BSN to DNP Online Programs

Summary

Adult-Gerontology Acute Care NP

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Study advanced concepts related to acute care diagnosis and management and learn the skills to become an AGACNP in this 18-credit concentration.

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Adult-Gerontology Primary Care NP

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If you want to be a primary care NP who focuses on patients 13 and older, this 18-credit concentration can help you build the skills necessary to provide the best care possible.

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Family NP

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This 18-credit track features advanced courses in gerontology, pediatrics, and family health that can help you develop the skills necessary to become a family nurse practitioner and treat patients of all ages.

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Pediatric NP

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If you want to devote your practice as a nurse to working with children, you can earn your online PNP certificate. This 18-credit track features advanced courses in health promotion, assessment, and diagnosis of children.

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Psychiatric Mental Health NP

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Want to use your nursing degree to help diagnose, treat, and improve mental health? This concentration comprises 21 credit hours of courses in mental health assessment, diagnosis, and management.

Summary

NURS 600 Theoretical Foundations of Nursing Practice (3 Credits)

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The focus of this course is to critique, evaluate and apply appropriate theory within advanced nursing practice.

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NURS 601 Evidence Based Practice in Nursing (3 Credits)

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This course explores evidence-based practice as it relates to changing and improving current advanced nursing knowledge and application.

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NURS 603 Professional Role Development: Advanced Practice Nurse (3 Credits)

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This course provides a theoretical foundation for exploring, analyzing and evaluating advanced nursing practice roles within the health care system. Legal and ethical contexts are included.

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NURS 610 Health Promotion/Disease Prevention (3 Credits)

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This course focuses on health screening, health promotion and disease prevention at the individual, regional and national level. This includes the exploration at the advanced nursing practice role to direct program planning, development, implementation and evaluation to improve healthcare outcomes.

Summary

NURS 611 Advanced Pathophysiology (3 Credits)

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Provides the basis for understanding the pathophysiology of diseases and the changes in normal function that result in manifestations indicative of illness across the lifespan.

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NURS 612 Advanced Health Assessment (5 Credits)

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This course explores focused and comprehensive health assessments in a variety of settings and patients across the lifespan. This includes development of health promotion strategies and prioritization of care.

Prerequisite: Online - NURS 611, NURS 615 Corequisite: On Ground - NURS 615

Summary

NURS 615 Advanced Health Assessment (3 Credits)

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This course focuses on the pharmacological foundation for safely prescribing medical regimens of illnesses for individuals across the lifespan. Also included are illness prevention, non-pharmacological and legal implications for prescriptive authority for the nurse practitioner.

Note: Selection of appropriate therapies, patient education and evaluation parameters are stressed.

Summary

NURS 700 Principles of Epidemiology and Biostatistics (3 Credits)

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This course is designed to introduce students to the purpose, content, and methods of epidemiology and biostatistics. Students will learn to evaluate and use output from statistical computing software.

Prerequisite: NURS 710

Summary

NURS 701 Foundations of Clinical Scholarship (3 Credits)

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This course is designed to explore the phenomenon of interest related to the DNP scholarly project. Students will systematically develop a project protocol that is supported by the literature and submit it for department approval.

Course objectives:

1. Develop a clinical question that guides the scholarly project.
2. Read critically from professional nursing literature and other related disciplines to interpret, analyze and apply current research to improve practice.
3. Apply a systematic approach to address clinical problems within healthcare organizations, including outcome measures and a sustainability plan to create meaningful changes in clinical outcomes.
4. Develop a protocol and submit it to the DNP council for project approval.
5. Develop the first chapter of the scholarly project that includes needed sections based on the selected DNP project format.

Summary

NURS 702 Integrating and Synthesizing Research (3 Credits)

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This course is designed to emphasize an objective approach to the integration and synthesis of knowledge. Manuscript preparation and practical use of evidence are incorporated to prepare students for the design of research proposals.

Prerequisite: NURS 700 and NURS 701

Summary

NURS 703 Ethics for Advanced Nursing Practice (3 Credits)

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This course is designed to explore ethical principles for the highest level of nursing practice. Students will use evidence-based nursing and interprofessional literature to analyze ethical issues in professional practice.

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NURS 704 Quality and Patient Safety in Advanced Nursing Practice (3 Credits)

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This course is designed to provide students with the foundation of process improvement (PI) and quality improvement (QI) concepts. Evidence-based practice and change management will be integrated with concepts of PI and QI. Systems thinking will be emphasized.

Summary

NURS 705 Clinical Inquiry I (3 Credits)

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This course will allow the students to design an evidence-based project that will guide clinical practice. The feasibility of conducting this initiative will be explored. Potential funding sources and budget issues will be examined. Students will apply the elements of protection of human subjects and complete the Maryville IRB.

Prerequisite: NURS 700, NURS 701, NURS 702, and NURS 703

Summary

NURS 706 Clinical Inquiry II (3 Credits)

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This course is designed to expand the students knowledge of clinical project data collection and analysis of data. Students will apply integrated research concepts pertaining to the clinical project. Utilization of various methods of data analysis and data management systems will be explored. Complete project data is needed prior to the start of this course.

Prerequisite: NURS 705 and NUS 705L

Summary

NURS 707 Clinical Inquiry III (3 Credits)

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This course is designed to expand the students understanding of methods of dissemination in translational research. Variables that impact the analysis of data related to the scholarly project will be examined. Implications for patients, clinical practice and the healthcare systems will be explored and findings disseminated.

Prerequisite: NURS 706

Summary

NURS 708 Organizational and Systems Leadership (3 Credits)

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This course is designed to allow students to analyze organizational, management and social science theories in the context of organizational leadership and change management. Systems thinking is emphasized.

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NURS 709 Advanced Health Policy (3 Credits)

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This course is designed to present the student with knowledge of the American healthcare system. Economically and politically feasible/viable policy changes that would improve the efficiency and effectiveness of the system’s delivery of health care will be explored. The student will analyze the policy making process in preparation to be effective advocates for health policy change.

Summary

NURS 710 Graduate Statistics (3 Credits)

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This course is designed to provide an understanding of the measurement of phenomena as it relates to the research process. Procedures for selecting, applying, and interpreting the correct statistical application to a research problem will be presented with students processing the results.

Prerequisite: NURS 700

Summary

NURS 640 Adult-Gerontology Acute Care Diagnosis and Management I (3 Credits)

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This is the first didactic management course in the Adult Gerontology Acute Care Nurse Practitioner program. Focus is on individuals experiencing illness seen in the acute care setting. Students will analyze practice guidelines and develop differential diagnoses, implement clinical judgment and decision-making, as it relates to evidence based care management.

Prerequisite: NURS 611, NURS 612, and NURS 615

Corequisite: NURS 641 or NURS 641C

Summary

NURS 641 Adult-Gerontology Acute Care Diagnosis and Management Practicum I (3 Credits)

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First practicum course in the Adult Gerontology Acute Care Nurse Practitioner (AGACNP) program. Students will apply and integrate concepts presented in NURS-640 with focus on applying knowledge and skills in acute care practice settings.

Prerequisite: NURS 611, NURS 612, and NURS 615

Corequisite: NURS 640

Summary

NURS 642 Adult-Gerontology Acute Care Diagnosis and Management II (3 Credits)

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This course is the second didactic management course in the Adult Gerontology Acute Care Nurse Practitioner program. Students will continue to expand on knowledge, decision making and management of acute and emergent physiological alterations in health. Students will analyze practice guidelines and develop differential diagnoses, implement clinical judgment and decision-making, as it relates to evidence based care management.

Prerequisite: NURS 640 and NURS 641 or NURS 641C

Corequisite: NURS 643 or NURS 643C

Summary

NURS 643 Adult-Gerontology Acute Care Nurse Practitioner Practicum II (3 Credits)

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This is the second practicum course in the Adult Gerontology Acute Care Nurse Practitioner (AGACNP) program. Students will apply and integrate concepts presented in the NURS 642 with focus on comprehensive health care to complex, acute and critically ill patients in a clinical, preceptored practicum experience.

Prerequisite: NURS 640 and NURS 641

Corequisite: NURS 642

Summary

NURS 644 Adult-Gerontology Acute Care Diagnosis and Management III (3 Credits)

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This is the final didactic management course in the Adult Gerontology Acute Care Nurse Practitioner (AGACNP) program. Students will continue to analyze practice guidelines and develop differential diagnoses, implement clinical judgment and decision-making, as it relates to evidence based care management in complex symptomology.

Prerequisite: NURS 640, NURS 641 or NURS 641C, NURS 642 and NURS 643 or NURS 643C

Corequisite: NURS 645 or NURS 645C

Summary

NURS 645 Adult-Gerontology Acute Care Nurse Practitioner Practicum III (3 Credits)

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This is the final practicum course in the Adult Gerontology Acute Care Nurse Practitioner (AGACNP) program. The student will apply and integrate concepts presented in the NURS-644 with focus on comprehensive health care to complex, acute and critically ill patients in a clinical, preceptored practicum experience.

Prerequisite: NURS 642 and NURS 643

Corequisite: NURS 644

Summary

NURS 620 Adult-Gerontology Health Care I (3 Credits)

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This course covers the care of adults experiencing acute, chronic and complex health problems of select body systems in this first of two sequential courses. Current research based interventions are analyzed. Individual, family, and group counseling/education for patients and families are incorporated. Included is primary, secondary and tertiary disease prevention and management of complex symptomatology.

Prerequisite: NURS 611, NURS 612, and NURS 615

Corequisite: NURS 621 or NURS 621C

Summary

NURS 621 Adult-Gerontology Nurse Practitioner Practicum I (3 Credits)

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This course will cover the theoretical, clinical and role components of care by an advanced practice nurse and are integrated in a supervised clinical practicum.

Prerequisite: NURS 611, NURS 612, and NURS 615

Corequisite: NURS 620

Summary

NURS 623 Adult-Gerontology Health Care II (3 Credits)

Main Content

This course covers the care of adults experiencing acute, chronic and complex health problems of select body systems in this second of two sequential courses. Current research based interventions are analyzed. Individual, family, and group counseling/education for patients and families are incorporated. Included is primary, secondary and tertiary disease prevention and management of complex symptomatology.

Prerequisite: NURS 620 and NURS 621 or NURS 621C

Corequisite: NURS 624 or NURS 624C

Summary

NURS 624 Adult-Gerontology Nurse Practitioner Practicum II (3 Credits)

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This course will cover the theoretical, clinical and role components of care by an advanced practice provider and are integrated in a supervised clinical practicum. Opportunity is provided for the assessment, management, and evaluation of adults with chronic and acute health problems in a primary care setting.

Prerequisite: NURS 620 and NURS 621

Corequisite: NURS 623

Summary

NURS 626 Adult-Gerontology Health Care III (3 Credits)

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The care of adults experiencing acute, chronic, and complex health problems are studied in this course specifically for students in the adult-gerontology nurse practitioner program. The course expands on current research-based interventions unique to adults of varying ages, from wellness to illness. Individual, family, group counseling, and education for patients and families are incorporated. Included is primary, secondary, and tertiary disease prevention and management of complex symptomatology.

Prerequisites: NURS 620, NURS 621, NURS 623, and NURS 624

Corequisite: NURS 627C

Summary

NURS 627C Adult-Gerontology Nurse Practitioner Practicum III (3 Credits)

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This course will cover the theoretical, clinical, and role components of care by an advanced practice nurse are integrated in a supervised clinical practicum. Opportunity is provided for the assessment, management, and evaluation of adults with chronic and acute health problems in a primary care setting.

Prerequisites: NURS 620, NURS 621C, NURS 623, and NURS 624

Corequisite: NURS 626

Summary

NURS 620 Adult-Gerontology Health Care I (3 Credits)

Main Content

This course covers the care of adults experiencing acute, chronic and complex health problems of select body systems in this first of two sequential courses. Current research based interventions are analyzed. Individual, family, and group counseling/education for patients and families are incorporated. Included is primary, secondary and tertiary disease prevention and management of complex symptomatology.

Prerequisite: NURS 611, NURS 612, and NURS 615

Corequisite: NURS 621 or NURS 621C

Summary

NURS 621 Adult-Gerontology Nurse Practitioner Practicum I (3 Credits)

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This course will cover the theoretical, clinical and role components of care by an advanced practice nurse and are integrated in a supervised clinical practicum.

Prerequisite: NURS 611, NURS 612, and NURS 615

Corequisite: NURS 620

Summary

NURS 623 Adult-Gerontology Health Care II (3 Credits)

Main Content

This course covers the care of adults experiencing acute, chronic and complex health problems of select body systems in this second of two sequential courses. Current research based interventions are analyzed. Individual, family, and group counseling/education for patients and families are incorporated. Included is primary, secondary and tertiary disease prevention and management of complex symptomatology.

Prerequisite: NURS 620 and NURS 621 or NURS 621C

Corequisite: NURS 624 or NURS 624C

Summary

NURS 624 Adult-Gerontology Nurse Practitioner Practicum II (3 Credits)

Main Content

This course will cover the theoretical, clinical and role components of care by an advanced practice provider and are integrated in a supervised clinical practicum. Opportunity is provided for the assessment, management, and evaluation of adults with chronic and acute health problems in a primary care setting.

Prerequisite: NURS 620 and NURS 621

Corequisite: NURS 623

Summary

NURS 629 Pediatric/Family Health Care (3 Credits)

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This course prepares Family Nurse Practitioner students to develop expertise and assume responsibility for health promotion, maintenance, and management of chronic and acute illness of children and women’s health. Emphasis is placed on the child within the framework of the family.

Prerequisite: NURS 623 and NURS 624 or NURS 624C

Corequisite: NURS 630 or NURS 630C

Summary

NURS 630 Pediatric/Family Nurse Practitioner Practicum (3 Credits)

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This course provides the student with an opportunity to assume responsibility for the primary health care services of individuals and families under clinical supervision. The student is expected to assume increasing responsibility for planning and implementing therapeutic processes and for documenting and evaluating outcomes of care. The role of the FNP in health care promotion and management and collaboration with health professionals.

Prerequisite: NURS 623 and NURS 624

Corequisite: NURS 629

Summary

NURS 650 Health Promotion of the Pediatric Population (3 Credits)

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This course focuses on growth and development and milestones of pediatric patients using theories and evidence based practice. Students will learn anticipatory guidance techniques, health promotion and illness prevention concepts within the pediatric population, incorporating individual, cultural, ethnic, and spiritual preferences.

Prerequisite: NURS 611, NURS 615 and NURS 612 (may also be taken concurrently)

Corequisite: NURS 655C

Summary

NURS 651 Pediatric Assessment and Diagnosis I (3 Credits)

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This course is the first in a two-part pediatric primary care didactic sequence. In this course students will focus on acute and chronic primary health care problems of children and adolescents.

Prerequisite: NURS 611, NURS 612, NURS 615 & NURS 650

Corequisite: NURS 652 or NURS 652C

Summary

NURS 652 Pediatric Assessment and Diagnosis Practicum I (3 Credits)

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This is the first practicum course in the Pediatric Nurse Practitioner (PNP) program. Students will apply and integrate concepts presented in the NURS-651 with focus on applying knowledge and skills in pediatric primary care practice settings.

Prerequisite: NURS 650

Corequisite: NURS 651

Summary

NURS 653 Pediatric Assessment and Diagnosis II (3 Credits)

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This course is second in a two-part pediatric primary care didactic sequence. In this course students will focus on acute and chronic primary health care problems of children and adolescents.

Prerequisite: NURS 651 and NURS 652 or NURS 652C

Corequisite: NURS 654 or NURS 654C

Summary

NURS 654 Pediatric Assessment and Diagnosis Practicum II (3 Credits)

Main Content

This is the second practicum course in the Pediatric Nurse Practitioner (PNP) program. Students will apply and integrate concepts presented in the NURS 653 with focus on applying knowledge and skills in pediatric primary care practice settings.

Prerequisite: NURS 651 and NURS 652

Corequisite: NURS 653

Summary

NURS 655C Health Promotion Practicum (3 Credits)

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This practicum course in the Pediatric Nurse Practitioner (PNP) program focuses on the primary care setting and the preventative well child visit. Students will apply and integrate concepts presented in the NURS 650 course with a focus on applying knowledge and skills in pediatric primary care practice settings around pediatric health promotion.

Prerequisite: NURS 612

Corequisite: NURS 650C

Summary

NURS 660 Psychopharmacology and Advanced Mental Health (3 Credits)

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This course will cover assessment and identification of discrete aspects of cognition, psychopathology, affect and behavior in the diagnosis and treatment planning of psychiatric illness across the life span. Also included is the appropriate use, monitoring and evaluation of prescribing psychotropic medication, including pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics.

Prerequisite: NURS 611, NURS 612 and NURS 615

Summary

NURS 661 Psychiatric Mental Health Diagnosis and Management (3 Credits)

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In this course theories and models will be used to develop an understanding of the etiologies of acute and chronic mental health disorders among adults and older adults. Selection of appropriate treatment strategies including individual and group psychotherapies will be discussed.

Prerequisite: NURS 660

Corequisite: NURS 662 or NURS 662C

Summary

NURS 662 Psychiatric Mental Health Diagnosis and Management Practicum I (3 Credits)

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This practicum course is designed to synthesize advanced practice knowledge relevant to adult and older adult patients with psychiatric illness. A variety of psychotherapeutic strategies will be explored.

Prerequisite: NURS 660

Corequisite: NURS 661

Summary

NURS 663 Psychiatric Mental Health Diagnosis and Management II (3 Credits)

Main Content

This is the first of two didactic courses designed to assist the student in development of the advanced practice nursing role with the care and management of individuals with a mental health disorder across the lifespan.

Prerequisite: NURS 661 and NURS 662 or NURS 662C

Corequisite: NURS 664 or NURS 664C

Summary

NURS 664 Psychiatric Mental Health Diagnosis and Management Practicum II (3 Credits)

Main Content

This practicum is designed to synthesize advanced practice knowledge relevant to patients with psychiatric illness across the lifespan.

Prerequisite: NURS 661 and NURS 662

Corequisite: NURS 663

Summary

NURS 665 Psychiatric Mental Health Diagnosis and Management III (3 Credits)

Main Content

This is the second of two didactic courses designed to assist the student in development of the advanced practice nursing role with the care and management of individuals with a mental health disorder across the lifespan.

Prerequisite: NURS 663 and NURS 664 or NURS 664C

Corequisite: NURS 667 or NURS 667C

Summary

NURS 667 Psychiatric Mental Health Diagnosis and Management Practicum III (3 Credits)

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This practicum is designed to synthesize advanced practice knowledge relevant to patients with psychiatric illness across the lifespan.

Prerequisite: NURS 663 and NURS 664

Corequisite: NURS 665

Summary

Main Content

Maryville online BSN to DNP graduates have the skills and knowledge to lead in clinical, nonclinical, educational, and administrative roles in a wide range of settings. As a terminal nursing degree, your DNP can qualify you for a wide variety of high-level or leadership opportunities across or adjacent to the field of nursing, including nursing education, hospital administration, research, and healthcare policy. Because our online BSN to DNP program offers five specializations, you can tailor your education to fit your interests and career goals.

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The median salary for professionals holding a DNP from a U.S. higher education institution was about $115,000 as of 2025, according to PayScale — though certain clinical practice roles or paths toward nursing leadership can lead to significantly higher pay. This average represents self-reported data across a variety of career types and settings, including patient-focused care, administration, leadership, research, and education.

Salaries vary based on factors like discipline, education level, years of experience, and location of practice.

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Maryville’s online BSN to DNP programs are fully accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE), ensuring they meet or exceed the rigorous standards of educational quality established by the CCNE.

Additionally, Maryville University is regionally accredited by the Higher Learning Commission (HLC), an accreditation we've proudly held since 1941.

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Learners may complete our online BSN to DNP degree program in as few as 40 months, depending on the number of courses taken each semester and the area of specialization. Graduates earn a DNP degree but do not earn a dual MSN degree.

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As nursing evolves toward greater responsibility and autonomy, your level of education becomes increasingly important. The Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) is one of two primary terminal nursing degrees (the other being a PhD in Nursing), representing the highest level of training and expertise in the field.

Earning a DNP allows you to elevate patient care, specialize in advanced areas, and develop higher-level skills for your practice. It also opens doors to leadership roles and careers beyond nursing, such as policy, education, law, research, government, and administration.

When you earn your BSN to DNP with one of the five concentrations we offer, you can pursue the same opportunities outlined above while also preparing for additional NP certifications, enabling you to expand your clinical practice further.

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Earning your online BSN to DNP at Maryville provides you with advanced knowledge and leadership skills to pursue certification in your chosen specialty. Our program prepares you for certification exams through organizations like the American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC), the American Academy of Nurse Practitioners Certification Board (AANP), and the Pediatric Nursing Certification Board (PNCB).

Maryville nursing graduates consistently surpass national averages on certification exam pass rates across all specialties.

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Your career aspirations and interests will guide whether a Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) or a Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) is the best choice for you. A DNP is a terminal degree designed to focus deeply on nursing leadership, administration, advanced practice, and research. It equips nurses with the skills to lead in their field and elevate the quality and scope of patient care.

Meanwhile, an MSN is often ideal for practicing RNs aiming to become nurse practitioners (NPs) or for current NPs looking to shift into a new specialty. While MSN programs provide essential foundational knowledge, DNP programs deliver more advanced learning and broader career possibilities.

If you choose to pursue your MSN first, you can use that graduate-level education to advance your education further by earning a standard online DNP degree.

Summary

Main Content

Maryville’s online BSN to DNP program gives you the opportunity to specialize in one of five online nurse practitioner concentrations:

• Adult-Gerontology Acute Care NP
• Adult-Gerontology Primary Care NP
• Family NP
• Pediatric NP
• Psychiatric Mental Health NP