University of Missouri - Kansas City

Nursing Programs Offered

RN to BSN Program Details

The RN-BSN track is a national, competency-based, distance-education completion track. Course content throughout the track focuses on development of the professional role of the nurse as leader, manager, coordinator, advocate, and designer of care. Instead of a required bedside clinical, practicum involves leadership projects that meet community needs. UMKC offers a unique RN-BSN program. Find out how UMKC compares to other online RN-BSN programs and see the difference UMKC can make. The program requires 120 credit hours for graduation.

Doctor of Nursing Practice Program Details

The Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) program is a 31 credit hour, online post-masters program for certified advanced practice nurses in an active clinical practice. Students can complete the program in a 23 month, “regular” plan of study or a 35 month, “extended” plan of study. Students must complete 600 hours of clinical time and have completed a graduate level statistics course prior to enrolling in the DNP program.

Students take courses via the internet in either synchronous or asynchronous modes. In addition, students have two on-site meetings at the UMKC campus during the program. These meetings are three days in length and allow students to develop peer support, role acquisition and mentoring for research activities. Students choose an area of expertise from within their current practice and work toward becoming an expert in that particular, narrow area of practice.

If you are interested in a clinical terminal degree this may be the program for you. If you want more specific information about the Post-MSN DNP, please visit the AACN website and review The Essentials of Doctoral Education for Advanced Nursing Practice.

The DNP curricular framework is based on the AACN (2006) Essentials of Doctoral Education for Advanced Nursing Practice document. The curriculum reflects the competencies recommended by the National Organization of Nurse Practitioner Faculties. The DNP curriculum builds upon knowledge acquired in both the BSN and MSN programs. Advanced skills in theory, research, pharmacology, and pathophysiology are prerequisites for DNP courses in evidence based practice, advanced nursing theory, advanced practice clinical, and clinical practicum. Students must complete a scholarly project that is individualized to their area of focus and is expected to make a significant contribution to the profession.