DNP Programs in Texas

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DNP Programs in Texas

By EveryNurse Staff on January 23, 2023

DNP Programs in Texas

There is an overwhelming need for nurses with the highest qualifications available. Those with a love of patient care are encouraged to study the terminal degree in nursing practice in order to overcome this shortage. Several incentives are offered to DNP graduates in the form of fantastic opportunities that allow them to specialize in the discipline of their choice. People need access to the best quality care available and this requires constant adaptation and change within the nursing industry so that these goals can be met. Nurses with leadership skills are responsible for using the latest scientific evidence to improve healthcare outcomes. Doctorates of nursing practice are able to translate this data and integrate it into advanced practice, education, health policy, systems development and more. We have done extensive research for you and these are all the schools offering DNP programs in Texas.

Texas DNP Programs (RN Required)

  • Two DNP tracks are available at the Harris College of Nursing and Health Sciences at Texas Christian University. Students choose either an advanced practice option or advanced anesthesia. CCNE and CANAEP accredited, students are able to study full-time or part-time with the majority of coursework delivered online. Students typically complete the program in two to three years. Those applying for the Anesthesia track must submit applications before July 1st. Submit applications prior to November 15th of each year for enrollment into the Advanced Practice track.
  • Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center has a CCNE accredited DNP program available through their School of Nursing. Students receive a rigorous curriculum that prepares them for careers as clinical scholars. They gain leadership skills and are able to translate sciences that improve the health of populations. Both full-time and part-time options are available and courses are delivered in the classroom and online. Most students obtain their degree in two to four years, depending on their study plan. Kindly contact the school to find out about their current application deadline dates.
  • A Doctorate of Nurse Anesthesia Practice is offered by Texas Wesleyan University. It is accredited by CANAEP and is available online. The program focuses on education administration and management beyond the Master’s degree. Students develop detailed scientific knowledge about the modalities of treatment and disease processes. Study plans include full-time and part-time options. Full-time students will complete the degree requirements in two years, but it will take three years of part-time study. Please do not hesitate to contact the school and inquire about their deadline dates for applications.
  • The College of Nursing at Texas Woman’s University has a DNP program on offer that is accredited by CCNE. Advanced Practitioners become specialized clinicians with expert leadership skills. They become adept at the integration and evaluation of evidence-based principles in primary and acute healthcare environments. Courses are delivered in a hybrid format of face-to-face meetings and online technology. This is a part-time study plan that involves two years for degree completion. Applications are reviewed on a rolling basis and classes begin in Fall, Summer and Spring.
  • The DNP program available at the University of Texas at Arlington is offered by their College of Nursing. Designed for post-master’s students, the emphasis is on providing additional clinical expertise, leadership and innovation for evidence-based practice in the recognition and resolution of health problems. The curriculum is delivered online, in the traditional classroom and during onsite intensives. The program can be completed in two years. Feel free to obtain application information by contacting the school directly.
  • The University of Texas at El Paso has a DNP program available that builds on Master’s degree competencies while enhancing skills in informatics, advanced practice, quality improvement, leadership and organizational expertise. While on-campus classes occur one weekend each month, the rest of the coursework is taught online. This is a two year program designed for nurses working full-time. Make direct contact with the school to find out about their latest deadline dates.
  • The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston is a post-master’s program that specializes in creating the most qualified Clinical Nurse Specialists, Nurse Practitioners, Nurse Executives and Nurse Anesthetists. Accredited by CCNE and CANAEP, this is predominately an online program that requires occasional onsite attendance. The program is usually completed in two to three years. March 1st is the final deadline date for enrollment into the Fall start term.
  • The DNP program offered by the University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonioturns students into advanced practice experts. The emphasis is on the utilization of research to improve the delivery of clinical care, the management of systems and the care of patients. This is a post-master’s program that allows both part-time and full-time study. A combination of classroom learning is used with an online curriculum. Depending on your choice of study plan, it will take two to three years to complete this program. Students are admitted into the Fall semester each year and applications must be submitted before February 1st.
  • The School of Nursing at the University of Texas Medical Branch at Galveston has a DNP program on offer. Available completely online on a part-time curriculum schedule, the focus is on vulnerable populations and providing them advanced Nurse Practitioners with expert clinical competencies. Students develop leadership, inquiry and scientific transformation of health care skills. Consisting of forty-two semester credit hours, students acquire their degree in three years. Application deadline dates change with each admission cycle. Kindly contact the school for detailed information.
  • A CCNE accredited DNP program is available at the University of the Incarnate Word. Offered on a part-time basis for working professionals, there is also an option to study full-time. Students focus on the development of leadership skills and the refinement of clinical expertise. The curriculum is delivered in an extensive online format. The program consists of thirty-three semester credits that can be completed in a year and a half of full-time study. Part-time students will obtain their degree in two and a half years. Please feel free to contact the school for information regarding their latest application deadline dates.

Texas DNP Nurse Checklist

Before applying to these programs, it is recommended that you do some homework first. It is imperative that you submit applications before the final deadline dates and ensure that all requirements are met. Application packets should include all the necessary documentation and the application procedure should be adhered to strictly. There is a limit of space available in these programs and the reviewing process is extremely competitive. Schools only admit the most promising students with exceptional grades achieved throughout graduate study. There are bridge programs that enable students to complete graduate coursework before being enrolled in the doctorate. This is a list of what you will need when applying to a DNP program in Texas:

  • All academic pursuits, professional experiences and voluntary missions must be clearly detailed in your final resume.
  • Evidence must be supplied proving the total number of clinical hours obtained through graduate coursework and professional advanced nursing practice.
  • Write an essay that clearly explains your need for doctoral qualifications. Detail all career goals and describe how completing the program successfully is a part of these objectives.
  • While the minimum accumulated Grade Point Average score requirement is 3.0 on a scale of 4.0, it is likely that many schools will insist this be no less than 3.5.
  • The school requires three letters of recommendation from physicians, supervisors, employers, nursing colleagues or academic advisors.
  • You will be required to attend a personal interview in a timely manner at the school. Make sure that no other commitments will hinder your availability.
  • Your current license to practice in Texas as a registered Advanced Nurse must not restrict you in any way.
  • Your creative writing skills will need to be proven with examples such as scholarly papers.
  • Core graduate courses in nursing theory, statistics and research must have been completed with a C grade (or higher) during the last five years.
  • Your entire post-secondary academic history must be proven with official transcripts from each institution attended after high school graduation.
  • Proof of current immunizations must be submitted, along with your medical record. The school will delve into your criminal history.
  • Baccalaureate and graduate degrees must have been completed in their entirety through nationally accredited programs.

Additional Texas Program Rankings

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