BSN to Doctor of Nursing Practice

The BSN to DNP at Southern is a practice-focused, fast-track option to advanced practice nursing. We are preparing nurses and nurse practitioners for leadership roles in a variety of settings. 

The BSN to DNP is a program for the Registered Nurse who has completed a Bachelor’s degree in Nursing and wishes to progress rapidly and seamlessly to a doctoral degree.

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The DNP program at Southern Adventist University located at Collegedale, Tennessee is accredited by the Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing (ACEN), 3390 Peachtree Road NE, Suite 1400, Atlanta, GA 30326, (404)975-5000.

The most recent accreditation decision made by the ACEN Board of Commissioners for the DNP program is Continuing Accreditation.

View the public information disclosed by the ACEN regarding this program at http://www.acenursing.us/accreditedprograms/programSearch.htm.

How the BSN to DNP Works

Medical students in scrubs using laptops in a classroom with large windows, one female student smiling at the camera.

Students entering the BS to DNP program bypass the MSN degree. It is expected that they will have achieved a minimum of two years (4,000 hours) of nursing experience before beginning DNP practicum courses. The BSN to DNP has a primary emphasis of the student’s choice and requires either a secondary emphasis or elective hours to meet the 77-hour total.

  • The Nurse Practitioner emphases have some face-to-face classes with the rest being offered online. Please be aware of the modality of each course when registering.
  • The Nurse Educator, DNP/MBA, and Lifestyle Medicine emphases are completely online. 

All students, including those in completely online options, are required to register for and attend a DNP seminar on campus each fall until completion of their program. 

Any student wishing to complete clinical experiences outside the State of TN must verify that State is a member of NC-SARA and seek permission from that State Board of Nursing. Clinical placements in some States may not be able to be accommodated due to specific State Board of Nursing regulations.

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DNP Emphases

We have eight areas of emphasis to choose from: 

  • Acute Care—Adult/Gerontology NP (AGACNP)
  • Primary Care—Adult/Gerontology NP (AGPCNP) 
  • Lifestyle Medicine (fully online)
  • MBA Healthcare Administration (fully online)
  • Nurse Educator (fully online)
  • Primary Care—Family NP
  • Primary Care—Psychiatric Mental Health NP (fully online)
  • Dual: Acute Care + Family NP 
Apply Now

Applying to Southern’s BSN to DNP

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BSN to DNP Eligibility and Prerequisites

  • Bachelor’s Degree: A bachelor's degree in nursing from an accredited program
  • Undergraduate GPA: A minimum cumulative undergraduate GPA of 3.0
  • Statistics course: An undergraduate or graduate course in statistics
  • RN licensure: Current RN licensure in your state or location of residence

Application Deadlines

All application steps are to be fully completed by the dates listed.

Scroll Horizontally ->

Term

U.S. Residents

International

Fall

July 1

March 1

Winter

October 1

August 1

How to Apply

Submit an application (with non-refundable fee of $40.)

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I’ve Been Admitted to the DNP! Next Steps: 

Before you enroll, we need acceptable documentation of these items. Email all documents to jlthompson@southern.edu.

  • Personal health assessment and physical exam Download Form
  • Criminal background check Download Form
  • Medical-information disclosure and drug-screen consent Download Form
  • Current health information and immunizations Download Form
  • CPR/BLS certification from the American Heart Association

Explore Career Paths, Compare Advanced Nursing Degrees, and Hear from Alumni

Check out our blog posts for content on the world of nursing, which career paths you can take with different degrees that Southern offers, and what our Alumni found most valuable about their experiences.

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What Are the Five Types of Nursing Degrees?

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Alternative Careers for Registered Nurses: Finding Renewed Purpose

Over the past few years, perhaps no job has been more challenging than being a nurse. It’s one of the most demanding careers: helping people overcometrue

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What is Lifestyle Medicine and How Can it Support My Nursing Career?

Lifestyle medicine is one of the fastest-growing disciplines in the healthcare community. As people start to understand the importance of treatingtrue

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Nursing Student Spotlight

Don't just take our word for it—hear directly from our nursing students and alumni about their experiences with Southern and how it helped their nursing careers.

Diana Taylor

Diana Taylor

BSN to DNP, Acute Care

Read More

Julie McBride-1

Julie McBride

BSN to DNP, Psychiactric Mental Health

Read More

Julie McKinney

Julie McKinney

BSN to DNP, Lifestyle Medicine and Family Practice

Read More

Resources for Getting Your Doctor of Nursing Practice at Southern 

Doctor of Nursing Practice

Choose your area of interest.

BSN to DNP: Doctor of Nursing Practice Course Guide

Acute Care - Adult/ Gerontology NP Emphasis

See the course list

Acute Care Adult Gerontology NP

BSN to DNP: Doctor of Nursing Practice Course Guide

Adult Care + Family NP

See the course list

Acute Care Family NP

BSN to DNP: Doctor of Nursing Practice Course Guide

Lifestyle Medicine

See the course list

Lifestyle Medicine

BSN to DNP: Doctor of Nursing Practice Course Guide

MBA Healthcare Administration

See the course list

MBA Healthcare Administration

BSN to DNP: Doctor of Nursing Practice Course Guide

Nurse Educator

See the course list

Nurse Educator

BSN to DNP: Doctor of Nursing Practice Course Guide

Primary Care - Adult Gerontology NP

See the course list

Primary Care Adult Gerontology

BSN to DNP: Doctor of Nursing Practice Course Guide

Primary Care - Family NP

See the course list

Primary Care Family NP

BSN to DNP: Doctor of Nursing Practice Course Guide

Primary Care - Psychiatric Mental Health NP

See the course list

Primary Care PshychMental Health NP

Faculty

Holly Gadd headshot

Holly Gadd

Dean


423.236.2942
hgadd@southern.edu

Linda Peoples headshot

Linda Peoples

Professor


423.236.2968
lindacannon@southern.edu

Lilly Tryon headshot

Lilly Tryon


423.236.2154
ltryon@southern.edu

Judy Dedeker headshot

Judy Dedeker



dedekerj@southern.edu

Tony Lazcano headshot

Tony Lazcano

Associate Professor



alazcano@southern.edu

 

 

Request More Information

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Jamie Thompson

Jamie Thompson

Graduate Program Manager
jlthompson@southern.edu
423.236.2957

Let's Talk About You!

Welcome! My number-one goal is to help you reach yours, so give me a call, send me an email, or just stop by my office. Whether you’d like to explore program options, schedule a campus visit, or just need to ask about application deadlines, no question is too big or too small. Let’s work together to help you accomplish your dreams!

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