Online BSN to DNP Mental Health Nurse Practitioner Degree

• Submission of the Indiana Wesleyan University (IWU) Division of Doctoral Nursing application for the Bachelor to DNP - FNP program.
• International/Non-English Speaking Students - Students who do not speak English as their first and primary language must submit satisfactory scores from one of the following prior to admission to the university:
  • Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL). For graduate students, a score of at least 600 (paper-based), 250 (computer-based), or 100 (Internet-based) is required for regular academic admission.
• • International English Language Testing System (IELTS). For graduate students a score of at least 6.5 is required for regular academic admission.
• Submission of transcript for a completed baccalaureate degree in nursing from a college or university accredited by an accrediting agency recognized by both the U.S. Department of Education (ED) and the Council for Higher Education Accreditation (CHEA) and national nursing programmatic accreditation (CCNE, ACEN, CNEA).
• Undergraduate GPA of 3.25 based on a 4.0 scale from the baccalaureate degree granting institution at which at least a minimum of 30 hours were completed.
• GPA for conditional admission:
  • Applicants who do not meet the GPA listed in the criteria for regular admission and have at least a 3.0 undergraduate GPA if applying to the bachelor to DNP or graduate GPA if applying to the DNP may be conditionally admitted and allowed to take 9- credit hours of doctoral nursing courses to establish a graduate GPA.
• • Students who have earned a 3.0 GPA by the completion of 9-credit hours in doctoral nursing courses, will meet the criteria for regular admission.
• • An unsatisfactory grade (B- or lower in any DNP course) while conditionally admitted will result in administrative withdrawal from the program and denial of regular admission.
• • Students who do not earn a 3.0 GPA by the completion of 9-credit hours in doctoral nursing courses will be denied regular admission.
• Submission of current unencumbered RN license. Proof that all nursing licenses – whether current or inactive – are unencumbered. Potential students with encumbered nursing licenses will not be considered eligible for enrollment at Indiana Wesleyan University.
• Submission of resume/curriculum vitae.
• Submission of a 2-3 page narrative describing practice experience and professional goals.
• A criminal history background check (at the student's expense) must be completed upon admission to the program and will be repeated prior to the NP practicum courses.
• The Division of Doctoral Nursing may request an interview with an applicant once all the admission criteria listed above have been met.
• The number of applicants admitted to the Bachelor to DNP - FNP program will be limited. Meeting the minimum admission criteria does not ensure that an applicant will be admitted to the program.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Word, Excel, and Power Point is expected.
• Once an application for the Bachelor to DNP - FNP program has been submitted, it will remain valid for 12 months.

*Note: When deemed necessary by a IWU faculty or staff member, applicants may be asked to provide a letter(s) of professional reference. If requested by an IWU faculty or staff member, references should be from faculty members, professional colleagues, work supervisors, or a pastor.

• All credits required in the program with a minimum GPA of 3.25.
• No grade less than a "B" in any given course.
• Fulfillment of at least 1000 practicum hours.
• Successful completion, defense, and submission of the DNP Project.
• Degree requirements must be completed within 78 months of matriculation.
• All financial obligations must be settled in order to receive a diploma.

Transfer Credits

Students may transfer up to nine hours of post-baccalaureate credit from a regionally accredited college or university provided that:

• The course is clearly comparable to one of the BDNP course offerings based on course description and learning outcomes.
• The course is at the 600 or higher for any doctoral level courses and was not part of the baccalaureate degree requirements.
• A grade of “B” or higher was earned in the course.
• The course was completed within the past five years.
• The course reflects current knowledge and best practice.
• The course reflects higher order thinking, study, and assessment requirements of the scholarship of discovery.
• Courses containing practicum requirements may not be met by transfer course (NP practicum courses, graduate level health assessment, graduate level healthcare policy, cultural healthcare and all DNP project courses). All DNP project work must be original and accomplished exclusively during IWU DNP enrollment.

Residency

Residency for the doctoral program is satisfied by attending three onsite residencies. Students are expected to be in attendance throughout the residency and are not allowed an absence from required workshops, events, or class sessions that are scheduled during the residency. If a student does need to withdraw from a residency, and the withdrawal date is less than 10 days from the start date of the residency, residency fees are non-refundable. Business casual is the expected attire. Students are expected to follow the community lifestyle statement of the university while on campus. This includes refraining from the use of alcohol, tobacco, illegal drugs, use of firearms, and unethical or illegal activities.

• Residency I – Orientation to the DNP Program and DNP Scholarly Project requirements
• Residency II –DNP Scholarly Project Proposal presentation
• Residency III – Final DNP Scholarly Project presentation and other required activities
• DNP-793 is the final course for the DPMH program. This course requires a 2-day onsite intensive.

Progression Requirements

• All courses must be successfully completed in the sequence prescribed by the program's requirements. Failure to successfully complete a course will result in an administrative withdrawal from the program.
• Each course must be satisfactorily completed with a grade of “B” or above before progressing into the next course.
• Doctoral Nursing Students will be academically dismissed upon receipt of a second unsatisfactory grade.
• Students must maintain an RN license that is active and unencumbered at all times during enrollment in the program. Students must have a valid unencumbered RN license in the state(s) of the practicum sites. If students have multiple state licenses, all must be unencumbered. It is the student’s responsibility to notify the School of Nursing if the status of his or her RN license changes. Students will be administratively withdrawn from the program at any point if this status is not maintained.
• A transcultural healthcare experience is required.
• Students must meet all practicum agency requirements. Nurse Practitioner students must have health clearance and documentation of TB, Rubella, and Hepatitis B status; and meet any other requirements of the practicum site before any client contact. A second criminal background check and drug screen (at the student's expense) will be required for all Nurse Practitioner students prior to the first practicum course. Progression in the program is dependent on the results of the reports.
• Any student found to have falsified practicum hours will be immediately dismissed and not allowed to re-enter any graduate nursing program at IWU.
• Students who maintain continuous enrollment, who make normal progress toward a degree, and who earn their degree within the major program's maximum time from the date of enrollment may meet the graduation requirements as stated in the catalog under which they enrolled.

Practicum Hours

A minimum of 1000 graduate level practicum hours are required to be eligible for graduation. Practicum hours will be a culmination of hours completed during the BDNP program.

Practicum hours may be accrued by completion of work or projects as approved by the course faculty or the Dean of the Division of Doctoral Programs or designated academic leader. Further explanation of practicum hours can be found in the DNP Project Manual and NP Clinical Guidelines.

Degree Completion Limits

The BDNP program is designed with a lock-step curriculum to be completed in approximately 48 months. The program requirements must be completed within 78 months from start date. Students who do not maintain continuous enrollment with their original cohort and curriculum will be required to join a new cohort (as space is available), adapt to all new curricular requirements, changes to the DNP Scholarly Project Manual, and any NO Clinical Guideline changes, and will incur any changes in program cost. Any exceptions to this policy must be requested in writing to the Dean of the Division of Doctoral Programs or designated academic leader with the final decision resting with the Student Life Council.

DNP Project Continuation

Doctoral students not completing the Scholarly Project by the end of DNP-812 will be required to maintain continuous enrollment. Students will enroll in a one-hour DNP Project Continuation course (DNP-900) continuously until the DNP Project is successfully defended. Students will pay the one-credit-hour course tuition, a $500 additional DNP Project Advisor fee, and any other required fees to maintain continuous enrollment. Each continuation course will be 10 weeks in length. The maximum number of continuation courses will be seven.

Indiana Wesleyan University is accredited by The Higher Learning Commission (HLC), www.hlcommission.org, 312-263-0456. Other accreditations and associations of Indiana Wesleyan University are available at www.indwes.edu/about/iwu-profile/accreditation.

The Doctor of Nursing Practice program at Indiana Wesleyan University is accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education, (https://www.ccneaccreditation.org). IWU is a member of the American Association of Colleges of Nursing (AACN). The School of Nursing is also a member of the National Organization of Nurse Practitioner Faculties, www.nonpf.org.