DNP after WGU anyone?

meanmaryjean, DNP, RN · Apr 25, 2014

I'm applying for 2015 admission to University of Southern Indiana | USI | Bachelor and Master Degrees and also considering Touro Nevada's program.

USI considers WGU grads on a case-by-case basis. WGU's program meets Touro's admission requirements.

TheCommuter, BSN, RN · Apr 26, 2014

UTMB (the University of Texas Medical Branch) offers a DNP program, and their admissions committee will consider WGU graduates on a case by case basis.

DisneyRNMSN · Apr 28, 2014

I think it depends on what type of DNP program you're applying to and where. If it's a DNP program in Education or Leadership, you should be fine. WGU's MSN program is accredited (both regionally and nursing-specific). Your "passes" on the WGU transcript equate to "B's" on a GPA scale, so unless you're applying to a program that requires a very high GPA I don't see a problem. Most of the programs I'm looking at want a 3.0 or higher.

If you're applying to a DNP program to be a CRNA or NP, then you would have the same problem regardless of where you received an MSN in Education or Leadership: you're not an NP so you'd have to satisfy those requirements.

I'm currently looking at DNP programs and even though I did not graduate from WGU (I went the more traditional route), I still don't meet many of the pre-reqs because I refuse to take the GRE.

ValentinaRN · May 28, 2014

While researching DNP programs I've read that most require 500 hours of supervised post baccalaureate practice hours. Even for an Administration track. So, if we achieve an MSN from WGU how would we prove or document these hours?

TheCommuter, BSN, RN · May 28, 2014

While researching DNP programs I've read that most require 500 hours of supervised post baccalaureate practice hours. Even for an Administration track. So, if we achieve an MSN from WGU how would we prove or document these hours?

Your work experience will constitute your 500 hours of post baccalaureate practice hours, which is why WGU requires all applicants to be employed full time in nursing.

klone, MSN, RN · May 28, 2014

I think that under the new MSN program, you have to a mentorship type thing. That might constitute some of your hours. Otherwise, for the DNP programs I've looked at (and they've all said that 1000 hours is required, not 500), if you did not meet your hours through your MSN program, you will be required to take additional coursework to meet those hours in the DNP program.

In any program I've seen, work experience does not meet any of the required hours necessary for MSN coursework. You can't "double dip." Besides, if you were already doing work that would qualify for MSN level practice hours, you'd already be an MSN.

meanmaryjean, DNP, RN · May 28, 2014

Both Tuoro and Chatham have 'clinical only' courses you can take to satisfy the 500 clinical hour requirement for admission. You would take these prior to enrolling on the DNP part of the program.

So, in other words, you take the 500 hours prior to enrollment, and then complete another 500 as part of the DNP program to equal the 1000 hour requirement to graduate.

ValentinaRN · May 28, 2014

Thank you!! You all have really cleared things up for me.

DisneyRNMSN · May 28, 2014

It also depends on what type of DNP program you're doing. I've looked at DNP programs in nursing education that have no practice requirements. All the ones that are for NP programs require clinical time which you cannot get at a BSN program or even a non-clinicalMSN program.

jrhill · Mar 22, 2015

I just finished my MSN at WGU and was accepted to Chamberlain College of Nursing for their DNP in Health Systems Leadership and Management with no issues. I did not apply anywhere else.

pancakes · Mar 26, 2015

I wonder this as well. I also wonder what kinds of jobs people are getting with an MSN.