Grand Canyon University DNP Program

[Midge66]

Has anyone completed, or is currently in the DNP program at Grand Canyon University? I can't find much online about reviews of the program.

Would like some info on how it is going/went and about the DNP project.

Thanks!

[PG2018]

I didn't know there were any universities in the Grand Canyon!

[OwlNation]

I check who the school is certified through and if credits will transfer if I need/want to go to a brick and mortar school.

[Malenurse1235954]

Did you find a form where you give them your contact info, so they can call you back and answer all your questions? You could even call the nursing department and say you are a potential dnp student. GCU has a good rep in AZ tons of RN grads in Tucson

[vokaybo]

I am planning on doing my DNP at GCU. I obtained my BSN from there. I am about through with my MSN at another college and want to go back to GCU.

[RNVP25, ASN, BSN, MSN, RN]

I am currently speaking with the admissions counselor for the DNP program at Grand Canyon University. I am being told by others I have spoken to that it is a good program that can be completed in under 2 years and is 36 credits total. I am skeptical since I have been told its not the highest quality but the most practical and a legitimate degree.

Are the professors helpful? do you feel you can handle it with fulltime work?

Thank you

RNVP25

[RNRy]

I am enrolled in the DNP program. I’m currently in my second course, and my experience, thus far, has been great. GCU is not for profit and regionally accredited, and the DNP program is CCNE accredited.

[Kelley Lamb, ASN, RN]

My understanding is GCU is now for profit and what a big profit they make! I'm in the RN to BSN program and they are getting easy money while I bust my butt trying to secure a clinical site.

[TiffyRN, BSN, PhD]

1 hour ago, Kelley Lamb said:

My understanding is GCU is now for profit and what a big profit they make! I'm in the RN to BSN program and they are getting easy money while I bust my butt trying to secure a clinical site.

I thought for sure this was incorrect but apparently my information was out of date. GCU was nonprofit (or maybe not-for-profit, because apparently these are different things) for many years until around 2004 when it became for-profit. A few years ago they attempted (and maybe temporarily succeeded) in becoming not-for-profit. Apparently just in the last few weeks they were denied this status by the federal government because they were outsourcing too many of their services (curriculum development and student counseling) for example) to for-profit companies.

[PollywogNP, ADN, BSN, MSN, LPN, NP]

GCU is private religious university owned and has always been more expensive

[aunDNP]

On 9/24/2019 at 6:55 PM, RNVP25 said:

I am currently speaking with the admissions counselor for the DNP program at Grand Canyon University. I am being told by others I have spoken to that it is a good program that can be completed in under 2 years and is 36 credits total. I am skeptical since I have been told its not the highest quality but the most practical and a legitimate degree.

Are the professors helpful? do you feel you can handle it with fulltime work?

Thank you

RNVP25

I completed my DNP from GCU back in April 2019. I've had the most amazing experience especially coming from a traditional brick and mortar school prior to GCU. The program was rigorous especially when it comes to writing the final DNP project similar to a dissertation, in fact I was able to present my final project at 2 prestigious nursing conferences with the guidance of my faculty-mentor. The professors are genuinely helpful and supportive. The DNP program at GCU is a high quality graduate nursing program that is affordable especially designed for working professionals, however, the downside is not everyone finish in 2 years as advertised. Completion is based on successfully implementing, writing, and defending the DNP project at the end of the program.

[londonflo]

On 7/27/2020 at 7:00 AM, aunDNP said:

I completed my DNP from GCU back in April 2019. I've had the most amazing experience especially coming from a traditional brick and mortar school prior to GCU. The program was rigorous especially when it comes to writing the final DNP project similar to a dissertation,

I appreciate your enthusiasm for your alma mater and your recent DNP graduation. Congratulations!  I am sure it was well earned. But....

A capstone project for a DNP is not similar to a dissertation. I have attended several presentations of DNP projects and found them more similar to a master's theses. A dissertation includes undertaking independent research, designing your research methodology and collecting and analysing data. You will then spend an additional academic year or more on writing up your dissertation.Now since many master's programs do not require a thesis, maybe your DNP project is similar to that.

A clinical doctorate is a different animal than a PhD.