DNP Programs in Tennessee (TN)

The Volunteer State has no shortage of nationally accredited schools offering Doctor of Nursing Practice degree programs. If you are a Registered Nurse or Advanced Practice Nurse in search of a college or university where you can earn a DNP degree in Tennessee then you are in the right place. Check out the schools and accredited programs below.

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East Tennessee State University
College of Nursing

East Tennessee State University’s College of Nursing offers nurses two pathways for earning a Doctor of Nursing Practice degree: a BSN to DNP pathway and an MSN to DNP pathway. They offer full-time and part-time programs of study for both pathways. The program is offered in a blended format with most coursework performed online, but students are required to attend 1-2 on campus intensive sessions per semester.

Several concentrations are offered to students in the DNP programs. They include:

  • Family Nurse Practitioner
  • Psychiatric/Mental Health Nurse Practitioner
  • Adult/Gerontological Nurse Practioner
  • Executive Leadership

Applicants to the BSN to DNP program are required to hold a Bachelor of Science in Nursing (or international equivalent) degree from a nationally accredited program. They must have a cumulative undergraduate GPA of 3.0 or higher on a 4.0 scale. Those students with a cumulative undergraduate GPA of less than 3.2 will be required to take the GRE.

Prospective students for the BSN to DNP program must hold an unencumbered license as a registered nurse in the US and eligibility to be licensed in Tennessee (or equivalent licensure for international students). They must have two years of experiences as a registered nurse.

Applicants to the MSN to DNP program are required to hold a Master of Science in Nursing (or international equivalent) from a nationally accredited program. They must have a cumulative graduate GPA of 3.0 or higher on a 4.0 scale. The GRE will be required of students with a cumulative GPA less than 3.2.

Prospective students for the MSN to DNP program must be certified in the advanced nursing specialty for the concentration they select (e.g certification as an Adult Nurse Practitioner would be required for acceptance under the Adult Nurse Practitioner concentration). Those planning to concentrate in Executive Leadership are required to have at least one year of experience in a nurse administrator role.

All MSN to DNP applicants must be licensed as an RN in the US and be eligibile for licensure in Tennessee (or equivalent for international students). They must also have at least two years of work experience as a full-time RN.

Accreditation:

Commission of Collegiate Nursing Education

Contact Information:

College of Nursing
PO Box 70617
Johnson City, TN 37614
(423) 439-7199


University of Tennessee Health Science Center
College of Nursing

The University of Tennessee Health Science Center’s College of Nursing offers prospective students two pathways in which earn a Doctor of Nursing Practice degree: a Post-Bachelor’s Professional Entry option and a Post-MSN Advanced Practice option. The UT program is a blended format combining online synchronous and asynchronous learning with some on campus sessions. Students are required to attend four 5-7 day sessions on campus each year.

Students entering the DNP program can choose clinical tracks with specialty focus is:

  • Primary Care
  • Acute Critical Care
  • Gerontology
  • Psychiatric/Family Nurse Practitioner
  • Forensic Nursing
  • Public Health Nursing

Prospective students wanting to enter the Post-Bachelor’s Professional Entry pathway will need either a Bachelor of Science in Nursing degree or a Master of Science in Nursing/Clinical Nurse Leader degree from a nationally (CCNE or NLNAC) accredited program.

Applicants to the Post-MSN Advanced Practice program must hod a Master of Science in Nursing with advanced practice credentials from a nationally (CCNE or NLNAC) accredited program.

Applicants must have a cumulative GPA of 3.0 or higher on a 4.0 scale on all collegiate work or a cumulative GPA of 3.2 or higher on the applicants most recently completed degree program.

Prospective students need to hold a current, active, unencumbered RN licence in Tennessee, hold an unencumbered authority-to-practice as RN via multi-state license, or an RN license in another state if all clinical work for the DNP program will be performed in that state.

Applicants must all be certified in CPR. For CRNA and Acute Critical Care options, they must also have current PALS and ACLS certifications. APRN certifications will be required, if applicable.

CRNA applicants must have taken the GRE within the last 5 years and made acceptable scores.

Accreditation:

Commission of Collegiate Nursing Education

Contact Information:

UTHSC College of Nursing
877 Madison Avenue
Memphis, TN 38163
(901) 448-6128


University of Tennessee – Chattanooga
School of Nursing

The University of Tennessee Chattanooga’s School of Nursing offer a post-Master’s Doctor of Nursing Practice degree program. The program was designed to prepare advanced practice nurses to improve the health of various populations through expert leadership.

A typical DNP curriculum at UTC will include a minimum of 34 credit hours. Students in the DNP program will develop and implement an evidence-based project aimed at solving some significant health care problem that exists today. Students will also be required to complete the mandated 1,000 clinical hours required by the DNP.

Applicants to the post-Master’s DNP program must hold a Master of Science in Nursing degree with a 3.0 or higher cumulative GPA on a 4.0 scale from their highest earned degree. If their GPA does not meet this criteria then they must take either the MAT or GRE and present acceptable scores from the exam. Prospective students must hold an unencumbered RN license and be a certified Advanced Practice Registered Nurse in some specialty.

NOTE: While UTC currently only offers a post-Master’s DNP program, by 2014 they will begin offering a post-Baccalaureate DNP program which will not only include the same core curriculum from the post-Master’s program, but will also include courses to prepare nurses in the the program for various advanced nursing practice specializations.

Accreditation:

Commission of Collegiate Nursing Education

Contact Information:

School of Nursing
Department 1051
615 McCallie Avenue
Chattanooga, TN 37403
(423) 425-4644


University of Tennessee – Knoxville
College of Nursing

The University of Tennessee Knoxville’s College of Nursing offers a post-Master’s pathway to a Doctor of Nursing Practice degree. The DNP program was designed graduate students with an MSN degree seeking a clinical terminal degree in nursing. The program requires 42-48 credit hours for completion.

In addition to meeting all of the Graduate School admission requirements, several other requirements must be met for acceptance into the program. Applicants must hold a Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in nursing from a nationally (CCNE or NLNAC) accredited program. Prospective students must have a minimum cumulative graduate of 3.0 or higher GPA on a 4.0 scale. Applicants must have an acceptable score on the verbal and quantitative portions of the GRE. Nurse applicants must be licensed as an RN in Tennessee or one of the inter-state compact states.

Accreditation:

Commission of Collegiate Nursing Education

Contact Information:

College of Nursing
1200 Volunteer Blvd
Knoxville, TN 37996
(865) 974-4151


Union University
School of Nursing

Union University’s School of Nursing offers a post-Master’s Doctor of Nursing Practice program to prepare experienced and licensed practitioners to be expert nurse pratitioners, nurse anesthetists, and nurse executives. Union University’s DNP program is a full-time program. The program is primarily an online program, however students are required to be on campus for as many as four 1-week sessions per year.

There are four DNP tracks from which students can choose:

  • Nurse Practioner
  • Nurse Anesthesia
  • Executive Leadership
  • DNP with MBA

Applicants must be a Registered Nurse and have earned a Bachelor’s and Masters’s degree. It is preferred that students possess a BSN and MSN, but not required. If students lack a BSN and MSN, the school will evaluate their transcripts and clinical experience to make a determination if pre-requesite or co-requisite courses will be necessary as part of your DNP program.

All applicants applying for the Nurse Practitioner track or Nurse Anesthesia track, students must be nationally certified as an advanced practice nurse in the respective area of specialization. Because the Executive Leadership track is not considered an advance practice nurse role, no certification is needed prior to enrolling in the DNP program.

Accreditation:

Commission of Collegiate Nursing Education

Contact Information:

1050 Union University Drive
Box 1801
Jackson, TN 38305
(731) 661-6545


Vanderbilt University
School of Nursing

Vanderbuilt University’s School of Nursing offers two entry pathways to their Doctor of Nursing Practice degree program. Students entering with a Bachelor of Science in Nursing can earn the Master of Science in Nursing as well as their DNP. Students entering with a Master of Science in Nursing can earn their DNP with 4 fult-time semesters or 6 part-time semesters.

BSN to DNP applicants have the opportunity to select from a wide variety of advanced practice nursing specializations:

  • Acute Care Nurse Practitioner (ACNP)
  • Acute Care Nurse Practitioner – Intensivist
  • Family Nurse Practitioner (FNP)
  • Emergency Nurse Practitioner (dual Family NP & Acute Care NP program)
  • Adult-Gerontology Primary Care Nurse Practitioner (AGNP)
  • Palliative Care
  • Neonatal Nurse Practitioner
  • Pediactric Acute Care Nurse Practioner
  • Pediactric Primary Care Nurse Practioner
  • Family Psychiatric-Mental Health Nurse Practitioner
  • Women’s Health Nurse Practitioner (WHNP)
  • Nurse Midwifery
  • Nurse Midwifery/Family Nurse Practitioner (dual program)
  • Nursing Informatics
  • Health Systems Management

Applicants to the BSN to DNP pathway must have an undertgraduate GPA of 3.0 or higher on a 4.0 scale. All applicants are required to take the GRE and have a minimum combined Verbal and Quantitative score of 1000 or better. They must also have a 4.5 on the Analytic section of the exam.

MSN to DNP applicants can pursue a new Advanced Practice Nursing specialization in conjunction with with working on their DNP degree. However, this will add additional time to the program.

In addition to having a Master of Science in Nursing from a nationally (CCNE or NLNAC) accredited program, applicants for the MSN to DNP must have an unencumbered RN license. They will need to have the Advanced Practice Registered Nurse designation in the home state as well as be nationally certified as a Clinical Nurse Specialist, Nurse Practitioner, Certified Nurse Midwife, or Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetist in their specialization. Certification is not required (although it is desired) for nursing administration or nursing informatics applicants.

Accreditation:

Commission of Collegiate Nursing Education

Contact Information:

Godchaux Hall 207
461 21st Avenue South
Nashville, TN 37240
(615) 322-3800