Connecticut Nursing Doctorate Degree Programs

Fairfield University: Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) Program Review
Fairfield University, 1073 North Benson Road, Fairfield, CT 06824.
Based in the New England city of Fairfield, Fairfield University is a private university offering bachelor’s through doctoral degrees. The university focuses on teaching. Fairfield University is a Jesuit institution founded in 1942. Though the university began as a higher education institution for males, it is now coeducational and serves over 5,000 students.

The School of Nursing at Fairfield University offers a DNP program. The Doctor of Nursing Practice is the terminal degree for nurses seeking to work in clinical practice. The doctoral program at Fairfield University admits both BSN and MSN qualified nurses.

Students enrolled in the DNP program are trained in one of three specializations-Family Nurse Practitioner (FNP), Nurse Anesthetist (CNA) or Psychiatric Nurse Practitioner (PNP).

Nurses with a masters degree and an advanced practice certification may complete the DNP program in 2 years of part-time study.

Admission requirements for the DNP program include a minimum 3.0 GPA for applicants with a Bachelor of Science in Nursing and a minimum GPA of 3.2 for nurses with a Master of Science in Nursing. In addition, masters prepared nurses should be eligible for advanced practice certification. BSN applicants with a bachelor’s degree in a field other than nursing, but who hold an RN license are admitted to the DNP program on a case by case basis, though additional prerequisites may be required. Nurse Anesthetists have a slightly different admission procedure and should consult Fairfield University for additional information. Only students in the BSN- DNP Nurse Anesthetist track must take the GRE. BSN applicants with a GPA below 3.0 and MSN applicants with a GPA below 3.2 can bolster their admission application by submitting a good score on the GRE.

Quinnipiac University: Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) Program Review

Quinnipiac University

275 Mount Carmel Avenue

Hamden, CT 06518

Quinnipiac University is a private, four year institution located in Hamden, CT, located within 2 hours of both Boston and New York City. Founded in 1929, the university awards bachelors through doctoral degrees.

A DNP program is offered at Quinnipiac University School of Nursing. The Doctor of Nursing Practice provides training for nurses to become specialists in a clinical area, but also clinical leaders in the field of nursing.

Nurses will benefit from a new and modern healthcare facility which provides the opportunity to simulate treating a variety of healthcare concerns. The nursing training facilities include an orthopedics laboratory, intensive care unit and over 20 teaching laboratories.

Nurses with a bachelors degree may apply to the Adult Nurse Practitioner or Family Nurse Practitioner DNP track. The post-masters DNP offers two additional doctoral tracks- Care of the Individual and Care of Populations.

The application process for the doctoral program includes submitting transcripts, letters of recommendation, proof of licensure as an RN in addition to the applicant’s nursing application, resume and personal statement. Nurses with a masters degree should also submit documentation of the number of supervised clinical hours from their MSN (Master of Science in Nursing) program supervisor.

Nurses with a BSN or bachelors degree in a field other than nursing are eligible to apply to the DNP in addition to masters prepared nurses. In order to be admitted to the care of the individual DNP track, masters prepared nurses should have an Advanced Practice Registered Nurse Certification (APRN).

University of Connecticut: DNP & PhD in Nursing Program Review

University of Connecticut

249 Glenbrook Road

Storrs, CT 06269

The University of Connecticut is a four year higher education institution which serves over 30,000 students. Founded in 1881, the University of Connecticut is considered by many to be of Ivy League caliber, receiving the nickname the “Public Ivy.”

The School of Nursing at the University of Connecticut is designated as a Center of Excellence by the National League for Nursing for promoting professional development for nursing faculty members. Students may choose from two terminal doctoral degrees at the University of Connecticut, both the DNP and PhD in Nursing.

The DNP program at the University of Connecticut is the first of its kind in the state. The doctoral program is designed to give nurses an alternative to the PhD program which focuses on nursing research. The DNP program prepares nurses to become clinical practitioners with the highest qualification possible. The DNP is open to both BSN and MSN qualified nurses. BSN students choose from one of the following specializations:

Adult-Gerontological Nurse Practitioner: Acute Care

Adult-Gerontological Nurse Practitioner: Primary Care

Family Nurse Practitioner

Neonatal Acute Care: Clinical Nurse Specialist

Neonatal Acute Care: Nurse Practitioner

The Doctor of Philosophy in Nursing at the University of Connecticut inspires students to advance the body of nursing research available and inspire new and better trends in nursing practice. Admission to the program is open to masters and bachelors prepared nurses as there is also a BSN to PhD track. Admission requirements to the PhD in Nursing program include a minimum 3.0 undergraduate GPA, a masters GPA of 3.25 or higher, and a personal interview (in-person or by phone). The admission requirements for the PhD are unique in that applicants only must demonstrate eligibility for licensure as an RN to apply for the program. This allows recent nursing graduates who have not yet taken the NCLEX-RN time to take the exam while awaiting acceptance to the PhD in Nursing program.

Yale University: DNP & PhD in Nursing Program Review

Yale University
246 Church St # 2

New Haven, CT 06510

A member of the prestigious Ivy League universities, Yale University is consistently ranked among the top universities in the nation, and to some considered the best. Yale University was founded in 1701 and is based in New Haven, Connecticut.

The School of Nursing at Yale University offers two terminal degree programs-the research based PhD in Nursing and the Doctor of Nursing Practice for nurses seeking the terminal clinical qualification.

For the DNP program, admission requirements include an MSN (Master of Science in Nursing) or related healthcare degree such as a Masters in Public Health (MPH) or Masters in Healthcare Administration (MHA). The class size of the DNP program is notably small, with classes growing from 12 students in years 1 and 2 of the program to 18 in year 3. The DNP at Yale University does not offer training for APRNs (Advanced Practice Registered Nurses), but rather seeks to develop additional professional expertise and training for nurses who are already skilled in their APRN specialization.

The PhD in nursing program focuses on developing educators and researchers. Admission requirements to the program include an MSN and an above average score on the Graduate Record Examination (GRE) to produce a strong application. Applicants to the Doctor of Philosophy in Nursing program are also required to submit an example of a scholarly work, such as a published article or literature review. Students will take 3 exams as part of the PhD program and are eligible to earn a Masters of Philosophy in Nursing upon completing two years of the doctoral nursing program.