Applicants with an MSN with a non-leadership focus will be considered for conditional admission. Qualified applicants will be required to complete 9 credit hours, NGR 5720 Organizational Dynamics, NGR 6722 Financial Management and Resource Development, NGR 6723 Nursing Leadership and Management prior to beginning DNP courses. Additional practicum hours will be required.
- RN license the state in which you practice.
- Address the following 3 items in a written essay. Responses to all 3 questions should not exceed 500 words, double-spaced, 12 point Times New Roman font, and 1-inch margins:
- Describe how earning a Doctor of Nursing Practice in the track to which you applied will help you achieve your personal and professional goals.
- Explain those personal and professional experiences that have helped prepare you for doctoral study and your readiness for doctoral study at this time.
- The final DNP project focuses on the implementation of an evidence-based change that impacts healthcare outcomes through direct or indirect care from a systems or population/aggregate focus. Describe an area of interest you believe could be improved through such a project.
- Curriculum Vitae which reflects prior education, recent clinical accomplishments, any recent scholarly work (publications and presentations), awards, professional certifications, and activities with professional organizations.
- Requires 3 professional recommendations.
- Applicants applying to this program who have attended a college/university outside the United States must provide a course-by-course credential evaluation with GPA calculation. Credential evaluations are accepted from World Education Services (WES) or Josef Silny and Associates, Inc. only.
Before submitting your application, it is recommended that applicants call the College of Nursing Graduate Office at (407) 823-2744 to schedule an appointment with a DNP adviser to discuss your goals for doctoral study. It is advantageous to discuss the program before writing the required essay because the essay must address your goals for doctoral-level preparation for advanced nursing practice.
Documentation of the number of clinical hours completed during master's program. Acceptable documents are your license exam application form completion of the Verification of Clinical Hours Form.
Upon admission to the program, the student will be required to complete FDLE/FBI fingerprinting and certified background checks, and health screening. Students must be able to meet clinical partner background requirements to continue in the program.
The College of Nursing uses a student information management system, LEAP*RN (Project Concert). This database houses information regarding plans of study, clinical placements, clinical hours, logs, and evaluation data to assist in maintaining standards required for CCNE accreditation, facilitate student progression, and enhance clinical tracking. Students will need to access LEAP*RN for clinical course requirements, course evaluations, and portfolios. Upon graduation, students will continue to have no-cost access to their information. All students will be responsible for a one-time subscription of $150 per degree program payable at https://secure.projectconcert.com/ucf and due prior to registering for first semester courses. If students register for courses prior to paying the subscription, a "hold" service indicator will be placed to prevent future enrollment and other progression functions.
Financial Information
Graduate students may receive financial assistance through fellowships, assistantships, tuition support, or loans. For more information, see the College of Graduate Studies Funding website, which describes the types of financial assistance available at UCF and provides general guidance in planning your graduate finances. The Financial Information section of the Graduate Catalog is another key resource.
Fellowship Information
Fellowships are awarded based on academic merit to highly qualified students. They are paid to students through the Office of Student Financial Assistance, based on instructions provided by the College of Graduate Studies. Fellowships are given to support a student's graduate study and do not have a work obligation. For more information, see UCF Graduate Fellowships, which includes descriptions of university fellowships and what you should do to be considered for a fellowship.
