DNP Programs in Connecticut

The Doctor of Nursing Practice program offered at Fairfield University has two options - the Advanced Practice DNP, which is a clinical doctorate, and the Executive DNP (EDNP), which is a non-clinical degree. The Advanced Practice DNP is a two-year program with advanced coursework in evidence-based practice, health policy, informatics, leadership, population health, research translation, and systems management. The EDNP is a three-year, practice-focused program designed for nurse executives, educators and entrepreneurs. The program offers specialized leadership courses and immersion experiences in area clinics, healthcare systems, and hospitals. The Advanced Practice DNP and the EDNP are cohort programs and both are offered in a hybrid format.

The Doctor of Nursing Practice program at Quinnipiac University considers both post-bachelor's and post-master's applicants. The post-bachelor's program offers three tracks of specialization: Adult-Gerontology Nurse Practitioner, Family Nurse Practitioner, and Nurse Anesthesia. Students accepted to the post-master's DNP program can choose from the following tracks: Care of Populations, Nurse Anesthesia, and Nursing Leadership. The Care of Populations track, as well as the Nursing Leadership track, can be pursued online. In order to provide DNP students with immersion and evidence-based research opportunities, Quinnipiac University partners with the following institutions: Charlotte Hungerford Hospital, Middlesex Hospital/ Middlesex Hospital Homecare, Midstate Medical Center, and St. Vincent's Medical Center/St. Vincent's Behavioral Health. The university's DNP program is accredited by CCNE until 2018.

The post-baccalaureate, CCNE-accredited DNP program at Sacred Heart University follows an executive hybrid model of delivery. Students are required to attend just two weekend residences per semester, with the rest of the program delivered online. Sacred Heart's Doctor of Nursing Practice program has two tracks. The Doctoral Clinical Practice in Health Care Track is for APRNs, while the Doctoral Leadership in Health Care Track is for nurse administrators. Students in this track can take nursing education electives if they are considering a career in teaching. The completion of a practice dissertation is required in order to graduate. The DNP practice dissertation gives students the opportunity to use research for the improvement of clinical care delivery, patient outcomes, and systems management.

The UConn School of Nursing offers a CCNE-accredited Doctor of Nursing Practice program with two points of entry. The BS-DNP option is designed for applicants with a BSN who want to earn an MS degree and advanced practice certification enroute to a DNP degree. This is an on-site program and has the following areas of specializations: Adult-Gerontology Nurse Practitioner: Acute Care, Adult-Gerontology Nurse Practitioner: Primary Care, Family Nurse Practitioner, and Neonatal Nurse Practitioner: Acute Care. The post-master's DNP program is open to nationally certified nurse practitioners, midwives, clinical nurse specialists, and nurse anesthetists, as well as nurse administrators who already have an MSN. The program is delivered primarily online, with students required to attend on-campus sessions only in August and in January.

The University of Saint Joseph offers a post-master's Doctor of Nursing Practice program that is delivered in an online format. However, students are encouraged to attend a variety of on-campus evening programs, seminars, and workshops that are offered throughout the academic year for additional learning opportunities. Students typically take two to four years to complete the DNP program. It may take longer for students seeking nurse practitioner certification as additional coursework and clinical hours may be required. The curriculum includes courses in ethics, fiscal principles, information technology, research methodology, systems thinking, and transformational leadership. The culminating experience of the program is the clinical dissertation, which is a scholarly work that is focused on improving health care outcomes.

The focus of the Doctor of Nursing Practice program at Yale University is on aggregates/systems and healthcare organizations. The program is ideally suited for RNs with an MSN or an MS in a related field (e.g. MHA, MPH, or MBA), and not so much for applicants seeking APN preparation. Designed to be pursued as a part-time program, coursework can be completed over two years, with an additional year for the Capstone project. The program is delivered primarily online; students are only required to attend two on-campus intensive sessions, with each session typically lasting from two to five days. The curriculum includes courses in healthcare ethics, policy and politics, project planning, and health equity. Yale University's DNP program is CCNE-accredited until 2020.