Curriculum Overview

Join the Wake Forest DNP Program and Be a Catalyst for Positive Change in Healthcare.

Ready to embark on a transformative journey toward excellence in nursing leadership and practice? Apply now! Don't miss out on the opportunity to join a community of passionate and driven professionals dedicated to advancing healthcare through education and innovation.

Our Curriculum

Designed with the working professional in mind along with the convenience of online learning, the post-master’s DNP is a part-time, two-year online program. The program includes an online elective in the Wake Forest University School of Law and/or the Wake Forest University School of Business. The program’s objective is to advance the education and preparation of registered nurses so they can assume greater leadership and advanced clinical roles that will translate evidence into practice, evaluate clinical outcomes and improve models of health care delivery.

Online Learning

The Doctor of Nursing Practice program offers a flexible and accessible way for nurses to advance their careers while maintaining their current professional commitments. This program equips nurses with advanced leadership skills and a strong foundation in evidence-based practice, preparing them for impactful careers in health care. Graduates are well-positioned to lead, advocate for patients and make substantial contributions to the field of nursing.

Course Descriptions

Foundations of Scholarly Writing (1 credit): This course is designed to provide graduate-level nurses with the knowledge and skills to be successful in articulating concepts and ideas in a logical and scholarly manner throughout their doctoral studies. This course begins by providing some general principles of expository writing, ensuring each student has a clear understanding of APA formatting. Development of strategies to use in achieving professional and effective communication through the written word will be stressed.

Conceptual Models of Quality and Safety (2 credits): This course provides an overview of theoretical, quality improvement, and evidence-based practice models that are frequently used in patient safety and quality improvement literature. Learners will explore human, systems, and organizational factors impacting care; analyzing and applying select theoretical and conceptual models used across their various areas of healthcare.

Foundations of Research Analysis (2 credits): The purpose of this online course is to prepare the learner to critically appraise, analyze, and synthesize the scientific literature as it relates to nursing practice. This course will build on concepts from statistics, epidemiology, and theoretical models for translational science and evidence-based practice (EBP). The learner will cultivate a critical attitude towards reading and analyzing scientific literature for the purposes of evidence translation.

Healthcare Policy, Advocacy and Ethics (3 credits for Class of 2024) (2 credits for Class of 2025): This course examines the ethical principles of moral reasoning and its practical application. Learners debate and critique moral, ethical, and political arguments using case studies, as well as examine current political events that impact nursing practice.

Informatics and Data Driven Healthcare (3 credits): This course analyzes the application of data in the healthcare system and the policies surrounding its collection and use. Learners explore the role of the electronic health record, telemedicine, and ethical big data collection in improving population and individual health and driving clinical decision making. Learners will evaluate the use of technology for health planning and delivery of care.

Leadership and Professional Collaboration (3 credits for Class of 2024) (2 credits for Class of 2025): This course focuses on leadership and interprofessional collaboration as it applies to the role of the DNP prepared nurse in a variety of settings. The course begins with the foundation that leadership starts with an exploration of self, then branches into interactions with others, and ends with impacting organizations and the community (local, state, national, global). Emphasis is placed on the development of leadership skills required for building effective teams necessary to transform health delivery systems.

Healthcare Management, Finance and Law (3 credits): This course prepares the nurse leader to navigate organizational, financial, and legal environments to ensure delivery of compliant and quality healthcare. Learners will produce a business plan for a change management project.

Biostatistics and Epidemiology (2 credits for Class of 2024) (3 credits for Class of 2025): This course explores the application of biostatistics and epidemiology to clinical decision-making in nursing. Learners will apply basic concepts of design and statistical inference to the study of health for selected clients, populations, and settings.

Translating Research into Practice (3 credits): This course builds upon the concepts from Foundations of Research Analysis to provide a broader understanding of the translational research process, quality improvement processes, and ideas for framing DNP scholarly projects. Learners learn to translate scientific evidence and evaluate the translational research process; thereby impacting professional, organizational systems and patient populations.

Doctoral Study (6 credits): During the doctoral study, learners will synthesize learning throughout the program through the construction and dissemination of an evidence-based practice project. The scholarly project will be derived from practice needs that focus on a change initiative such as a quality improvement project, program evaluation, or evaluation of a new practice model.

Wake Forest University School of Business Electives

Access Wake Forest University School of Business MBA course descriptions.

Wake Forest University School of Law Electives

DNP law electives can be accessed here.

For more information, visit “Track Courses” on the WF MSL Health Law Policy website.

Wake Forest University School of Law Academic Calendar.

Part-Time Plan of Study

Year	Fall Course (Credits)	Spring Course (Credits)	Summer Course (Credits)
1	Quality Improvement and Patient Safety (3)	Applied Biostatistics for Evidence-Based Practice (4)	Epidemiology and Population Health (3)
	Leadership and Ethics (2)	Healthcare Informatics and Technologies (2)	Evidence Translation and Implementation Science (2)
			DNP Project Proposal Seminar (1)
2	Healthcare Management and Finance (3)	Healthcare Policy, Advocacy, and Law (3)	DNP Project Evaluation and Dissemination (2)
	DNP Project Planning (1)	DNP Project Implementation (1)	*WFU School of Law or School of Business Electives (3)

*Flexible Offering: To determine when each law elective is offered, refer to the “Track Courses” on the WF MSL Health Law Policy website

Minimum Requirements for Online Learning

A basic knowledge of computer and internet skills is required to be successful in an online course. Skills needed include:

Understanding of basic computer hardware and software; ability to perform computer operations, such as:

Using keyboard and mouse
Managing files and folders: save, name, copy, move, backup, rename, delete, and check properties
Software installation, security and virus protection
Using software applications, such as Microsoft Office (Word, PowerPoint, Excel) or Google Docs
Knowledge of copying and pasting, spell-checking and saving files in different formats
Using email, including sending and downloading attachments
Internet skills (i.e., connecting, accessing, using browsers) and ability to perform online research using various search engines and library databases
Familiarity with and use of online educational resources (i.e., podcasts, Webex, video calls)
Communicate using a discussion board and upload assignments to a classroom website
Allowing pop-ups from websites (i.e., Canvas)
Knowledge of terminology, such as browser, URL, and application

Personal skills including

Self-discipline and time management skills
Problem-solving skills
Critical-thinking skills
Netiquette and strong communication skills
Research skills

Minimum hardware specifications

Memory (RAM) – 8GB or Greater (16GB is recommended)
Hard drive – 256GB or higher
CPU – Quad core 2.0gHz + (Intel i5, AMD Ryzen 5 or higher, non-Arm based)
Operating system – Minimum Windows 10 or MacOS 12.0 Monterey
Microsoft Office 2016 or newer
WebCam – HD camera 1920X1080

Curriculum Overview

DNP is designed for nurses seeking a terminal degree in nursing practice, offering an alternative to research-focused doctoral programs. The changing demands of the nation’s healthcare environment require the highest level of nursing knowledge and practice expertise to assure quality patient care.

Flexibility and Accessibility

Offers the flexibility for working nurses to pursue advanced education without having to relocate or disrupt their careers

Personalized Learning

Allows working nurses to set their own study schedules, accommodating the demands of professional and personal life

Interactive Learning Environment

Uses technologies to create an engaging and interactive virtual classroom, including live webinars, discussion forums and video lectures.

Diverse Cohorts

Attracts a diverse cohort of students from various geographical locations and backgrounds.

Interdisciplinary Collaboration

Encourages collaboration with other professionals from different disciplines, including business and law.

Comprehensive Support Services

Offers comprehensive support services, including technical support, academic advising, and student wellness to assist students throughout their DNP journey.

Accreditation

Accredited by Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC).

Competitive Tuition Rates

Cost-effective, with competitive tuition rates.

Access to Expert Faculty

Scholars benefit from access to experienced faculty members who are experts in their fields.

Technology Transfer and Commercialization

Research Focus Areas

Translation to Care

More Resources

Curriculum Overview

Our Curriculum

Online Learning

Course Descriptions

Wake Forest University School of Business Electives

Wake Forest University School of Law Electives

Part-Time Plan of Study

Minimum Requirements for Online Learning

Curriculum Overview