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: Electives should be 5000, 6000, or 7000-level courses from the College of Nursing and should support students to achieve DNP Essentials and AONL competencies. Courses from another discipline or university may be considered. Electives must be approved by the program director.
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
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.
Practicum Experience and Sponsor Requirements and Responsibilities:
Practicum experience hours in nursing leadership must be completed in the graduate educational program in accordance with current accrediting bodies. Additional practicum experience hours may be required to demonstrate executive leadership competence.
Students are required to secure a sponsor within an organization to coach, mentor and guide the student related to their learning activities. Students pursuing a DNP degree in Executive Leadership need guidance in applying their course content to executive nursing practice and planning, implementing, and evaluating an evidence-based practice project.
Practice hours for the Executive DNP are typically accrued by a student working independently in his or her organization related to course objectives or the DNP Project. The sponsor provides guidance to the student on the development of their leadership role. They also provide assistance in gaining access to resources or personnel that are needed to plan, implement, and evaluate their practice improvement project. They work with the student to identify organizational needs and priorities so the student can provide value to the organization.
Independent Learning
A DNP Project will be completed by all students in the DNP program. A scholarly project, derived from systems leadership practice, will be developed in depth with faculty supervision.
