Doctor of Nursing Practice in Population Health Leadership (DNP)
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Program at a Glance
Credit Hours
Year Program
Per Credit Hour
(CCNE Accredited)
Why Population Health?
This Doctor of Nursing Practice in Population Health Leadership (DNP) degree program is a population health-focused post-master’s degree program for nurses from various practice settings to become leaders in addressing the complexity of healthcare and healthcare outcomes in the 21st century. Through the lens of the Jesuit tradition, the student builds on a previously earned master’s degree to achieve the highest level of academic preparation possible. This preparation incorporates scientific, philosophical, ethical and historical perspectives of the nursing practice along with a view of the complexities of present and future global, holistic, and community healthcare systems. Additionally, organizational nurse leaders and systems leadership, population-focused healthcare, health policy that includes advocacy in healthcare and interprofessional collaboration to address healthcare outcomes will be considered. The final scholarly project for the doctors of nursing practice focuses on designing, implementing and evaluating delivery methods that address outcomes to improve the nation’s health. Xavier doctor of nursing practice graduates will be well-positioned for translating the science of population and community health nursing in an ever-changing global healthcare environment.
What Sets Our Population Health Degree Program Apart?
Intense immersion experiences in various environments occur throughout the curriculum and focus on integration and application of an evidence-based practice, with credible research findings within the evidence base. Innovation and involvement in macrosystems that will ultimately allow students to influence community healthcare systems and outcomes for individuals and populations are also part of the immersion experience. Using conceptual and analytical skills, students will provide leadership in clinical scholarship and synthesize relationships among practices, organizations, diverse populations, fiscal resources, and policy concerns. This skill development allows our students to advance the delivery of successful health outcomes and safe, efficient and effective community healthcare systems for diverse populations.
Population Health Degree Program Requirements
The 40 variable credit hour program is a fully online collegiate nursing education focused on population health outcomes. Nursing practice program students move through the 8-semester program (approximately 32 months), taking 3 to 7 credits per semester.
A total of 1,000 clinical immersion hours are required as students progress through the program. Up to 500 hours of clinical immersion from a master’s degree program and/or advanced certification may be accepted toward the 1,000 immersion hours.
POPULATION HEALTH DEGREE PROGRAM OBJECTIVES
- Health promotion through integrating scientific, philosophical, ethical and historical underpinnings of professional nursing practice from a global and holistic perspective of the health profession
- Health promotion by providing organizational and systems leadership for quality improvement and systems thinking
- Provide leadership in clinical scholarship and analytical methods for the translation of research in practice within specific health professions
- Utilize information systems/technology and patient care technology for the health promotion of holistic improvement and transformation of healthcare.
- Influence healthcare systems and policies by possessing essential skills in policy and advocacy.
- Establish interprofessional collaboration for holistically improving patient and population health outcomes.
- Health promotion through the design, implementation, and evaluation of healthcare system delivery methods for illness prevention and population health for improving community health.
- Utilize conceptual and analytical skills to distinguish relationships among practice, organizations, diverse populations, fiscal resources, and policy concerns, and to advance nursing practice.
Candidates for the population health doctorate degree must have obtained:
- Obtained an MSN from a CCNE or ACEN (formerly NLNAC) accredited school or a Master's degree in a field other than the nursing profession. Candidates with a Master's degree in a field other than nursing are required to have a BSN from a CCNE, ACEN or regionally accredited institution.
- An unencumbered RN license in the state where clinical experiences will be completed.
- One year of experience nursing in a health profession
- Completed an introductory statistics course with a minimum grade of a 'C'
- Completed a 3 credit Master's level course in Epidemiology with a minimum grade of a 'C'
No. The program is entirely online. However, if you are local to the Cincinnati area or are in town visiting, the faculty would enjoy meeting in person.
The tuition rate for the DNP degree program is $830 per credit hour. The total cost of the degree program will vary, depending upon transfer credits awarded, additional fees, and the cost of textbooks/materials. Examples of fees include:
- Liability Insurance (per semester with immersion)……….$18
- Graduate Student Association Fee, degree seeking full-time…….$8
- Graduate Student Association Fee, degree seeking part-time……$4
See the Tuition page for more information about the program's cost.
Xavier University does not have specific scholarships for incoming DNP degree program students. Any information about available Xavier scholarships will be sent to incoming students Xavier.edu email addresses as they become available. There are however scholarships and financial aid sources provided by independent organizations that are listed below:
Nurse Faculty Loan Program (NFLP)
The XU College of Nursing has been a participant in the Nurse Faculty Loan Program (NFLP) grant since 2017.This NFLP is a Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) Program created to increase the number of number of qualified nursing faculty in the U.S. NFLP DNP student participants are awarded funding to cover the costs of tuition. Additional information about this program will be provided by Susan Allen PhD, RN-BC. Please contact her at allens14@xavier.edu.
American Association of Colleges of Nursing:
https://www.aacnnursing.org/Students/Financial-Aid
Doctors of Nursing Practice, Inc.
http://www.doctorsofnursingpractice.org/resources/grants-and-scholarships/
Interact for Change – Deaconess Associations Advance Practice Nursing Scholarships (note: deadline is usually January 31st of each year)
Holistic nursing is a set of core values that drives Xavier University’s mission to see each person holistically. The AHNCC defines holistic nursing as “The art and science of caring for the whole person. It is based on the belief that dynamic mind-body-spirit interactions impact a person’s ability to grow and have successful health outcomes. Holistic nurses aim to promote community health and wellness as they facilitate their client’s growth and healing. Health is a perception of wellness and quality of life. The health profession of holistic nursing allows nurse leaders to work with people in all settings and phases of life. The primary goal of holistic health promotion is to facilitate people to live their lives as fully as possible, in all situations.”
Xavier’s DNP Program is Endorsed by American Holistic Nurses Certification Corporation (AHNCC). This means that Xavier University is one of only 16 schools of Nursing in the United States endorsed by the American Holistic Nurses Certification Corporation (AHNCC).
With this endorsement, graduates are eligible to sit for the holistic nurse certification examination.
No; however, published work or paper from previous coursework is required.
Applicants will be reviewed and notified of their status no later than June 30. Which the program beginning during the fall semester each year. Applications are typically reviewed as they are completed. Students will find out if they are accepted into the program within 2 to 3 weeks of filing their completed application including all required material.
Students are encouraged to enroll at least 1 week before the class start date. Admission is available for the fall semester of each academic year.
Students must register one week before classes start unless given special approval by the program director. This is only after the student has completed an application and has been officially admitted into the program.
Students may be able to transfer up to 6 credit hours upon approval by the program director, department chair, and university. Students desiring to transfer credit for advanced standing must meet with the program director prior to the start of their first course to review the request.
This 40-43 credit hour program is considered a part-time program and is designed to be completed in 2 ½ - 3 years with typically 2 courses (6 to 7 credit hours) per semester, including some summer courses. Note: Xavier University considers full-time status to be 9 credit hours or more for graduate students.
Participation expectations vary by professor. Students are not required to log in at specific times during most courses- this means the courses are ‘asynchronous’. Students’ progress through the courses together according to the scheduled course content and activities.
The courses include components such as readings, activities, video lectures, discussion boards and other peer interaction, tests, quizzes, and group projects. Most courses do not include mandatory login times (asynchronous); however, they are synchronously paced – students’ progress through the course together according to the scheduled course content and activities.
Students must have their own PC or Mac computer with a webcam, the full Microsoft Office Suite, and high-speed internet connection. A Google Chromebook or Tablet is not sufficient. Some courses may require additional software that, similar to textbooks, students must purchase for personal use and use on their computer. Generally, these software packages have academic pricing that is comparable to a textbook price.
Xavier University uses CANVAS.
Approximately 3 hours of course work for every hour of class time each week or 9 hours a week for a 3-credit hour course should be expected. Students should expect to dedicate at least 10-12 hours per class per week on average. Please note that some weeks may require more hours and others may require fewer.
$110,930 — average annual wage for advanced practice registered nurses (Bureau of Labor Statistics).
Top Health Professions: Registered Nurse, Radiologic Technologist, Medical Assistant, Client Services Analyst, Clinical Research Coordinator, Human Resources Director, Patient Representative
Top Companies: Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center, The Christ Hospital, Mercy Health, Good Samaritan Hospital, St. Elizabeth Healthcare, TriHealth, Anthem
Xavier University’s 40 credit hour Doctor of Nursing Practice in Population Health Leadership (DNP) program is a fully online educational offering. Students move through the 8-semester program (approximately 32 months) taking 3 to 7 credits per semester which is considered a part-time program.
A total of 1,000 clinical immersion hours are required as students progress through the program. Up to 500 hours of clinical immersion from a master’s program and/or advanced certification may be accepted toward the 1,000 immersion hours.
COURSE SCHEDULING
Fall and spring semester courses are offered over 16 weeks. Summer courses are shorter and offered in variable lengths depending upon the specific course.
DNP Course Sequence Example/Recommendation:
Year One
Term 1 – Fall (6 credits)
- NURS 900 – DNP Foundations………… 3cr.
- NURS 904 – Applications of Advanced Research Methodologies………… 3cr.
Term 2 – Spring (7 credits)
- NURS 902 – Advanced Evidence Based Practice………… 3cr.
- NURS 903 – Nursing Leadership in Complex Population-based Inter-Professional Healthcare Systems………… 4cr.
Term 3 – Summer (4 credits)
- NURS 906 – Informatics for Advanced Nursing Practice in Complex Health Systems………… 3cr.
- NURS 912 – DNP Writing Seminar………… 1cr.
Year Two
Term 4 – Fall (7 credits)
- NURS 905 – Healthcare Finance and Economics for Nurse Leaders………… 4cr.
- NURS 908 – Health Care Policy………… 3cr.
Term 5 – Spring (7 credits)
- NURS 910 – Scholarship of Advanced Application and Innovation………… 3cr.
- NURS 907 – Evaluation and Analytics of Outcomes in Health Care………… 4cr.
Term 6 – Summer (3 credits)
- NURS 911 – DNP Project Immersion I………… 3cr.
Year Three
Term 7 – Fall (3 credits)
- NURS 915 – DNP Project Immersion II………… 3cr.
Term 8 – Spring (3 credits)
- NURS 917 – DNP Project Immersion III………… 3cr.
A sampling of students’ DNP projects since 2017:
- Readmissions, Telehealth, and a Handoff to Primary Care in Veterans with Diabetes
- Evaluation of Use of the Psychosocial Assessment Tool (PAT) with Pediatric Surgical Patients
- Educating the Current and Future Nursing Workforce on Principles of Health Equity: Standardized Social Determinants of Health Screening Tool and Education Module
- Be the Voice: Empowering Families to Report Concerns in Care
- Delirium Management of Older Adults in the Medical-Surgical Setting
- Use of a Portable Medical Summary to Provide Continuity across Systems of Care as Youth with Medical Complexity Transition to Adult Care
- Increasing Human Papillomavirus Immunization in Pediatric Cancer Survivors for Population Health: A Quality Improvement Approach
This course is foundational to the DNP curriculum and facilitates the dynamic interplay occurring throughout the curriculum between faculty and students as they progress on their journey of discovery. The goal of this course is to build a comprehensive perspective for students regarding the DNP role and its function within the complexities of present and future healthcare and the wider global community. The scientific and philosophical underpinnings of the discipline are examined along with traditional and contemporary conceptual models. Students explore components ethical and artistic nursing practice while considering an Ignatian and holistic worldview.
This course is designed to enhance leadership skills to strengthen practice and health care delivery to individuals and populations. Care delivery models in complex healthcare systems are explored from a framework of contemporary nursing science that is consistent with ethical, holistic nursing and healthcare goals to eliminate health disparities and lead changes that promote safety and quality outcomes. The course encompasses in-depth analysis of select concepts or topics using an analytic framework, including advanced communication and collaboration skills, innovation and quality.
This course builds upon knowledge of healthcare technologies and the management of individual and aggregate level data. Leadership, knowledge and technical skills are applied within the interprofessional healthcare environment to select, use and evaluate population-based healthcare information systems. Programs that evaluate and monitor outcomes of care, quality improvement, consumer use of healthcare information systems, and patient care technology are analyzed. Legal, ethical, global, holistic and interprofessional considerations are emphasized.
This course is designed to provide a framework with which to examine health policy issues and better comprehend the policy-making process at all levels, including institutional, local, state, regional, federal and international levels. Health policy issues related to ethics, social determinants as well as healthcare delivery regulation and financing are addressed. The leadership role as an advocate influencing health policy formation is explored. Emphasized are skills for analyzing policy processes and engaging in politically competent actions for the transformation of a holistic and ethical healthcare system which meets the needs of the public and the nursing profession.
Candidates must have:
- Obtained an MSN from a CCNE or ACEN (formerly NLNAC) accredited school, or a Master’s in a field other than nursing. Candidates with a Master’s in a field other than nursing are required to have a BSN from a CCNE, ACEN or regionally accredited institution.
- An unencumbered RN license in the state where clinical experiences will be completed.
- One year of professional nursing work experience.
- Completed a basic statistics course with a minimum grade of a ‘C’
- Completed a 3 credit Master’s level course in Epidemiology with a minimum grade of ‘C’
APPLICATION REQUIREMENTS AND HOW TO APPLY
Applicants interested in applying to Xavier University’s online DNP program should submit the following:
- Xavier University’s free online application.
- Official transcripts of all previous completed coursework from accredited colleges and universities including diploma program. Applicants must have an undergraduate degree from a regionally accredited university. Send to:
- Xavier University
- ATTN: Admission Processing Center
- 3800 Victory Parkway
- Cincinnati, OH 45207-5131
- For electronic transcripts, send to:
- xugrad@xavier.edu
- Current résumé of work experience or Curriculum Vitae (CV).
- Individualized sample of professional writing from publications or previous coursework.
- Three professional references from faculty or other health professionals with advanced preparations who can evaluate your effectiveness in a Graduate Nursing Program (a standard form is incorporated in the application)
- A 1-3 page, single spaced, personal statement describing the reasons for seeking doctoral study, short and long term professional goals, narrative of professional experience & discussion of a possible DNP project
- Verification of current RN licensure (College of Nursing will obtain)
Admission is available for the Fall semester of each academic year. Applicants will be reviewed and notified of their status by June 30th.
STATE AUTHORIZATION
Applicants outside of the State of Ohio: State authorization of distance education is complex and dynamic. Applicants should review the link below regarding regulations for the delivery of distance education. http://online.xavier.edu/state-authorization/
Students enrolled in Xavier University’s Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) in Population Health Leadership program will learn from dedicated faculty and professionals with experience working in the field of nursing. Our exceptional faculty members include:
Assistant Professor, Interim Program Director
Dr. Bragg, PhD, RN, earned an ASN at West Virginia Institute of Technology, a BSN at West Virginia University, a MSN from Ohio State University and a PhD in Political Science from the University of Cincinnati. Dr. Bragg has over 40 years’ experience in teaching, research, administration, practice, and volunteer activities. From 2000 to 2010, she was co-investigator for the Geriatrics Workforce Policy Studies Center at the University of Cincinnati and co-authored over 20 related publications. From 2008-2010, she was a first-cohort (and only nurse) Health and Aging Policy Fellow/American Political Science Congressional Fellow, nonresidential track in Washington, DC. More recently, in May 2019, she presented an Overview of the Current and Future Dementia Care Workforce to the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, & Medicine, Committee on Population (CPOP) in Washington, DC. From 2019-2020, she was a member of the Dementia Summit Workforce Stakeholder Workgroup charged with developing 10 workforce recommendations to be presented at the 2020 NIA National Research Summit on Care and Services. She has co-authored 39 peer-reviewed manuscripts.
Contact Dr. Elizabeth Bragg at Bragge@xavier.edu
Associate Professor
Assistant Professor