UMKC School of Nursing and Health Studies
REGISTERED NURSES
Expand your career options.
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Why Choose UMKC?
More Career Options
- UMKC SoNHS DNP Program is the first in the region to be designated Professional Degree
- Contribute to the future of nursing and healthcare by earning a Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) degree from the UMKC School of Nursing and Health Studies.
- More than 25 years of experience delivering distance education, UMKC has a 99% certification rate for our advanced practice graduates.
- Our programs will put you on the path to professional growth, leadership, and social advocacy.
More Flexibility
- Our DNP program is an affordable, nationally ranked program that can be completed online from the comfort of your own home with project Clinical Institute online and on-campus intensives in clinical courses only.
More Innovative
- The UMKC DNP program is recognized for its innovative and effective use of technology, offering one of the first online DNP programs in the U.S., along with experienced faculty engaged in national, professional organizations.
- Our program continues to be in the top online DNP programs per U.S. News & World Report ensuring that students are up-to-date with the latest in evidence-based information in nursing and healthcare.
- UMKC is one of 30 universities in the U.S. that has nursing, medicine, dentistry, and pharmacy degree programs on the same campus encouraging interprofessional collaboration with faculty from other healthcare disciplines, for educational and research activities.
- Our diverse, comprehensive learning environment and professional, online-certified faculty are engaged in research and scholarship at local, national, and international levels, our programs are designed to help students professionally thrive.
Affordability
- Our program offers affordable tuition in states we are authorized to deliver our DNP program.
- U.S. News & World Report has recognized us as one of the top online graduate nursing programs.
“I truly can say UMKC and its faculty remain an outstanding facility for health care academics.”
“UMKC and the faculty leaders have impressed upon me that achieving overall excellence is paramount, [and that] developing mutual relationships with healthcare leaders allows for growth as a person and leads to a meaningful experience.
It was clearly evident the faculty really cared for the students and wanted me and my classmates to succeed in the DNP Program. I found the curriculum challenging, but rewarding. I came back each summer as part of the summer intersession to reconnect with the faculty and provide updates on my scholarly project.
As our healthcare landscape changes, I truly can say UMKC and its faculty remain an outstanding facility for health care academics.“
– Daniel Blaz, DNP
Recipient of the Vice Chancellor for Student Affairs Award
How Does The Program Work?
The UMKC graduate nursing programs are geared to fit your lifestyle. You will graduate with confidence knowing you learned from nurse educators excelling in the field who are conducting nationally-funded research, innovative interprofessional education, and have active clinical practices.
We were one of the first Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) programs in the country. The School of Nursing has been providing graduate distance education for over 25 years. Students achieve from all tracks consistently score a 100% first pass rate on national certification exams.
You will love learning from our highly qualified, online certified, clinically active faculty. We also offer peer mentoring and plenty of opportunities for student-to-student interaction. Our Faculty Fellows are recognized for their achievements in the profession by the American Association of Nurse Practitioners.
The Value of Real-World Experience
We understand the value of practical, real-world experience, and while many online degree programs struggle to offer this, at UMKC we pride ourselves on offering more interactive experiences to our graduate nursing students. Faculty are committed to student success and bring their real-world clinical experience to the classes they teach.
UMKC support services are available to all distance education students. Distance education students are afforded the same UMKC student support services as our on-campus students. Every student is assigned an Academic Advisor and Faculty Mentor.
UMKC Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) Options
The DNP program is a practice-focused doctoral program that prepares experts in advanced nursing practice specialization. The curriculum provides innovative and evidence-based content which prepares nurses to lead in practice, systems, and policy arenas, while improving patient outcomes in a variety of healthcare settings.
Online Tracks
- Family Nurse Practitioner (FNP)
- Pediatric Nurse Practitioner (PNP)
- Primary Care and Acute Care focus (NNP) custom plan of study
- Adult Gerontology Nurse Practitioner (AGNP)
- Women’s Health Nurse Practitioner (WHNP)
- Neonatal Nurse Practitioner (NNP) custom plan of study
- Psychiatric Nurse Practitioner (PMHNP) custom plan of study
As part of the program, all students develop an evidence-based study that integrates all the components of the DNP Essentials, focused on improving healthcare and leading systems.
Post-BSN DNP
The post-Baccalaureate DNP curriculum (74 credit hours) is designed for registered nurses who have completed a Bachelor of Science in Nursing degree.
Students seeking Advanced Practice (NP) can complete the program in 4.5 years in the part-time plan or in three years in the full-time plan.
Post-MSN DNP
The Post-Master’s DNP curriculum (31 credit hours minimum) is designed for nurses who have already earned a Master of Science in Nursing degree. UMKC SONHS offers two entry pathways in the Post-Master’s DNP program.
- Post-MSN to DNP
- Post-MSN to DNP (including returning for new or a 2nd NP role)
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Call 1-(816)-235-5693 for more info.
Is Financial Assistance Available?
UMKC offers scholarships, grants, and loans.
Let us help you navigate your path. Learn about the diverse scholarships and financial aid resources that exist at UMKC, the School of Nursing and Health Studies and from external agencies.
The Nurse Faculty Loan Program is a wonderful opportunity for graduate nursing students who wish to educate the next generation of nurses. The program offers partial loan forgiveness (up to 85% of the loan) for borrowers who graduate and serve as full-time nursing faculty for the prescribed period of time.
Nurse Faculty Loan Program
“My doctoral experience at UMKC was phenomenal.”
“My doctoral experience at UMKC was phenomenal. My faculty advisor was very knowledgeable and provided invaluable feedback yet, treated me as if we were colleagues. I have attended other nursing schools in the state of Missouri and UMKC exceeds them all.“
– Lisa Gill, DNP
How Long Will It Take?
The curriculum is offered yearround. The post-MSN to DNP plan of study takes 6 semesters, while the extended plan of study (1 class per semester) takes 9 semesters to complete.
We offer full time options and part time plan of study options, with personalized attention and mentoring from faculty and 24/7 Net-Tutor student support.
NP students are able to arrange clinical and project hours near their physical location coordinating with faculty.
Our courses are conducted online, in synchronous and asynchronous modes depending on the class. Courses with synchronous classes are usually on Thursdays or Fridays and communicated well in advance.
Students use the web-based software, Canvas, for their online courses. You can log on to find homework, class assignments, a class list, a syllabus and work on course assignments at any time. The program allows students to engage in interactive learning with faculty and other students in an online platform.
We designed the graduate programs to fit a professional schedule.
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Call 1-(816)-235-5693 for more info.
How Do I Apply?
Are you convinced that the UMKC DNP program is right for you? Here is what you need to know to apply and enroll:
Admission Requirements
- BSN or MSN from an accredited Baccalaureate or Masters nursing program.
- The GPA required for admission is a 3.2 on a 4.0 scale.
- Current unencumbered licensure in the state in which the student completes clinical requirements.
- The following two courses are pre-requisites to progression in the DNP program; however they can be taken at UMKC along with your program of study:
- Graduate level statistics course with a minimum grade of B.
- A free-standing undergraduate health assessment course with a minimum grade of B.
- Personal interviews are conducted prior to admission.
Application Deadline
Applications are processed in the order they are received. Earlier completion of your application increases the likelihood of early acceptance.
- October 20, 2023 (for regular acceptance) to start coursework in Spring 2024 and Early Summer 2024
- March 8, 2024, to start coursework in Summer 2024
- March 8, 2024, to start coursework in Fall 2024
All required materials are due by 5 pm CST on the due date.
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Call 1-(816)-235-5693 for more info.
Get Started Today!
Learn more: 1-(816)-235-5693
What Other Options Are Available?
Learn more about our other online nursing programs:
