Nurture Your Nurses.
Become the Leader Needed Now.

As a nurse, you have the desire to make a difference. Your passion for caregiving drives you to excel. Nova Southeastern University Ron and Kathy Assaf College of Nursing's B.S.N. to D.N.P. program offers you a pathway to elevate your clinical expertise across dynamic settings to emerge as a nursing leader.

Focused on professional practice, this program empowers you with the skills to deliver expert nursing within intricate systems that align with your chosen specialization. The D.N.P. degree is your catalyst to advanced roles such as nurse practitioner, educator, executive, or researcher, empowering you to meet the call of the American Association of Colleges of Nursing (AACN) for nurses to attain their doctoral degrees to meet the surging demands of healthcare.

Why Choose NSU's B.S.N. to D.N.P. Program?

  • Integrated Path: Seamlessly blend M.S.N. and D.N.P. studies, propelling you forward with dual degrees.
  • Tailored Expertise: Choose one of three M.S.N. concentrations, including Adult-Gerontology Acute Care Nurse Practitioner, Family Nurse Practitioner, or Psychiatric-Mental Health Nurse Practitioner.
  • Immersive Learning: Complete more than 500 clinical hours each in M.S.N. and D.N.P., totaling more than 1,000 hours of hands-on experience.
  • Expert Faculty: Learn from experienced faculty immersed in diverse healthcare and gain real-world insights.
  • Cutting-Edge Experience: Engage with advanced healthcare technology and systems, turning research into evidence-based practice.

Begin your journey toward empowerment and positive change with NSU's B.S.N. to D.N.P. program.

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It’s designed to be friendly for people like me. I work full-time, I’m a mother full-time, and I have a lot of other things going on. But at NSU, they are flexible.

Martha Wydra | B.S.N. to D.N.P. Student

 

Why Earn a Nursing Degree at NSU?

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A Lifelong Competitive Edge
Experienced nursing leaders help you build professional connections and gain skills to stand out.
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Affordability
We make your education more affordable with financial aid and scholarships.
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Enhanced Skills
Equip yourself with the strategies and insights to handle leadership roles with greater expertise and confidence.

Quick Facts

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Tuition
Visit the Tuition and Fees page for more information.
Curriculum
Curriculum
NSU’s B.S.N. to D.N.P. program requires 73 - 76 total credits for completion, depending on your chosen concentration.
Deadline
Application Deadlines
Applications for admission are accepted online. The deadline to complete and submit the NursingCAS for fall admission is August 1 and December 19 for winter admission.
Delivery Options
Delivery Options
Coursework is online with 1 - 3 (based on concentration) on-campus intensives. All doctoral students are required to attend Virtual Intensive days during each project course. These intensives are 1 to 2 days in length.

B.S.N. to D.N.P. Curriculum

Curriculum

Semester I

Credits

(NSG 7300
DNP Roles, Leadership and Collaboration
/Credits: 3)
(NSG 5531
Advanced Pathophysiology
/Credits: 3)

Semester II

Credits

(NSG 5512
Diagnostic Reasoning
/Credits: 1)
(NSG 5502
Advanced Health Assessment 
/Credits: 3)
(NSG 7350
Leadership in Complex Healthcare Systems
/Credits: 3)

Semester III

Credits

(NSG 5220
Health Promotion and Disease Prevention
/Credits: 3)
(NSG 5510
Advanced Pharmacology
/Credits: 3)

Semester IV

Credits

(NSG 5620
Adult-Gerontology Acute Care I
/Credits: 4)
(*NSG 5629
Adult-Gerontology Acute Care I Clinical
/Credits: 2)

Semester V

Credits

(NSG 7131
Epidemiology Advancing Global Health
/Credits: 3)
(NSG 5630
Adult-Gerontology Acute Care II
/Credits: 4)
(*NSG 5639
Adult-Gerontology Acute Care II Clinical
/Credits: 2)

Semester VI

Credits

(NSG 7135
Healthcare Information Systems and Outcomes Management
/Credits: 3)
(NSG 5650
Adult-Gerontology Acute Care III
/Credits: 4)
(*NSG 5659
Adult-Gerontology Acute Care III Clinical
/Credits: 2)

Semester VII

Credits

(NSG 7020
Healthcare Policy and Advocacy
/Credits: 3)
(NSG 7400
Nursing Science for Clinical Practice
/Credits: 3)
(NSG 5660
Adult-Gerontology Acute Care Capstone
/Credits: 3)
(*NSG 5669
Adult-Gerontology Acute Care Capstone Clinical
/Credits: 3)

Semester VIII

Credits

(NSG 7431
Project I: Mentored Scholarship (3 credits didactic/2 credits practicum = 150 practicum hours)
/Credits: 5)

Semester IX

Credits

(NSG 7444
Project II: Project Plan (2 credit didactic/2 credits practicum = 150 practicum hours)
/Credits: 4)

Semester X

Credits

(NSG 7040
Biostatistics I
/Credits: 3)
(NSG 7445
Project III: Implementation (1 credit didactic/2 credits practicum = 150 practicum hours)
/Credits: 3)

Semester XI

Credits

(NSG 7451
Project IV: Evaluation (1 credit didactic/2 credits practicum = 150 practicum hours)
/Credits: 3)

 

Total Credits

( 
 
/Credits: 73)

*Requires 95 practicum hours per credit hour
For a full list of all course descriptions, visit coursewizard.nova.edu.

Curriculum

Semester I

Credits

(NSG 7300
DNP Roles, Leadership, and Collaboration
/Credits: 3)
(NSG 5531
Advanced Pathophysiology
/Credits: 3)

Semester II

Credits

(NSG 5502
Advanced Health Assessment
/Credits: 3)
(NSG 5512
Diagnostic Reasoning
/Credits: 1)
(NSG 7350
Leadership in Complex Healthcare Systems
/Credits: 3)

Semester III

Credits

(NSG 5220
Health Promotion and Disease Prevention
/Credits: 3)
(NSG 5510
Advanced Pharmacology
/Credits: 3)

Semester IV

Credits

(NSG 5542
Primary Care Adult I
/Credits: 4)
(*NSG 5549
Primary Care Adult I Clinical
/Credits: 2)

Semester V

Credits

(NSG 7131
Epidemiology Advancing Global Health
/Credits: 3)
(NSG 5550
Primary Care Adult II
/Credits: 4)
(*NSG 5559
Primary Care Adult II Clinical
/Credits: 2)

Semester VI

Credits

(NSG 7135
Healthcare Information Systems and Outcomes Management
/Credits: 3)
(NSG 5580
Primary Care Pediatrics
/Credits: 2)
(*NSG 5589
Primary Care Pediatrics Clinical
/Credits: 1)
(NSG 5560
Primary Care Women
/Credits: 2)
(*NSG 5569
Primary Care Women Clinical
/Credits: 1)

Semester VII

Credits

(NSG 7020
Healthcare Policy and Advocacy
/Credits: 3)
(NSG 7400
Nursing Science for Clinical Practice
/Credits: 3)
(NSG 5590
Family Nurse Practitioner Capstone
/Credits: 3)
(*NSG 5599
Family Nurse Practitioner Capstone Clinical
/Credits: 3)

Semester VIII

Credits

(NSG 7431
Project I: Mentored Scholarship (3 credit didactic/2 credits practicum = 150 practicum hours)
/Credits: 5)

Semester IX

Credits

(NSG 7444
Project II: Project Plan (2 credit didactic/2 credits practicum = 150 practicum hours)
/Credits: 4)

Semester X

Credits

(NSG 7040
Biostatistics I
/Credits: 3)
(NSG 7445
Project III: Implementation (1 credit didactic/2 credits practicum = 150 practicum hours)
/Credits: 3)

Semester XI

Credits

(NSG 7451
Project IV: Evaluation (1 credit didactic/2 credits practicum = 150 practicum hours) 
/Credits: 3)

 

Total Credits

( 
 
/Credits: 73)

*Requires 95 practicum hours per credit hour
For a full list of all course descriptions, visit coursewizard.nova.edu.

Curriculum

Semester I

Credits

(NSG 7300
DNP Roles, Leadership and Collaboration
/Credits: 3)
(NSG 5531
Advanced Pathophysiology
/Credits: 3)

Semester II

Credits

(NSG 5512
Diagnostic Reasoning
/Credits: 1)
(NSG 5502
Advanced Health Assessment
/Credits: 3)
(NSG 5510
Advanced Pharmacology
/Credits: 3)
(NSG 7350
Leadership in Complex Healthcare Systems
/Credits: 3)

Semester III

Credits

(NSG 5532
Neurobiology Psychopharmacology
/Credits: 3)
(NSG 5220
Health Promotion and Disease Prevention
/Credits: 3)

Semester IV

Credits

(NSG 5710
Psychiatric Management I: Psychopathology and the DSM V
/Credits: 4)
(*NSG 5719
Psychiatric Management I: Psychopathology and the DSM V Clinical
/Credits: 2)

Semester V

Credits

(NSG 7131
Epidemiology Advancing Global Health
/Credits: 3)
(NSG 5720
Psychiatric Management II: Developmental Theories for Child and Adolescent Mental Health
/Credits: 4)
(*NSG 5729
Psychiatric Management II: Developmental Theories for Child and Adolescent Mental Health Clinical
/Credits: 2)

Semester VI

Credits

(NSG 7135
Healthcare Information Systems and Outcomes Management
/Credits: 3)
(NSG 5730
Psychiatric Management III: Modalities of Psychotherapy
/Credits: 4)
(*NSG 5739
Psychiatric Management III: Modalities of Psychotherapy Clinical
/Credits: 2)

Semester VII

Credits

(NSG 7020
Healthcare Policy and Advocacy
/Credits: 3)
(NSG 7400
Nursing Science for Clinical Practice
/Credits: 3)
(NSG 5790
Psychiatric Care Management Integration Capstone
/Credits: 3)
(*NSG 5799
Psychiatric Care Management Integration Capstone Clinical
/Credits: 3)

Semester VIII

Credits

(NSG 7431
Project I: Mentored Scholarship (3 credit didactic/2 credits practicum = 150 practicum hours)
/Credits: 5)

Semester IX

Credits

(NSG 7444
Project II: Project Plan (2 credit didactic/2 credits practicum = 150 practicum hours)
/Credits: 4)

Semester X

Credits

(NSG 7040
Biostatistics I
/Credits: 3)
(NSG 7445
Project III: Implementation  (1 credit didactic/2 credits practicum = 150 practicum hours)
/Credits: 3)

Semester XI

Credits

(NSG 7451
Project IV: Evaluation (1 credit didactic/2 credits practicum = 150 practicum hours)
/Credits: 3)

 

Total Credits

( 
 
/Credits: 76)

*Requires 95 practicum hours per credit hour
For a full list of all course descriptions, visit coursewizard.nova.edu.

Intensive Schedule

Program Track Course Intensive Length
AGACNP, FNP, and PMHNP NSG 5502—Advanced Health Assessment 2 days
FNP NSG 5542—Primary Care Adult I 2 days
FNP NSG 5550—Primary Care Adult II 2 days
AGACNP NSG 5620—Adult-Gerontology Acute Care 4 days
AGACNP NSG 5650—Adult-Gerontology Acute Care III 2 days
Scheduled intensives are subject to change.    

Ready for the Next Step?

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Submit a NursingCAS Application

Submit your NursingCAS application online.

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Submit Transcripts & Additional Required Documents to NursingCAS

Request all official transcripts from all previously attended institutions to be sent directly to NursingCAS.

NursingCAS
P.O. Box 9201
Watertown, Massachusetts 02471

International applicants coursework taken at foreign institutions must be evaluated for U.S. institutional equivalence by an approved National Association of Credential Evaluation Services (NACES) organization such as one of the services listed below.


It is the applicant's responsibility to have this coursework evaluated. An official course-by-course evaluation with a cumulative grade point average must be sent directly from the evaluation service.

Once your application and all documents have been received, the application will be processed and reviewed

PROFESSIONAL LICENSURE DISCLOSURE/NOTIFICATION STATEMENT

 

Degree Title (Concentration)

Level

Doctorate in Nursing Practice (D.N.P.)

Adult Practice Nurse Practitioner (A.P.R.N.)

Graduate

PROFESSIONAL LICENSURE DISCLOSURE STATEMENT

This Disclosure is strictly limited to NSU’s determination of whether the Ron and Kathy Assaf College of Nursing, if successfully completed, would be sufficient to meet the educational requirements for licensure or certification in a State, as defined as 34 C.F.R. § 600.2.

 

NOTE: This Disclosure does not provide any guarantee that any particular State licensure entity will approve or deny your application for certification or professional licensure. Furthermore, this Disclosure does not account for changes in state law or regulations that may affect your application for certification or licensure or occur after this disclosure has been made. If your career plans include pursuing professional licensure or certification in your chosen field, it is important to become educated on the credentialing requirements of the state in which you hope to practice by contacting the state’s licensure entity.

 

In accordance with 34 C.F.R. § 668.43, NSU has determined whether the Program satisfies State educational requirements for licensure as follows:

PROGRAM MEETS EDUCATIONAL REQUIREMENTS

 

PROGRAM DOES NOT MEET EDUCATIONAL REQUIREMENTS

Alabama, Alaska, Arizona, Arkansas, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, District of Columbia, Florida, Georgia

Hawaii, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Mississippi, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska

Nevada, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New Mexico,

New York, North Carolina, North Dakota, Ohio, Oklahoma, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Carolina,

South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Vermont, Virginia

Washington, West Virginia, Wisconsin, Wyoming,

Northern Mariana Islands, American Samoa, Virgin Islands

Puerto Rico, Guam

 

 

State licensure or certification requirements can vary from state to state, depending on each State’s laws and regulations. The State licensure entities are responsible for overseeing the educational and non-educational requirements for licensure or certification for their State.

 

We encourage all enrolled students and prospective students to contact their applicable State licensure entities to familiarize themselves with the specific professional licensure or certification requirements. For information on how to contact State licensure entities, please visit the U.S. Department of Education State Contacts webpage at: https://www.ed.gov/contact-us/state-contacts

 

If you have trouble obtaining the information you need, or if you have any other questions regarding certification, please contact Dr. Timothy O’Connor, The Director of Assessment and Accreditation, at (954) 262-1894 OR toconnor@nova.edu for assistance.