The mission of the Madonna University Department of Nursing graduate program is to educate nurses to assume a variety of advanced nursing roles by offering certificates, master’s and or Doctor of Nursing Practice degrees that promote excellence and leadership in the nursing profession. The program exemplifies the Catholic Franciscan intellectual tradition of the University, Christian humanistic values and a commitment to serve the community.

The Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) is a professional degree designed for nurses seeking a terminal degree in nursing practice. As an alternate to research-focused doctoral programs, it is a clinical doctorate designed to develop health care leaders who maximize quality, reduce cost, and increase access to health care. In addition, DNP graduates are prepared to fill the national need for more doctoral-prepared nursing faculty.

The Madonna University DNP curriculum is based on the AACN (2006) Essentials of Doctoral Education for Advanced Practice, which builds on current nursing master’s programs by deepening knowledge in evidence-based practice, quality improvement, and systems thinking, among other key areas.

Madonna’s post-master’s Doctor of Nursing Practice degree is designed for nurses who hold advanced-practice credentials and are working in clinical practice, and for those in positions that support clinical practice such as nursing administration, organizational leadership, or health policy.