Kentucky Nursing Doctorate Degree Programs
Bellarmine University: Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) Program Review
Bellarmine University, 2001 Newburg Rd., Louisville KY, 40205.
The University is based in Louisville, Kentucky. Founded in 1950 as Bellarmine College, the university is affiliated with the Catholic tradition. Bellarmine University offers over 150 study abroad programs.
The Donna and Allen Lansing School of Nursing and Health Sciences offers a Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) degree program for nurses aspiring to earn the highest qualification available to nurses in clinical practice.
The DNP program at Bellarmine University offers two specialized tracks. The Advanced Practice Nursing Focus is for nurses who aspire to work directly with patients, while the Advanced Leadership Focus is for nurses who desire to work in executive and leadership positions managing care. The DNP program can be completed in 33 to 36 credits of study.
To apply, students are required to submit verification of post clinical hours of study, letters of recommendation, and transcripts along with the application. Nurses with a MSN (Master of Science in Nursing) degree are eligible to apply for the doctoral program. Applicants should be graduates from a CCNE or NLNAC accredited graduate nursing program with a 3.5 or higher GPA. A prerequisite course in statistics should be completed within 5 years of starting the DNP program. International applicants have additional requirements for the nursing program such as submitting proof of financial responsibility, something all international students studying in the USA must do. Students whose native language is not English are required to submit scores for the TOEFL, an English proficiency exam.
Frontier Nursing University: DNP Program Review
Frontier Nursing University
195 School Street
Hyden, Kentucky 41749
Frontier Nursing University offers distance education programs in nursing, and is based in Hyden, Kentucky. Frontier Nursing University was established in 1939 under the leadership and expertise of Mary Breckinridge. FNU is among the first universities to offer nursing midwifery education in the USA.
Doctoral study options are available for nurses with a bachelors degree or masters degree in nursing. Students in the DNP program are prepared as nurse practitioners or nurse midwives and earn an MSN in the course of the DNP program. Upon completion of the certification exam in the advanced practice specialty, nurses may continue in the DNP program or continue onto doctoral study.
The post-masters DNP trains nurses with a masters degree that have already earned an advanced practice specialization. FNPs (Family Nurse Practitioners), WHNPs (Women’s Health and Nurse Practitioners) and CNMs (Nurse Midwives) are eligible to apply for the post masters DNP program. The post masters DNP can be completed in 33 credits of study.
Admission requirements to the post-masters DNP include an MSN or MN (Masters in Nursing) from a program accredited by a nursing body. In addition to completing the application, nurses must submit proof of the RN license and advanced practice certification. A minimum GPA of 3.5 in the masters program is desired for applicants to the DNP degree program.
Northern Kentucky University: DNP Program Review
Northern Kentucky University
1 Nunn Dr
Highland Heights, KY 41099
Northern Kentucky University offers certificate through doctoral degrees. The university is based in Highland Heights, Kentucky, which is less than 10 miles from Cincinnati, Ohio. NKU was founded in 1968 and today serves over 15,000 students.
The College of Health Professions at Northern Kentucky University offers a Doctor of Nursing Practice program in the Department of Advanced Nursing Studies. The DNP offers training in various areas of nursing including education, research, policy, and healthcare systems management. Nursing faculty in the DNP program include nurses with an EdD and PhD to provide a well-rounded approach to education for the DNP.
The DNP is delivered completely online. The 8 semester doctoral program requires 36 academic credits to complete. Nurses progress through the doctoral program in a cohort, with the same group of students. Students will also connect with the nursing faculty who provide support throughout the program. Due to the shortage of nursing faculty, DNP graduates may be eligible to serve as faculty members in nursing education programs, though additional training in education may be required.
Admission requirements to the DNP program include an earned MSN or MN with a minimum 3.25 GPA. Prerequisite courses in informatics and statistics should be complete with a minimum grade of “C.” Though many DNP programs require students to send academic writing samples, applicants to the DNP at NKU must submit an academic paper, no less than 5 pages on a specified topic related to pursing a DNP.
University of Kentucky: DNP and PhD in Nursing Program Review
University of Kentucky
College of Nursing
315 College of Nursing Bldg
Lexington, KY 40536-0232
Based in Lexington, Kentucky, the University of Kentucky offers bachelors through doctoral programs. UK was established in 1865 as an agricultural college. Many of the academic programs at the University of Kentucky are featured in national rankings. Approximately 25,000 students enroll in undergraduate and graduate programs at the University of Kentucky each year.
The College of Nursing at the University of Kentucky offers both Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) and PhD in Nursing programs. The DNP is a clinical practice program, while the PhD in Nursing focuses on contributing to the body of knowledge in clinical nursing research. Nurses with a Bachelor of Science in Nursing or Master of Science in Nursing are eligible for admission to either doctoral program.
The DNP program is a hybrid program consisting of both online and campus-based study. The Post BSN DNP requires 3 years to complete, while the Post Masters DNP requires 2 years to complete. Students in the Post-BSN DNP will complete an advanced practice specialization and earn a masters degree as part of the DNP program. Post-MSN applicants should have an APRN (Advanced Practice Registered Nurse) certification.
The PhD in Nursing can be completed in two to three years of full time study, though part time study is an option. An additional two semesters are required for each track to complete requirements for the dissertation. Applications for the PhD in Nursing program are accepted in mid-February and the beginning of October each year for the Post-MSN Doctor of Philosophy in Nursing and in mid-February only for the Post-BSN PhD in Nursing.
University of Louisville: PhD in Nursing
University of Louisville
2301 South 3rd street
Louisville, KY 40208
Established in 1798, the University of Louisville claims to be the first city-owned public university in the United States. The university is based in Louisville, and has three campuses including the Belknap and Jefferson campuses. Louisville is an affordable, yet entertaining city in which college students can reside. One of Louisville’s most popular attractions is Churchill Downs which hosts the annual Kentucky Derby.
The Doctor of Philosophy in Nursing program at the University of Louisville offers a BSN to PhD and MSN to PhD doctoral program which trains nurses to become research scientists in a variety of settings and roles. Students in the BSN to PhD program complete masters level nursing coursework and progress to doctoral coursework in the following year. Nurses who enter the BSN to PhD program will earn a PhD, though not a MSN (Master of Science in Nursing).
Admission requirements include a minimum 3.0 GPA in all college coursework, a satisfactory score on the GRE and submission of at least three recommendation letters.
Students can progress through the PhD program in full or part time study. It is recommended that students pursue the PhD in Nursing full-time to obtain the most benefit from their learning experience as a nursing scholar. Nurses can customize the electives in their doctoral study program to obtain the most benefit from their studies.
