Doctor of Nursing Practice

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• About the DNP Program
• Degree Requirements
• Student Resources
• Contact Information
• Announcements and Current Events

The DNP program was life-changing and I know just how cliché that sounds. I entered the program as a seasoned Clinical Nurse Specialist but really left with a clear vision as a leader in nursing... The DNP has afforded me a broader view of healthcare and allowed me to influence nursing in a variety of ways in my current role. I’m forever grateful for my DNP.

— Lisa Walker-Vischer RN, DNP, CNS, CCRN (2014 NCCDNP Graduate) 

We are utilizing the best of the past to create the future of nursing, nursing education, and improved patient outcomes throughout California. We are pursuing this mission by offering this post-Master’s degree, the Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) program.

• Overview

  • The SJSU DNP degree program is designed to mesh with a professional, working schedule.

    1. Majority online program
    2. Has a single on-campus meeting at the beginning of the first semester (requireed orientation) and one at the end of the fifth semester (required presentation, and graduation celebration); otherwise, the program is entirely online
    3. Admits as a cohort in the Fall semester
    4. Occurs over five (5) semesters/twenty-three (23) months
    5. Consists of three (3) courses per semester
    6. Clinical hours accrued during Master’s work are applicable to required 1,000 post-Baccalaureate practicum hours
    7. Computer Programs/Applications used:
       
       1. Coursework — online-learning platform Canvas
       2. Meetings — Zoom Meetings (Download the browser client/app. This is not an automatic download.)
• Accreditation

  • The Doctor of Nursing Practice program, part of The Valley Foundation School of Nursing at San José State University, is seeking accreditation by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education.

• Mission & Vision of the DNP Program

  • The program’s mission is to prepare promising nurse leaders, advanced practice clinicians, and nursing faculty in evidence-based practice implementation. Graduates will examine current healthcare practices, policies, and education from a broad theoretical and practical perspective, and formulate clinical, administrative, and leadership strategies to improve the quality of healthcare throughout the community. 

    The program’s vision is to be an exceptional advanced nursing degree program, within the Silicon Valley ecosystem, dedicated to improving health and wellness via evidence-based practice, collaborating across disciplines, and communicating knowledge to the broader healthcare community.

• Learn About SJSU’s DNP Program — Live!

  • Live-hosted online Info Sessions are held during the Fall and Spring semesters, via Zoom meetings. The schedule can be found on the Future Student Advising page.

    For schedule, additional information, or general questions, contact doctornursingpractice@sjsu.edu.

    Aren't able to make one of the scheduled live info sessions? Watch a pre-recorded info session on the YouTube channel of one of our faculty members.

• Interested in Applying?

  • After reading through the Admissions section, please submit your initial application through Cal State Apply. You will be asked to upload transcripts, among other documents, so apply early!

    Want a preview of what will be asked during the application process? Take this brief survey. 

• Program Learning Outcomes (PLOs)

  • The goal of the DNP program is to prepare nurses for advanced practice roles as clinical scholars and health policy leaders. The expected Program Learning Outcomes (PLOs) were developed based on the American Association of Colleges of Nursing’s The Essentials of Doctoral Education for Advanced Nursing Practice (2006).

    The PLOs of the DNP program are such that graduates will:

    1. Provide safe, effective, and efficient care within the scope of advanced nursing practice.
    2. Develop effective strategies to ensure the safety of patients and populations.
    3. Critically analyze literature and develop best practices.
    4. Translate research into clinical practice.
    5. Measure patient outcomes.
    6. Design, implement, and evaluate quality improvement measures.
    7. Analyze the cost-effectiveness of practice initiatives.
    8. Evaluate information systems and patient care technology.
    9. Influence healthcare policy, educate others about health disparities, and advocate for social justice.
    10. Demonstrate leadership skills to ensure patient outcomes, enhance communication, and create change in healthcare.
• Roadmap

  • The DNP program course roadmap outlines the classes which each student will need to complete in order to graduate.

• Doctoral Project — Your Graduate Project

  • Rather than a thesis, a dissertation, or a comprehensive exam as the culminating experience of the program, students earning their DNP degree will produce a Doctoral Project which will be presented publicly during the final semester of the program, and an article on the project will be submitted for publication.

    Work related to a student’s Doctoral Project begins during the first semester, and is worked on throughout the entire program (via practicum hours). Applicants should consider developing a practice-related quality improvement, or evidence-based area of study, for their DNP Project and should be prepared to discuss this idea during the admissions process and in interviews.

    For Doctoral Project inspiration, visit the ScholarWorks archive of project manuscirpts, which includes work of our graduates as well as graduates of the Northern California Consortium Doctor of Nursing Practice program (direct predicessor of the current DNP program).

    Applicants who require assistance in formulating appropriate topics are encouraged to contact the Program Coordinator.

• National Certification

  • Students entering the Doctor of Nursing Practice program should have advanced education in a specialty field. Candidates who are eligible for clinical certification as advanced practice nurses (APNs) should have valid state licensure and state certification. Graduates from other advanced specialty areas (such as public health nurses, nurse educators, or health administrators) need not have APN certification; however, these individuals must be prepared to sit for a national certification examination in a specialty field to meet this requirement.

• DNP Student Handbook
• Canvas, online learning platform
• SJSU ScholarWorks (Past DNP Student Projects)
• Library Guide for Nursing Students
• Guidelines for Thesis/Doctoral Dissertations (Because the DNP program’s culminating event/graduating work is a Doctoral Project, rather than a thesis or dissertation, please use the “Guidelines for Master's Thesis/Doctoral Dissertations” as guidelines only.)
• SJSU Writing Center (Writing support and tutoring)
• Zoom Meetings Download
• Additional SJSU Campus Resources 

General Inquiries

• Email: DoctorNursingPractice@SJSU.edu
• Fax Number: 408-924-3135

Program Coordinator and Advisors

Robin L. Whitney, PhD, RN
Pronouns: She, her(s)
Assistant Professor and DNP Coordinator
robin.whitney01@sjsu.edu
Office: Health Building 404
Selected Works: Works.BePress/ScholarWorks

Denise Dawkins, DNP, RN, CNL, CHSE
Pronouns: She, her(s)
Assistant Professor and DNP Program Advisor
denise.dawkins@sjsu.edu
Office: Health Building 404
Selected Works: Works.BePress/ScholarWorks
SJSU People page

Lisa Walker-Vischer, RN, DNP, CNS, CCRN
Pronouns: She, her(s)
Lecturer and DNP Program Advisor
lisa.walker-vischer@sjsu.edu
Office: no perminant on-campus office
Selected Works: Works.BePress/ScholarWorks

Program Staff

Maya Carlyle
Pronouns: She, her(s)
Recruitment & Events Associate
408-924-3182
maya.carlyle@sjsu.edu
Office: Health Building 420

Brian Gothberg
Pronouns: He, him, his
Student Support Analyst
408-924-1324
brian.gothberg@sjsu.edu
Office: Health Building 420

• DNP Newsletter

  • Keep up with news, highlights, and announcements from SJSU's DNP program! Sign up for our newsletter by emailing us at doctornursingpractice@sjsu.edu.

• Application Window for Fall 2023

  • Interested in applying to the DNP program for Fall 2023 admittance? The application window will open October 1st, 2022. Visit Cal State Apply to begin (or complete!) your application. Want to know what documents will be asked of you during the application? Check out this short form for a preview. 

• Spring 2023 Graduates, Project Presentations

  • Save the Dates for April 28th and May 19!

    Project Defense Presentation: all of our soon-to-be graduates will be presenting their projects in virtual event on Friday April 28th. More information will be shared soon.

    INRP Showcase of Nursing Research: on May 19th, all students in The Valley Foundation School of Nursing (including the DNP) will have the opportunity to share their work in a school-wide poster session presented by the Institute for Nursing Research and Practice. Select projects will be preented, a keynote speaker will share insights on nursing research, and refreshments and snacks will be had. More information will be shared soon.

    Reach out to doctornursingpractice@sjsu.edu for more information.

• Academic Calendar

  • Find out more about the academic calendar on the Registrar's website.