Nursing DNP, (Nursing Education Specialization)

Doctor of Nursing Practice Program

College of Health Sciences
Degree: Doctor of Nursing Practice
Chair of Graduate Nursing Programs, Melissa Weidner, PhD, CRNP

Faculty

Sarah Brown, Assistant Professor of Nursing, BSN, MSN, DNP Misericordia University

Kimberly Conaboy, Assistant Professor, BSN Penn State University; MSN, DNP Misericordia University

Darlene Kuchinski-Donnelly, Associate Professor of Nursing, BSN, MSN Misericordia University; PhD Widener University

Daniel Satterfield, Assistant Professor, BSN, MSN, DNP Misericordia University

Melissa Diehl Weidner, Assistant Professor of Nursing, BSN College Misericordia, MSN and Post-Masters Certificate Thomas Jefferson University; PhD Walden University

Mission of the Nursing Department

The Nursing Department at Misericordia University embraces the charisms of mercy, service, justice and hospitality while preparing future nurses and nurse leaders for a life of service and global citizenship.  Students will actively engage in an evidence-based educational experience that promotes critical thinking and intellectual curiosity, grounded in the sciences and liberal arts.  The focus is to provide ethical, safe and humanistic care as part of the multidisciplinary healthcare team to optimize health outcomes for diverse individuals, families, and communities.

Vision of the Nursing Department

The Nursing Department at Misericordia University aims to be a leading provider of nursing education that inspires and empowers a diverse community of future nurse leaders to advance the profession and optimize health of all persons in a collaborative, culturally sensitive and rapidly expanding health care environment.

Doctor of Nursing Practice Program Philosophy

Guided by the mission and values of Misericordia University, and the goals for graduate education, the Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) program prepares graduates to provide leadership and clinical expertise within various healthcare settings.  The DNP program builds on the knowledge and foundational concepts from master’s degree programs to prepare nurse leaders at the highest level to translate evidence-based research into practice with the ultimate goal of improving patient outcomes. At the conclusion of the program, all students complete a scholarly project to demonstrate mastery of nursing concepts and essential nursing skills.

DNP Program outcomes

(for students admitted Fall 2025 and after)

Upon completion of Misericordia University’s DNP program graduates will be able to:

1. Interpret and synthesize the scientific underpinnings of evidence-based advanced clinical nursing practice and associated disciplines. (Concept: Clinical Judgment)
2. Evaluate person-centered care techniques that establish a culture of diversity, equity, and inclusion to create positive patient outcomes. (Concept: DEI)
3. Adapt various communication modalities to promote team leadership and interprofessional care to facilitate patient-centered care. (Concept: Communication)
4. Critique bioethical ethical concepts to examine ethical issues related to advanced practice nursing. (Concept: Ethics)
5. Improve patient satisfaction through holistic evaluation and application of compassionate care principles. (Concept: Compassionate care)
6. Critically appraise evidence-based literature    and other data to improve population and individual health outcomes. (Concept: Evidence-based practice)
7. Interpret and evaluate health care policy at multiple levels to positively impact patients and policies that allow nurses to practice to the fullest extent of their education. (Concept: Health policy)
8. Evaluate the social determinants of health at the local, national, and global level to promote systematic changes to healthcare entities. (Concept: Social Determinants of Health)

*Concepts are from the 2021 Essentials from the American Association of Colleges of Nursing.

 

(for students admitted prior to Fall 2025)

Per the Essentials of Doctoral Education for Advanced Nursing Practice developed by the American Association of Colleges of Nursing (AACN,2006), the Doctor of Nursing Practice Program at Misericordia University is designed to assist graduates to:

1. Influence the scientific underpinnings of advanced clinical nursing practice through strategic decision-making and change implementation. (Essential I)
2. Apply organizational and system leadership skills to affect systemic changes in thinking and development of quality improvement activities to improve health care outcomes. (Essential II)
3. Utilize analytic methods to critically appraise evidence-based literature and other data to improve health care outcomes for diverse populations. (Essential III)
4. Integrate current information systems and technologies to promote effective models of care to improve the transformation of health care. (Essential IV)
5. Develop health care policies that facilitate advocacy for equitable health care and social justice to vulnerable and diverse populations. (Essential V)
6. Collaborate with inter-professional team members to enhance prevention and health promotion of patient and population health. (Essential VI)
7. Synthesize the concepts of community, environment, culture, and socioeconomic dimensions of health into advanced practice for improvement of the nation’s health. (Essential VII)
8. Model advanced levels of clinical judgment, systems thinking and accountability in designing, implementing, and evaluating evidence-based care to improve health care outcomes. (Essential VIII)

 

Admission Criteria

Applicants for the BSN to DNP program must have at least a 3.25 GPA from their BSN program and applicants for the MSN to DNP program must have a minimum GPA of 3.0 from their graduate degree program or post-master’s certificate program.

Denied Admission - Applicants who have less than a 3.25 GPA will be denied admission to the BSN-DNP program, but if they have a GPA between 3.00 to 3.24 the student will be offered admission to the MSN program.  Additionally, if the student has a GPA between 2.75 to 2.99 the student will be offered provisional admission to the MSN program.  The progression requirements are listed in the MSN Admission Criteria. For applicants to the MSN to DNP program with a GPA of less than 3.0 from their graduate degree program or post-master’s certificate program will be denied admission.

List of required admission documents for the BSN to DNP and MSN to DNP Program:

1. Completion of an online application.
2. Official transcripts from all previous college work, including graduate and undergraduate.
3. Copy of unencumbered license as a registered professional nurse.
4. Two letters of reference (one from current or most recent employer, one from former faculty member).
5. Resume or Curriculum Vitae
6. Statement of personal and professional goals (typed, 500 words)
7. If applying for MSN to DNP, a Master of Science in Nursing degree from a CCNE or NLN accredited institution, license to practice as an advanced practice nurse (CNM, CRNA, CNS, or CRNP), and a copy of current national board certification as an Advanced Practice Nurse is required.
8. English language proficiency- if English is not your first language, or if English is not the primary language spoken in your home, you must submit the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL). The Internet based TOEFL exam has four subsections: writing, speaking, reading, and listening, with a grading scale for each section from 1 to 30 (30 being the highest score). Misericordia University will look closely at the score for each section rather than the total score. Applicants must attain the minimum scores of 22 for ALL sections in order to be considered for admission to the graduate nursing program. Students should indicate on the registration form that they wish their test results be sent directly to Misericordia University. The TOEFL code for Misericordia University is 2087.

Curriculum Information

The MSN to DNP (Master of Science in Nursing to Doctor of Nursing Practice) program is designed for advanced practice nurses seeking to further develop their leadership skills and clinical expertise. This program focuses on preparing nurse leaders to deliver high-quality, evidence-based care, manage complex healthcare systems, and contribute to policy development and healthcare improvement. Students build on their existing MSN education by completing advanced coursework in areas such as healthcare management, evidence-based practice, and leadership, while also engaging in clinical practice and projects that address real-world healthcare challenges. Number of practice hours to be completed will be based upon review of MSN transcript with a minimum of 250 practice hours required. Upon successful completion, students are awarded the DNP degree and are equipped with the skills needed to assume leadership roles in various healthcare settings. The program is delivered online in an asynchronous format, with flexibility for working professionals. For those students with an interest in teaching, a nine, credit specialization in nursing education   is available. 

Program Scheduling

All DNP coursework is completed in a part-time online format. Selected courses may be offered in an accelerated format. All DNP courses are asynchronous. Occasional synchronous chat may be required for specific course assignments at the discretion of the DNP program faculty.

Graduate Program Progression and Retention

1. MSN and DNP students must attain a GPA of 3.0 or better and maintain or exceed a 3.0 GPA for each semester of the graduate program.  The initial grade calculation happens at the end of the first semester and every semester after that.
2. Any matriculated student who earns a GPA of less than 3.0 for any semester will be placed on probation. Students may be placed on probation only one time during the MSN or DNP Programs. If a student on probation fails to increase his/her GPA to the required level during the subsequent probationary semester, or if the student’s GPA falls below the required level in any subsequent semester, the student will be dismissed from the program. These policies supersede those in the university’s graduate catalog.
3. Please see the university graduate catalog for specific information on progression and retention in graduate programs.  University Catalog
4. Grade replacement is not permitted in MSN, PMC, BSN to DNP, or MSN to DNP programs.  This policy supersedes that in the university graduate catalog.
5. Any student who receives a grade of F in any course or who does not meet grade expectations, will be dismissed from the MSN, PMC, BSN to DNP or MSN to DNP program. The student may never re-enter the graduate nursing program including entry into the post-master’s certificate programs. These policies supersede those in the university’s graduate catalog.
6. Once accepted into a program, all students must maintain matriculation on a continuing basis until the student has completed all program requirements, unless otherwise approved by the Chair of the Graduate Nursing Department.

Dismissal

1. Academic Dismissal

• Should a student fail to meet the terms of probation or meet the retention criteria after being placed on departmental probation, the student will automatically be dismissed from the Graduate Department of Nursing. Once dismissed from the program the student will not be able to apply for readmission to the Graduate Nursing Programs, including the post-master’s NP program.
• Additionally, any student who is found guilty of cheating in any form, will be automatically dismissed from the program with no option for return. 

2. Professional Behavior and Civility Dismissal

• Graduate Nursing Department faculty members endorse the American Nurses’ Association Code of Ethics for Nurses (2025) and use this framework as a Student Code of Ethics.
• Serious infractions of the Student Code of Ethics will result in immediate dismissal from the graduate nursing program with no option for readmission.
• Chair of the Graduate Nursing Department along with the appropriate program director, will make a determination of the degree of seriousness of any infractions.
• Students dismissed for ethical violations cannot re-apply to the Graduate Nursing Department for any further program of study.
• Additional sanctions may be determined by the university as per the university catalog.
• Students will be contacted within 72 hours of the infraction to determine next steps.