Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP)

The School of Nursing and Health Professions offers a Doctor of Nursing Practice degree with a variety of track options providing one-of-a-kind opportunities for interprofessional collaboration.

A number of societal, scientific, and professional developments have stimulated a major paradigm change in graduate education in nursing. The rapid expansion of knowledge underlying practice; increased complexity of patient care; national concerns about the quality of care and patient safety; shortages of nursing personnel; demands for a higher level of preparation for nurses to design and evaluate best practices; shortages of nursing faculty; and the increasing educational expectations for the preparation of other health professionals have led the American Association of Colleges of Nursing (AACN) to establish the standard that preparation should be at the doctoral level.

The School of Nursing and Health Professions at the University of San Francisco has designed a vital, responsive Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) degree program for the baccalaureate-prepared and master’s-prepared nurse. The DNP degree program at the University of San Francisco will prepare graduates for advanced nursing practice in “direct” and “indirect” roles. The program is designed to conform to the American Association of Colleges of Nursing (AACN) standard that advanced practice nursing specialty preparation should be at the DNP level.

Accreditation

The Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) degree, and post-graduate APRN certificate programs at the University of San Francisco, School of Nursing and Health Professions are accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE) and the Western Association of Schools and Colleges (WASC).

All concentrations of the DNP are included in the accreditation of the DNP degree program in the School of Nursing and Health Professions.

The School of Nursing and Health Professions follows the University of San Francisco’s mission to provide a liberal arts education rooted in the Jesuit tradition of diversity, justice, and global perspectives. In supporting this mission, students in the School of Nursing and Health Professions are part of one of the most exciting and diverse cities for progressive health care delivery in the nation. Graduates serve as knowledgeable, innovative and experienced practitioners in health care.

Vision

The School of Nursing & Health Professions at the University of San Francisco advances the mission of the university by preparing health professionals to address the determinants of health, promote policy and advocacy and provide a moral compass to transform health care in order to further equity and positively influence quality, delivery, and access.

Mission

The mission of the School of Nursing & Health Professions (SONHP) is to advance nursing and health professions education within the context of the Jesuit tradition. The school uses dynamic and innovative approaches in undergraduate and graduate education to prepare professionals for current and future practice domains. The goal is to effectively link classroom, clinical and field experiences with expectations for competence, compassion, and justice in health care, protection and promotion within the context of the highest academic standards.

Values

Congruent with the core values of the university, the values of the School of Nursing and Health Professions are to Create and maintain an environment that promotes excellence in the health professions' academic endeavor based on mutual respect, transparency, collaboration, professionalism, creativity, diversity, cultural sensitivity, and spirituality. Demonstrate the personal values of integrity, academic excellence, respect for self and others, compassion and caring, personal growth, responsibility, and accountability, professionalism, a passion for justice, and personal health and well-being. Positively influence nursing practice and healthcare environments by promoting: health and wellness, holistic, patient-centered care, patient advocacy, a spirit of inquiry and evidence-based practice, safety and quality improvement, cost-effective care, emerging technologies balanced with a humanistic approach, professional and ethical decision-making, increased access to care, especially for vulnerable populations, an effective public health infrastructure, and, lifelong learning. The mission, vision, and values of the School of Nursing & Health Professions are included in the graduate and undergraduate student handbooks. Additionally, they are incorporated into the graduate and undergraduate curricula and are integral components of the student evaluation process. Students implement the mission, vision, and values of the School of Nursing and Health Professions in their end-of-program evaluations, course evaluations for practice experiences, course testing, and end-of-course competencies and outcomes.

Clinical Psychology PsyD from USF SONHP.