Executive Leadership Track

An innovative executive leadership program

Our Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) Executive Leadership track is designed to help you develop the skills for a career in high-level administration and management. You will be prepared to lead teams, work at the highest level of advanced practice, manage a service line or clinical department, impact health policy, or take on a leadership role in healthcare or education organizations.

The DNP Executive Leadership track is a post-MSN program that you can accomplish in a five-semester (2-year) plan of study or an eight-semester (3-year) plan of study. Executive Leadership track cohorts start each fall.

This degree requires a minimum of 1000 total clinical practicum hours. You may transfer up to 475 clinical hours from your Master of Science in Nursing into the DNP. Variable credit courses allow you to complete additional credits to meet the 1000 total required hours. When you apply, the institution that granted your master’s degree must complete our MSN Clinical Hours Verification form.

DNP Executive Leadership Track

Table lists courses and credit hours required for the DNP Executive Leadership Track - Fall 1
Fall 1
Description	Course	Credits
Data Analysis for Clinical and Administrative Decision Making	NURS-D650	3
This course focuses on understanding and applying information systems for informed clinical, administrative, and educational decision-making. Emphasis is placed on using computer-based systems for data management and statistical analyses. Students engage in manipulating, interpreting, and analyzing quantitative data using advanced statistical methods. Application of information systems in nursing and health care is emphasized.
Analytical Thinking for Evidence-based Practice	NURS-D710	3
This course focuses on advanced concepts of evidence appraisal, including identifying current best evidence, review of the literature, critical evaluation of individual studies, and synthesis of multiple studies. Strengths and limitations of existing evidence and its application to patient health outcomes will be emphasized.
Advanced Leadership in Complex Systems	NURS-D721	3
This course focuses on synthesis of leadership research, theory, and organizational models within the context of health systems. Environmental influences, team relationships, partnership models, organizational culture, and achieving performance outcomes are explored and applied. Self-knowledge, strategic vision, risk-taking, and effective communication are discussed relative to complex systems.
Total		9

Table lists courses and credit hours required for the DNP Executive Leadership Track - Spring 1
Spring 1
Description	Course	Credits
Trans-disciplinary Approaches to Influencing Health Policy	NURS-D743	3
Designed for nurses and other professionals, this course focuses on policy and advocacy at institutional, local, state, national, and international levels. Participants communicate with policy makers, analyze factors and apply evidence to influence health policy decisions.
Theoretical Basis of Project Implementation and Evaluation	NURS-D722	3
This course focuses on the translation and evaluation of evidence in health systems, organizations, and policy environments. Emphasis is placed on improvement of population health outcomes, integration of relevant theories and methods, and responsiveness to contextual factors that influence sustainable projects and programs.
Executive Leadership Practicum	NURS-D709	1
The executive leadership practicum enables students to analyze their own leadership practice and develop relationships with system-level healthcare leaders and communities of practice. Through an organizational assessment, students will evaluate potential sites for practice scholarship. 75 clinical hours.
Total		7

Table lists courses and credit hours required for the DNP Executive Leadership Track - Summer 1
Summer 1
Description	Course	Credits
Doctor of Nursing Practice Project Planning	NURS-D750	1 - 4
In this course, students integrate their new knowledge and skills in planning a project to improve outcomes through organizational/systems leadership, quality improvement processes and the translation of evidence into practice. 75-300 clinical hours.
Informatics in Nursing Leadership Practice	NURS-I640	3
This course will examine the nurse leader’s role across the continuum of care in the selection, implementation, and integration of healthcare technologies and information systems to enhance health outcomes. This course will examine theories and research related to healthcare technology and information systems. A focus on emerging technologies for clinical practice and healthcare leadership will be emphasized.
Total		4 - 7

Table lists courses and credit hours required for the DNP Executive Leadership Track - Fall 2
Fall 2
Description	Course	Credits
Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) Project Implementation	NURS-D760	1 - 4
This course focuses on the implementation of the DNP project in consultation with the DNP project team. Emphasis is placed on effective and efficient implementation in the project site. 300 clinical hours.
Strategic Resource Leadership in Nursing and Health Systems	NURS-D744	3
This course examines advanced financial and human resource leadership in values-based health systems. Importance is placed on building the business case for the nurse executive’s role in health systems’ strategic planning, achievement of operating objectives, and workforce productivity.
Performance Improvement and Patient Safety in Health Systems	NURS-D615	3
This course prepares students to lead the development, implementation, and evaluation of performance improvement and patient safety initiatives for patient populations across a variety of health systems. Performance improvement science, quality and safety theories, selection of appropriate process and outcomes measures, and principles of organizational learning are emphasized.
Total		7 - 10

Table lists courses and credit hours required for the DNP Executive Leadership Track - Spring 2
Spring 2
Description	Course	Credits
Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) Project Evaluation and Dissemination	NURS-D770	1 - 4
This course focuses on the evaluation and dissemination of DNP project outcomes in consultation with the DNP project team. Emphasis is placed on comprehensive analysis and verbal/written dissemination. 150 clinical hours.
Leading Patient-Centered Interprofessional Collaborative Practice Environments	NURS-D748	3
This course is designed to prepare graduate students for leadership roles in patient-centered interprofessional collaborative practice environments. Students will explore theoretical and empirical evidence for interprofessional collaborative practice and high-performing interprofessional teams. Interprofessional leadership competencies for improving patient and population health outcomes will be emphasized.
Population Health Surveillance and Management	NURS-D735	3
Providing students with intermediate concepts related to population health surveillance and management is the focus. Principles and methods of data analysis central to understanding health-related indicators for population health management will be used. Students will be prepared to function as members of a research team
Total		7 - 10

A 3-year plan of study is also available.

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Executive Leadership Track

An innovative executive leadership program

DNP Executive Leadership Track

Year 1

Year 2

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