Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP)

Question 1: What types of work are accepted for the scholarly writing admissions requirement?
The scholarly writing could be a paper or article you’ve published, your thesis or a paper from your Master’s program, or you could write something new. Your example of scholarly writing should provide the admissions committee with insights into your writing and critical thinking skills.

Question 2: Is there an application deadline?
The application deadline for the class entering fall of each matriculating year is May 1.  Please visit the apply now page for more details on the application process.

Question 3: How can I request an application packet?
The apply now page will provide you with step-by-step instructions regarding the application process.  From this page you can download the application documents or request hard copy forms.

Question 4: If I receive and accept a seat offer early in the application period, will the University stay connected with me?
Yes. The Office of Admissions and the College of Graduate Nursing will keep in contact with you via email. You will also have an opportunity to participate in certain college events before you matriculate in the fall, such as Seminar Intensives.

Question 1: Does the program require any prerequisite course work?
Yes.  Please visit the view requirements page for detail.

Question 2: Do I need to have a Master’s degree to apply?
Yes. You must have earned a Master’s degree in nursing from an accredited MSN program.  Visit the view requirements for additional requirements.

Question 3: Do I need to have an active RN license to apply?
Yes. You will be asked to submit proof of your licensure at the time of application. Visit the view requirements for additional requirements.

Question 4: Can I talk to a counselor about my prerequisite coursework?
Yes. Please contact us if we can be of assistance.

Question 1: How do I check my application status online?
You can check your application status by visiting the application status page.

Question 2: What if I want to change information on my application after I have completed it?
You may not change answers or documents submitted with your application, but you may upload additional, supplemental materials. To do so, visit the application status page and use the “Upload Materials” section of the page to submit your supplemental materials.

Question 3: What if I want to apply to more than one program? Do I need to create a new account?
You can apply to multiple programs using a single account. Visit our online application, log in, and click “Start New Application” at the bottom of the page.

Question 4: What address should I use if I need to mail any additional application materials?
For official transcripts please mail to:
Western University of Health Sciences
Attn: Admissions Operations/program you are applying for (MSMS, MSNE, MSPS, etc.)
309 E Second Street
Pomona, CA 91766

For unofficial documents, please upload to the online application as indicated in the application instructions.

Question 5: How do I pay my application fee?
All application fees require payments made by credit card. Only cards with Visa and Master Card logos will be accepted. No checks, money orders, or cash will be accepted for payment of application fees.

Question 6: What if I do not have a Visa or Master Card?
Payment may be made with a Visa or Master Card prepaid gift card which can be purchased at many major chain stores or online. Please be aware that the gift card must contain a balance sufficient to cover the application fee in one full payment.

Question 7: Are fee waivers accepted?
Payment is required at time of application, if a fee waiver is approved a reimbursement will be issued.

Question 8: How do I withdraw my application?
You may withdraw your application by visiting the application status page. Scroll to the bottom of your application and select withdraw my application.

Question 9: How do I delete an application I accidentally started?
Applicants cannot delete their own application once started. Please submit a request to Admissions Operations at AO@westernu.eduto have it deleted.

Question 10: I have applied to more than one program. How do I check my application status for multiple applications?
You can check your application status by visiting the application status page. Select the application you wish to view from the drop down menu located on the right hand side.

Question 1: How will WesternU graduates be prepared to assume the DNP role?
WesternU’s Doctorate in Nursing Practice (DNP) program provides comprehensive preparation for nursing at the highest level of practice. The practice doctorate is firmly established as the terminal degree in nursing practice. The DNP prepares students for the expanding role, functions and needs of future practice. Transforming health care delivery recognizes the critical need for clinicians to design, evaluate, and continuously improve the context in which care is delivered.

Nurses prepared at the practice doctoral level with a blend of clinical, organizational, economic, and leadership skills, will be able to significantly impact health care outcomes. DNP graduates will practice in diverse leadership roles in a variety of settings, designing the future health care system, managing population-based and clinical quality initiatives, as executives of healthcare organizations, as directors of clinical programs, and as faculty responsible for nursing educational program delivery and clinical teaching.  

Question 2: How does the DNP degree differ from the PhD?
The DNP focuses on providing leadership for evidence-based practice. This requires competence in translating research in practice, evaluating evidence, applying research in decision-making, and implementing viable clinical innovations to change practice. Considerable emphasis is placed on a population perspective, how to obtain assessment data on populations or cohorts, how to use data to make programmatic decisions, and program evaluation. The PhD is research-based and the DNP is practice-based.

Question 3: What is unique about WesternU’s DNP program?
WesternU’s DNP program is designed for master’s-prepared nurses who wish to continue onto doctoral work in nursing practice focusing on the care of vulnerable populations while continuing to practice, keep family commitments, and live in their community. The Web-based design of this program is especially convenient for students living in rural areas, small communities, or who are on active military duty. The program consists of three integrated elements: Web-based curriculum, weekend seminars at the Pomona, California campus twice per semester, and clinical projects, including a culminating clinical immersion project, completed in your own community.   Visit the welcome and examine the curriculum pages to learn more about what makes WesternU’s DNP curriculum unique.

Question 4: What are the benefits of learning in a web-based program?
There are many advantages to a web-based program. First, it allows the master’s-prepared nurse to complete a doctoral degree while living and working in his/her own community. This offers the student a great degree of flexibility in scheduling written coursework around job, personal, and family commitments. Second, the one-on-one nature of web-based class discussion groups allows the nursing faculty to get to know students better than in a more traditional group classroom format. Finally, WesternU’s program is designed with the adult learner in mind. Students find the course content to be more relevant to their needs, since they are actively involved in shaping their educational experience.

Question 5: Why get the DNP when the NP requirement hasn’t changed?
The American Association of Colleges of Nursing (AACN) made the professional recommendation that all Nurse Practitioners have a Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) degree for entry into practice. This was in 2004 when “AACN voted to endorse a position statement identifying the DNP degree as the most appropriate degree for advanced-practice registered nurses (APRNs) to enter practice” (AACN, 2015). This is not a regulatory requirement, but simply a professional recommendation. However, many entities look to professional bodies such as AACN for guidance on practice, education and regulations. Many insurers, employers and policy makers are determining when the academic institutions in this country will have developed the capacity to educate APRNs with the DNP degrees for entry into practice. At this time, many are already deciding to only accept DNP prepared APRNs, while others will make that determination soon. In the near future, the recommendation will likely be that APRNs will need the DNP to take the National Certification exams or to be reimbursed by insurers. Employment options for those without the DNP will change.

Additionally, the DNP degree moves the NP from looking at patient care only as a one-on-one encounter to the broader organizational and systems lens of care. Leadership and policy become part of your toolkit as you practice. DNP graduates who had been NPs for years prior to returning to school relate that they practice differently and with the big picture of healthcare issues in the forefront of their practice now. The DNP degree is indeed not a requirement as yet, but it certainly is a broadening of your world view of practice.