Nurture Your Nurses. Become the Leader Needed Now.
You became a nurse because you wanted to help improve patient lives. Your passion lies in caring for others when they need it most. NSU’s B.S.N. to D.N.P. program offers you the opportunity to further your clinical expertise in diverse practice settings. The D.N.P. is a terminal degree that results in a variety of career options from nurse practitioner to nurse educator and health care executive to clinical researcher. In fact, within the last 20 years, the American Association of Colleges of Nursing (AACN) urged nurses to obtain their doctoral degrees in order to meet growing health care demands.
Did You Know? According to a 2019 APRN Compensation Report by Medscape, Advanced Practice Registered Nurses (APRN) with doctoral degrees earned 5% more than those with only master’s degrees.
The B.S.N. to D.N.P. program at NSU is designed for students who already have their B.S.N. and want to advance their career by obtaining their M.S.N. and D.N.P. together. This program gives you the opportunity to choose from six M.S.N. concentrations including Executive Nurse Leadership, Nursing Education, Nursing Informatics, Adult-Gerontology Acute Care Nurse Practitioner, Family Nurse Practitioner, or Psychiatric-Mental Health Nurse Practitioner. This practice-focused program prepares you to deliver nursing expertise in complex systems based on the specialization you choose.
NSU is well-known for graduating exceptional nurse leaders. Our graduate nursing students complete over 500 clinical hours in the M.S.N. portion of the B.S.N. to D.N.P. program and then complete over 500 clinical hours in the D.N.P portion. Over 1,000 clinical hours are required to complete the program. As an NSU nursing student, you’ll learn from expert faculty with years of experience working in various health care settings. You’ll also be exposed to advanced health care technology, complex health care systems, and learn how to translate research into evidence-based practice.
Why Earn a Nursing Degree at NSU?
Quick Facts
Tuition
Tuition for the 2022-2023 academic year (subject to change by the Board of Trustees without notice) is $719/semester credit hour for Traditional M.S.N. courses, $788/semester credit hour for M.S.N.-A.P.R.N. courses and $788/semester credit hour for D.N.P. courses.
Curriculum
NSU’s B.S.N. to D.N.P. program is 69-75 total credits to complete, depending on your chosen concentration.
Application Deadlines
Applications for admission are accepted online. The deadline to complete and submit the NursingCAS and supplemental NSU applications for fall admission is August 1 and December 9 for winter admission.
Delivery Options
For students enrolling in Nursing Education, Nursing Informatics, and Executive Nurse Leadership tracks, curriculum is delivered totally online. Students enrolling in the nurse practitioner tracks enjoy a mix of online and face-to-face course delivery. All doctoral students attend a 3-day intensive Summer Institute at NSU's Fort Lauderdale/Davie campus.
B.S.N. to D.N.P. Curriculum
*Requires 75 Practicum Hours
**Requires 150 Practicum Hours
For a full list of all course descriptions, visit coursewizard.nova.edu.
Ready for the Next Step?
Here's how to apply. Nursing students must submit the NursingCAS application.
The Ron and Kathy Assaf College of Nursing participates in the centralized applications service called NursingCAS.
NursingCAS allows applicants to use a single online application and one set of materials to apply to multiple programs at participating schools. It is used for document verification but does not take part in the student selection.
The Office of Admissions works on a rolling basis. Applications are accepted year-round.
Submit a NursingCAS Application
Submit your NursingCAS application online.
Submit Transcripts to NursingCAS
Request all official transcripts from all previously attended institutions to be sent directly to NursingCAS.
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.
Educational Credential Evaluators, Inc.
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.
Complete the Supplemental NSU Application
Once the NursingCAS application is completed, you should complete the supplemental NSU Application online.
Once all applications and documents have been received, the application will be processed and reviewed.
| Professional Licensure Disclosure/Notification Statement Ron and Kathy Assaf College of Nursing Nurse Practitioner Program(s) | ||
|---|---|---|
| Degree Title | Level | Degree |
| Master of Science in Nursing | Master | M.S.N. APRN |
This notification is applicable to ONLY BSN to DNP students who plan to pursue the APRN specialty.
Traditional DNP students and BSN to DNP students who are pursuing the MSN traditional role, should disregard the message below.
BSN to DNP students who plan to seek licensure as an APRN upon graduation:
At this time, we cannot confirm that the Ron and Kathy Assaf College of Nursing (ACON) Master of Science in Nursing (MSN APRN) program meets the educational requirements for professional licensure in other states or territories outside of Florida. Students who plan to take the licensing exam outside of Florida must check with the state in which they are seeking licensure for any additional requirements.
ACON’s Nurse Practitioner graduates seek certification as a Family Nurse Practitioner, Adult-Gerontology Acute Care Nurse Practitioner, or as a Psychiatric-Mental Health Nurse Practitioner upon completion of the APRN program. These exams are offered through the American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC) or American Association of Nurse Practitioners (AANP.)
Family Nurse Practitioner Certification (FNP-BC)
Adult-Gerontology Acute Care Nurse Practitioner Certification (AGANCP-BC)
Psychiatric-Mental Health Nurse Practitioner (Across the Lifespan) Certification (PMHN)-BC)
Students may also apply for a multi-state license if their home state is part of the nurse licensure compact. The Nurse Licensure Compact (NLC) allows a nurse to have a multistate license to practice in their home state and other approved compact states https://aprncompact.com/index.htm#map
Nova Southeastern University is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges. The Ron and Kathy Assaf College of Nursing, MSN Program is a Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE) accredited program.
| PROGRAM MEETS EDUCATIONAL REQUIREMENTS | PROGRAM DOES NOT MEET EDUCATIONAL REQUIREMENTS | CANNOT BE CONFIRMED IF PROGRAM MEETS EDUCATIONAL REQUIREMENTS |
|---|---|---|
| Florida | All States (Except Florida) the District of Columbia and the US protectorates, as defined in 34 CFR §600.2. |
For all students, applicants, or prospective students seeking licensure in any state listed in the “Program Does Not Meet Educational Requirements” or “Cannot Be Confirmed If Program Meets Educational Requirements” columns, please see the chart below detailing these states’ licensing boards and contact information.
To access nurse practice acts and administrative codes by state please visit the National of State Boards of Nursing NCSBN website (NCSBN) https://www.ncsbn.org/npa.htm
If you need assistance or have any questions, please contact Timothy O'Connor R.N., Ph.D., L.N.H.A. toconnor@nova.edu.