Starting a DNP with less than 500 clinical hours

meanmaryjean, DNP, RN · Oct 27, 2020

Can you explain a little more. 500 clinical practice hours (work expreince) or 500 clinical MSN hours? What type of DNP (not all are advance practice degrees)

Happynurse12 · Oct 27, 2020

My MSN only required 120 clinical immersion hours. Most DNP programs I look at require 1000 total hours to complete. Most assume the MSN student completed 500 hours, so I run into the situation where I am deficient. My concern is that I might need to do more immersion hours to successfully complete a program. I’m completing a specialization in education and looking at finishing my DNP in leadership.

meanmaryjean, DNP, RN · Oct 27, 2020

Ah- I was in the same situation and my DNP program had additional courses that could count for the clinical requirement. But I did have my MSN-granting school talk to the DNP school and got some additional hours credited that way too (by clearing up some curricular questions).

lyndsay1985 · Nov 21, 2020

I am in the Same Boat!! I am considering returning for a DNP degree with a nurse educator concentration.

Here's the issue: I obtained my Masters degree in Nursing Education and my MSN practicum hours total: 100 hours.

1. AACN DNP essentials that these schools are basing their curriculum on for accreditation standards whether their ACEN or CCNE states that in order to graduate the program the nurse must obtain 1,000 post BSN practicum hours.

2. Most Schools are coming from the perspective that the DNP program is designed for advanced practice nursing and do not want to accept MSN practicum hours that were obtained in a non advanced nursing role hence: leadership/administration or Education

This leaves me needing in addition 600 practicum hours to obtain in order to graduate the program depending on which school. As most of these curriculum plans I am seeing give you 400 hours for completion of the DNP scholarly project to total the 1000 hour practicum requirement.

My own Small Town Girl personal problems:

1. I am unemployed at the moment

2. I live on an island - REMOTE

3. The state I live on is on LOCKDOWN due to COVID.

So, I ask how to obtain these additional 600 hour practicum hours and so far I have been told that the practicum hours need to consist of:

attending committees/ EMR implementation/ unit practice councils etc. - pretty much if you work at a magnet designated hospital that participates in unit based councils or whatnot would count towards the make up of your hours.

Otherwise I hear attending conferences related to my project would work in achieving hours.

I guess my question would be for someone like me who is in such a unique situation is this even a feasible option for me to obtain a DNP? I am wondering the AACN conducts live review webinars would attending these virtual webinars count towards the 600 hours of practicum experience I would need?

What about my Project topic should I keep it Academically based as I thought this is what I am going for.. but I feel like its being frowned upon because I only have access to a community college as a site to be able to complete it? or should I change it to fit a hospital setting?

My brain is reeling. Any insight would be helpful.

Thanks

Lyndsay

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Happynurse12 · Nov 21, 2020

Lindsay, I’ve been doing more research into the hour issue and found some programs will give credit for certifications and projects. I’m currently looking at university of Colorado.

lyndsay1985 · Nov 22, 2020

I'll take a look, currently I have been talking with Regis college and am to hear back from them this upcoming week. If I learn of anything new, I'll post here.

Thank you

lyndsay1985 · Nov 30, 2020

HM3-2-BSN-

I just wanted to touch base, I did not hear back from Regis College DNP nurse Educator program regarding immersion hours. However, I have done some surface research and thought of maybe going the EdD route with a concentration in nursing education. There are several programs out there for this in regards to nurse faculty shortages. Drexel University thus far is looking pretty decent. I just thought I would share this with you if its an avenue you haven't thought of before.