This program emphasizes the role of nurses as implementation scientists, focusing on the translation of evidence into clinical practice, the measurement of outcomes, and the transformation of health care systems. By addressing the needs of vulnerable populations, graduates will ensure the delivery of high-quality, trauma-informed care.

The DNP Forensic Nursing track empowers nurses to effectively implement systemic processes that enhance healthcare delivery. Students will engage in program implementation and evaluation, and they will learn to influence health policy at local, state, and national levels. Graduates will emerge as expert consultants on issues affecting vulnerable individuals within both healthcare and legal systems.

This program is approved for delivery primarily via asynchronous distance education technology. Students will be required to attend on-campus experiences such as New Student Orientation, on-site clinical practices during Spring semesters, and presentations of their DNP projects prior to graduation.

Plan of Study Grid

First Year
Fall		Semester Credit Hours
NRPR 725	Theoretical Foundations of Healthcare	3
NRPR 728	Organizational and Systems Leadership	3
NRPR 739	Residency in Advanced Nursing Practice 1	1
	Semester Credit Hours	7
Spring
NRPR 714	Leadership, Policy and Ethics in Forensic Nursing	3
NRPR 731	Quality and Outcome Improvements in Healthcare	3
NRPR 739	Residency in Advanced Nursing Practice 1	1
	Semester Credit Hours	7
Summer
NRPR 615	Theory, Assessment and Intervention with Offenders	3
NRPR 739	Residency in Advanced Nursing Practice 1	1
	Semester Credit Hours	4
Second Year
Fall
NRPR 726	Principles of Translational Science	3
NRPR 729	Analytic Methods for Research and Evidence Based Practice	3
NRPR 735	Scholarly Project Practicum I	2
	Semester Credit Hours	8
Spring
NRPR 616	Forensic Nurse as Medicolegal Expert	3
NRPR 620	Grant Writing	1
NRPR 736	Scholarly Project Practicum II	2
	Semester Credit Hours	6
Summer
NRPR 630	Transition into Professional Forensic Nursing Practice	2
NRPR 737	Scholarly Project Practicum III	2
	Semester Credit Hours	4
Third Year
Fall
NRPR 730	Informatics	3
NRPR 738	Scholarly Project Practicum IV	2
	Semester Credit Hours	5
	Total Semester Credit Hours	41

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Students with fewer than 500 documented practice hours prior to starting the program will complete necessary hours through completion of NRPR 739.

Practicum

The DNP degree requires a minimum of 1,000 hours of practice post-baccalaureate (BSN). Practice hours from a master’s nursing program can apply towards the 1,000-hour, post-baccalaureate practice requirement (American Association of Colleges of Nursing [AACN], 2015). DNP students holding a master’s degree in nursing and national certification as an advanced practice registered nurse (nurse practitioner, clinical nurse specialist, certified nurse midwife, certified registered nurse anesthetist) can apply up to 500 hours towards the 1,000-hour DNP practice requirement. Students will complete the remaining hours through the DNP Scholarly Practicum Courses.

The student will submit verification of up to 500 practice hours from their master’s program in NursingCAS during the application process. All practice hour requests require review and approval by the DNP Program Coordinator.

Final Project

The DNP degree culminates in an integrated, practice-focused project led by a faculty mentor based upon availability and research/practice interest and aided by consultation from internal or external content experts. Following AACN (2015) guidelines, the focus of the DNP project is practice change through translation of evidence and quality improvement. The project may target nursing interventions that influence health care outcomes for individuals or populations. This project may address direct care, care management, administration of health care systems or development and implementation of health care policy.