Alabama Nursing Doctorate Degree Programs

Samford University: Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) Program Review
Samford University, 800 Lakeshore Drive, Birmingham, AL 35229.
Founded in 1841by Baptists in the Christian faith, Samford University (SU) is Alabama’s largest private university. The Princeton Review, Kiplinger and Forbes are just a few of the publications to rank the university among the best in the nation for academic quality and affordability.

The Ida V. Moffett School of Nursing was established in 1922 and offers one doctoral degree program, a Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) program. The DNP program trains nurses to become leaders in the nursing practice capable of managing health care systems, implementing effective policy and overseeing a team to ensure high-quality patient care. Both an administration and advanced practice track are offered in the DNP program. Students in either DNP track may pursue additional training as a nurse educator to enhance career options, which include teaching in a nursing school. The DNP programs require one to two years of nursing education dependent upon the applicant’s choice of full or part time study.

MSN (Master of Science in Nursing) prepared nurses are eligible to apply for the doctoral program. Admissions requirements to the DNP program include a masters degree from a school accredited by a nursing body (NLN-National League for Nursing or CCNE-Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education). Applicants to the DNP program should have a minimum 3.5 GPA in their Master of Science in Nursing degree program. A very unique application requirement is that students must submit an admission video interview via mycollegei.

The University of Alabama: DNP Program Review

The University of Alabama

739 University Blvd

Tuscaloosa, Alabama 35487-0166

The University of Alabama (UA) was founded in 1831, and is the first public college in Alabama. The US Alumni Association has awarded over 4 million dollars of scholarships to students pursuing higher education at the University of Alabama. The university is based in Tuscaloosa and also has campuses in Birmingham and Huntsville Alabama.

Capstone School of Nursing at the University of Alabama offers a CCNE (Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education) accredited DNP program. The same DNP program is offered in collaboration with the University of Alabama at Birmingham School of Nursing (UABSON) and the University of Alabama in Huntsville College of Nursing (UAHCON).

A focus of the DNP program is preparing nurses to function in leadership and at an advanced level in clinical practice. Identifying policies and plans to provide care to underserved populations is a key focus of the DNP program at the University of Alabama.

Applying to the DNP program is a 3 step process. First applicants to the doctoral program must complete the application, draft a statement of purpose and submit verification of GPA and required testing (GRE or MAT-Miller Analogies Test). Second, applicants must provide proof of an RN (Registered Nurse) license and sufficient hours of RN experience, submit an outline of their potential scholarly project and attend an interview with a faculty member. The third step of the admission process is only necessary for successful applicants to the Capstone School of Nursing and includes submitting health requirements.

University of Alabama at Birmingham: DNP & PhD in Nursing Program Review

The University of Alabama at Birmingham

1701 University Boulevard

Birmingham, Alabama 35233

The University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB) is the Birmingham-based branch of the University of Alabama. The school also has campuses in Tuscaloosa and Huntsville. Of the three University of Alabama campuses, the University of Alabama at Birmingham is the only institution to offer both PhD in Nursing and Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) degree programs.

The DNP (Doctor of Nursing Practice) program at the University of Alabama at Birmingham is for nurses with a Master of Science in Nursing degree. The DNP program prepares nurses to serve at the highest level of clinical practice. Admission requirements to the DNP program including a masters degree in an advanced area of clinical nursing practice with a minimum 3.0 GPA and licensure as both an RN (Registered Nurse) and APRN (Advanced Practice Registered Nurse).

Both BSN and MSN prepared nurses are eligible to apply for the PhD in Nursing program at the University of Alabama at Birmingham. The PhD in Nursing program focuses on preparing scholars who are experts in healthcare policy and also contribute to growing knowledge in nursing and healthcare. A minimum GPA of 3.0, GRE score of 1100 or higher and an MSN or BSN from an accredited institution are all part of the admission criteria for the PhD in Nursing program.

Several fellowship and traineeship scholarship programs are available for nursing students pursuing a doctorate. The Graduate Assistance in Areas of National Need (GAANN) and Leadership Education in Child-Health Nursing (LEECN) are opportunities for PhD in Nursing students. Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) students may pursue the NIH (National Institute of Health) Trainee Grant.

University of Alabama in Huntsville: DNP Program Review

University of Alabama in Huntsville

301 Sparkman Dr

Huntsville, Alabama 35899

An independent campus of the University of Alabama since 1969, the University of Alabama in Huntsville (UAH) enrolls over 7,500 students each year with an even distribution of male and female students in the student body. A bustling center of technology, Huntsville borders the Appalachian Mountains, is the headquarters of NASA’s Marshall Space Flight Center and is home to the USA’s second largest research park.

The DNP (Doctor of Nursing Practice) degree program at UAH is available to MSN prepared nurses with one of the following advanced specializations: Nurse Anesthetist, Nurse Midwifery, Clinical Nurse Specialist (CNS) and Nurse Practitioner (NP). The DNP program is accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE).

The DNP is offered online to allow students to have the convenience of studying around their busy schedule however; the program includes an on-campus orientation. Students applying to the DNP program must also submit a separate application to the UAH School of Graduate studies. In some cases applicants without an advanced specialization may be admitted to the DNP program, but may be required to take additional coursework to meet any deficits. The DNP program at the University of Alabama in Huntsville is a collaborative effort with the University of Alabama at Birmingham School of Nursing and the University of Alabama Capstone School of Nursing.

Troy University: DNP Program Review

Troy University

University Avenue

Troy, Alabama 36082-0001

Troy University is a four-year public university awarding associate’s through doctoral degrees. The college has campuses in Troy and Montgomery Alabama. There are Troy University campuses in Colorado, Georgia, and Virginia and also e-Troy, the distance learning campus. Established in 1887, Troy University has grown from a teacher’s college to a provider of education in over 60 affiliate locations in the USA and abroad.

Two DNP (Doctor of Nursing Practice) programs are offered at the baccalaureate level. Nurses with an MSN degree and advanced specialization may enroll in the post-masters DNP which requires just 35 academic credits of study.

Students with a BSN (Bachelor of Science in Nursing) pursuing a DNP choose from a Clinical Nurse Specialist (CNS) or Family Nurse Practitioner (FNP) specialization. In the DNP-CNS track, students choose both a specialization-Adult Health Nursing or Maternal-Infant Health Nursing- and a role-Educator or Administrator. The DNP-CNS track requires 74 academic credits. The DNP-FNP specialization requires 82 credits of study.

Admission requirements to the DNP program include a minimum GPA of 3.0. Applicants should have a BSN or MSN from a CCNE or NLNAC (Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education or National League for Nursing Accrediting Commission) accredited program.

University of South Alabama Nursing: DNP Program Review

University of South Alabama

307 N University Blvd

Mobile, Alabama 36688-0002

Based in Mobile, Alabama, the University of South Alabama (USA) has awarded approximately 70,000 degrees since it was founded in 1964. The Baldwin County campus is home to several tracks for undergraduate and graduate nursing programs. The university offers a unique variety of nursing programs and is home to the Mitchell Cancer Institute.

The Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) program at the University of South Alabama is accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE). The DNP degree program trains students to take leadership roles in nursing organizations. The DNP program features over 10 nursing education tracks at the BSN to DNP (Bachelors of Science in Nursing to Doctor of Nursing Practice) and Post Masters DNP level. The following tracks are offered in the nursing program:

Adult-Gerontological Acute Care Nurse Practitioner

Adult-Gerontological Primary Care Nurse Practitioner

Adult-Gerontological Acute Care Nurse Practitioner with Cardiovascular Specialty

Advanced Emergency Nursing (Family NP/Adult-Gerontological Acute Care Dual Role)

Family Nurse Practitioner

Neonatal Nurse Practitioner

Pediatric Acute Care Nurse Practitioner

Pediatric Primary Care Nurse Practitioner

Psychiatric (Family) Nurse Practitioner

Women’s Health Nurse Practitioner

Clinical Nurse Specialist – Adult Health

“Traditional” Post Masters DNP Track

Public Health Nursing Administration

Not every specialization is available for the BSN to DNP and Post Masters tracks. However, some tracks offer further specialization. For example, the Traditional Post Masters DNP offers a Palliative Care, Cardiovascular or Nurse Educator specialization. The DNP program is offered online. Applicants to the BSN to DNP track should have a minimum 3.0 GPA and a BSN degree. Applicants for the Post-Masters DNP track should have an advanced practice specialization. Nurses applying to the doctoral program with a master of science in nursing, but without an advanced specialization may apply to the BSN to DNP track.