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Nurse typing on a computer: Explore Regent's DNP Nursing Administration program.

DNP – Doctor of Nursing Practice in Nursing Administration & Leadership (Non-Licensure)

Your advanced degree for leading the way in nursing.

If you are looking to advance your role as a clinical or administrative nurse leader, Regent’s fully online Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) in Nursing Administration & Leadership is designed to prepare nurses to practice at the highest level to improve patient outcomes. The DNP is a terminal degree that prepares registered nurses for advanced practice on administrative and leadership levels in various healthcare settings. By specializing in Nursing Administration and Leadership in this non-licensure program, you can walk away having developed advanced competencies in evidence-based nursing practice, healthcare-focused quality improvement, and healthcare systems leadership, ready to oversee clinical and administrative nursing teams.

Online
30
January 13, 2025
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Expand Your Career

Advance in leadership roles and make a difference in the nursing industry.

Build on a Strong Foundation

Receive an education deeply rooted in and balanced with the Christian faith.

LEARN FROM THE BEST

Be mentored by faculty in Virginia Beach who hold the highest degrees in their field. Regent has been ranked among the Top National Universities by the U.S. News & World Report (2024).

Please complete the Request Information form on this page to learn more about this program.

On completing this DNP in Nursing Administration and Leadership program, the graduate can:

  • Gain tools to effectively lead nursing teams.
  • Analyze and apply up-to-date evidence to improve nursing practice and healthcare systems.
  • Apply an advanced understanding of quality improvement to promote a culture of safety.

Career Opportunities

  • Healthcare Executive/Chief Nursing Officer
  • Residential/Private Practice Program Leader
  • Community/Public Health Nursing Leader
  • Evidence-Based Practice Research Leader
  • Clinical or Academic Nursing Educator

This post-master’s DNP program is a minimum of 30 credit hours in length*. The core courses are outlined as follows:

Featured Courses
NURS 801-803DNP Scholarly Project I-III3
Develop and conduct a DNP scholarly project under the direction of a faculty committee. The content of the study can be an empirical study or another suitable professional activity/project approved by the faculty committee.
NURS 805Role Development of Nurse Leader3
Provides an overview of various nursing leadership roles in various healthcare settings and examines the knowledge, expertise and character traits necessary to produce an eminent nurse leader.
NURS 821Advanced Healthcare Policy & Population Health3
Examines foundations of healthcare policy making, advanced policy analysis for nurses in leadership roles, as well as population health management. Gain greater understanding in the dynamics related to the roles and influences of healthcare providers and consumers, government and law.
NURS 830Perspectives in Nursing Education3
Overview of perspectives and issues in nursing education. Various activities and competencies inherent in the role of the nurse educator within academia and healthcare.
NURS 855Quality Improvement in Healthcare3
Key elements of quality improvement in the healthcare environment; indicators for quality assessment and appropriate and relevant benchmarks. Six Sigma to ensure standardization of the quality improvement approach.
NURS 860Administrative & Leadership Theory3
Overview of nurse leadership and management; various activities and competencies inherent in the role of the nurse leader within the healthcare setting.
NURS 884-885DNP Advanced Practicum I-II3
Supervised practicum experience in a setting approved by the course instructor. Students will have the opportunity to demonstrate advanced skills and competencies that are safe, collaborative, evidence-based and ethical in a variety of healthcare delivery systems.

* The Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE) requires all DNP students to complete a minimum of 1,000 practicum hours post-BSN. Final credit hours required will depend on the number of credit hours the student obtained during MSN studies and on the number of clinical hours the student obtained during practicum courses. Accepted hours will be reviewed on an individual basis with the student’s advisor.

2024-25 Semester Check-In Deadlines

All students are expected to check-in for the semester two weeks before the session start date. Students should apply, be accepted, enroll in their first courses, and confirm a plan to pay for their courses prior to this date.

SessionSemester Check-InSession Start Date
Session AFriday, August 9Monday, August 19
Session CWednesday, January 8Monday, January 13

Prerequisites

The post-Master’s DNP program in Nursing Administration and Leadership at Regent University will admit qualified Registered Nurses (RNs) who have completed a Master’s Degree in Nursing (or equivalent), who are seeking further education in the areas of nursing administration and leadership.

Admissions Requirements

Step 1: Apply to Regent University

Submit your application using the Regent University Online Application.

Note: If you are unable to complete our application due to a disability, please contact our Admissions Office at 757.352.4990 or admissions@regent.edu and an admissions representative will provide reasonable accommodations to assist you in completing the application.

Step 2: Submit Your Unofficial Transcripts

Submit your unofficial transcripts to regent.edu/items.

Upon submitting your application, you will receive an email requesting authorization for Regent University to obtain your official transcripts from your U.S. degree-granting institution. International transcripts must be evaluated by a NACES, AACRAO or NAFSA approved agency.

Step 3: Complete an Admissions Questionnaire

Please complete a brief admissions questionnaire based on your professional goals and interests. This should only take a few minutes to complete but please answer the questions completely and thoughtfully. This gives us a better opportunity to get to know you and align your objectives with our programs. Once completed, it will be sent directly to an admissions counselor who will be in touch with you right away to help complete the rest of your application.

Step 4: Submit Your Resume

All graduate nurse candidates are required to submit a resume demonstrating one year of full time clinical RN experience prior to entering the degree program to regent.edu/items.

Step 5: Submit Your Nursing License

To be admitted to the DNP program, you must submit an active unencumbered/unrestricted Registered Nurse license from your state of practice. Please submit a scanned copy or photograph of it to regent.edu/items.

Step 6: Submit Your Government-Issued ID

To ensure academic integrity, Regent University requires a copy of a government-issued ID. Please submit a scanned copy or photograph of it to regent.edu/items.

Step 7: Faculty Interview

Interviews for the DNP program are by invitation only after review of the completed application by School of Nursing faculty. Interviews are held virtually with faculty and will take place on designated dates in December via Zoom or Skype to best assist with an interactive interview experience for our applicants. It is expected that the candidate will be willing to discuss personal history within the interview process. Additional details will be provided to those invited for an interview.

Applicants invited to the virtual interview should keep in mind that an interview does not assure admission. The School of Nursing reserves the right to determine in its sole discretion whether a candidate is suitable for admission to the DNP program.


Please feel free to contact the Office of Admissions at 757.352.4990 or admissions@regent.edu should you have any further questions about the application process.

Note: All items submitted as part of the application process become the property of Regent University and cannot be returned.

PART-TIME STUDENTS

DegreeTuition Cost Per Credit HourAverage Credit Hours Per SemesterAverage Tuition Per Semester
DNP$5803$1,740
MSN$5806$3,480

Full-Time Students

DegreeTuition Cost Per Credit HourAverage Credit Hours Per SemesterAverage Tuition Per Semester
DNP$5806$3,480
MSN$5809$5,220

Student Fees Per Semester

University Services Fee (On-Campus Students)$850 (Fall & Spring)
$700 (Summer)
University Services Fee (Online Students)$700

Military Admissions & Aid » | Cost of Attendance »

Part-Time Students

DegreeTuition Cost Per Credit HourAverage Credit Hours Per SemesterAverage Tuition Per Semester
DNP$5803$1,740
MSN$5806$3,480

Full-Time Students

DegreeTuition Cost Per Credit HourAverage Credit Hours Per SemesterAverage Tuition Per Semester
DNP$5806$3,480
MSN$5809$5,220

Student Fees Per Semester

University Services Fee (On-Campus Students)$850 (Fall & Spring)
$700 (Summer)
University Services Fee (Online Students)$700

Military Admissions & Aid » | Cost of Attendance »

*Rates are subject to change at any time.

  1. Develop and demonstrate advanced professional knowledge, skills, and attitudes related to graduate nursing administration, education, and professional nursing roles in the context of person-centered care and interprofessional partnerships.
  2. Evaluate Christian, historical, and contemporary perspectives on healthcare policy, advocacy, population health, and describe approaches to advancing equitable population health policies.
  3. Translate and integrate scholarship into nursing practice, showcasing one’s ability to conduct independent research and engage in scholarly inquiry.
  4. Analyze and demonstrate advanced understanding of quality improvement principles in healthcare, as well as the culture of healthcare environment safety.
  5. Develop and apply knowledge of systems-based practice, cost-effectiveness of care, and the relationships between macrosystems, mesosystems, and microsystems.
  6. Describe appropriate use of health care informatics and emergent technologies designed to improve health care of patients, communities, and populations.
  7. Apply, compare, and contrast administrative and leadership theories applicable to the professional identity and role of a nurse leader and a nurse educator.
  8. Demonstrate competence in the professional integration of Christian perspectives in graduate nursing administration, education, and healthcare delivery.

“Regent's online, eight-week programs will help you take responsibility and have a way to be self-taught. You'll not only have that initiative, but you'll be able to interact with your professors online. It was really good for me.”

Taniki Richard, B.S. Business Leadership, 2016 Former U.S. Marine Corps

“People, especially kids, need more than clichés. My training at Regent gave me a meaningful way to express my empathy - which is passion and compassion combined - and they could feel the authenticity of it.”

Cedric Rucker, M.A. in Counseling, 2008 Community Counseling

“Pat Robertson had a dream, and when you set foot on campus, you see what God has done.”

Kandi Puder, RN to B.S. in Nursing, 2020 RN at Allina Health

“Regent offers a 25% discount for veterans, which is helping me pay for my MSN degree.”

Michelle Schindler, MSN, '22 Registered Nurse, Certified (RNC); Veteran

“I chose to go back to school to help advance my career. I’ve used the knowledge, skills and abilities I’ve learned at Regent extensively. When I saw Regent’s motto, Christian Leadership to Change the World, I knew this was for me.”

Julia DuBree, RN to B.S. in Nursing, 2018 School Nurse