Doctor of Nursing Practice

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• About the DNP Program
• Degree Requirements
• Student Resources
• Contact Information
• Announcements and Current Events

The DNP program at The Valley Foundation School of Nursing at SJSU has nurtured me professionally, pushed me academically and allowed me to develop a project that will inform nursing practice and create change. I'm grateful to be on this journey as a brand new Women's Health Nurse Practitioner, an opportune moment for me to translate research into practice and improve patient outcomes.

— Silvie Arabia, MPH, PHN, RN (DNP Class of 2025) 

We are utilizing the best of the past to create the future of nursing, nursing education, and improved patient outcomes throughout California. We are pursuing this mission by offering this post-Master’s degree, the Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) program.

• Overview

  • The SJSU DNP degree program is designed to mesh with a professional, working schedule.

    1. Majority online program
    2. Three on-campus meetings; one at the beginning of the first semester (required orientation), one mid-program, and one at the end of the fifth semester (required presentation, and graduation celebration); otherwise, the program is entirely online
    3. Admits as a cohort in the Fall semester
    4. Occurs over five (5) semesters/twenty-three (23) months
    5. Consists of three (3) courses per semester
    6. Clinical hours accrued during Master’s work are applicable to required 1,000 post-Baccalaureate practicum hours
    7. Computer Programs/Applications used:
       
       1. Coursework: online-learning platform Canvas
       2. Meetings: Zoom Meetings (Download the browser client/app. This is not an automatic download.)

       3. Email, calendar, and cloud storage: Google Workspace

     

    See this guide for computer requirements.

• Accreditation

  • The Doctor of Nursing Practice program, part of The Valley Foundation School of Nursing at San José State University is accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (http://www.ccneaccreditation.org).

    Information about the whole School of Nursing can be found on our Accreditation page.

• Mission & Vision of the DNP Program

  • The program’s mission is to prepare nurse leaders, advanced practice clinicians, and nursing faculty in evidence-based practice implementation. Graduates will examine current healthcare practices, policies, and education from a broad theoretical and practical perspective, and formulate clinical, administrative, and leadership strategies to improve the quality of healthcare throughout the community. 

    The program’s vision is to be an exceptional advanced nursing degree program, educating nurses throughout California, dedicated to improving health and wellness via evidence-based practice, collaborating across disciplines, and communicating knowledge to the broader healthcare community through a social justice lens.

• Learn About SJSU’s DNP Program — Live!

  • Live-hosted online Info Sessions are held during the Fall and Spring semesters, via Zoom. The schedule can be found on the Future Student Info. Session page.

    Additional information, or general questions, contact doctornursingpractice@sjsu.edu.

    Aren't able to make one of the scheduled live info sessions? Watch a pre-recorded info session, with insights from a program alum.

• Interested in Applying?

  • After reading through the Admissions section, please submit your initial application through Cal State Apply. The application process includes submitting transcripts, among other documents, so apply early!

    Want a preview of what will be asked during the application process? Take this brief survey. 

• Program Learning Outcomes (PLOs)

  • The goal of the DNP program is to prepare nurses for advanced practice roles as clinical scholars and health policy leaders. The expected Program Learning Outcomes (PLOs) were developed based on the American Association of Colleges of Nursing’s The Essentials of Doctoral Education for Advanced Nursing Practice (2006).

    The PLOs of the DNP program are such that graduates will:

    1. Provide safe, effective, and efficient care within the scope of advanced nursing practice.
    2. Develop effective strategies to ensure the safety of patients and populations.
    3. Critically analyze literature and develop best practices.
    4. Translate research into clinical practice.
    5. Measure patient outcomes.
    6. Design, implement, and evaluate quality improvement measures.
    7. Analyze the cost-effectiveness of practice initiatives.
    8. Evaluate information systems and patient care technology.
    9. Influence healthcare policy, educate others about health disparities, and advocate for social justice.
    10. Demonstrate leadership skills to ensure patient outcomes, enhance communication, and create change in healthcare.
• Roadmap

  • The DNP program course roadmap outlines all required class, and their order, needed to graduate.

• Doctoral Project — Your Graduate Project

  • Rather than a thesis, a dissertation, or a comprehensive exam as the culminating experience of the program, students earning their DNP degree will produce a Doctoral Project which will be presented publicly during the final semester of the program, and an article on the project will be submitted for publication.

    Work related to a student’s Doctoral Project begins during the first semester, and is worked on throughout the entire program (via practicum hours). Applicants should consider developing a practice-related quality improvement, or evidence-based area of study, for their DNP Project and should be prepared to discuss this idea during the admissions process and in interviews.

    For Doctoral Project inspiration, visit the ScholarWorks archive of project manuscirpts, which includes work of our graduates as well as graduates of the Northern California Consortium Doctor of Nursing Practice program (direct predicessor of the current DNP program).

    Applicants who require assistance in formulating appropriate topics are encouraged to contact the DNP team (see: Contact Information).

• National Certification

  • Students entering the Doctor of Nursing Practice program should have advanced education in a specialty field. Candidates who are eligible for clinical certification as advanced practice nurses (APNs) should have valid state licensure and state certification. Graduates from other advanced specialty areas (such as public health nurses, nurse educators, or health administrators) need not have APN certification; however, these individuals must be prepared to sit for a national certification examination in a specialty field to meet this requirement.

• DNP Student Handbook
• Canvas, online learning platform
• SJSU ScholarWorks (Past DNP Student Projects)
• Publications by DNP program alumni
• Library Guide for DNP Students
• Article exploring the important distinctions between research, evidence-based practice (EBP), and quality improvement (QI); Kawar, Aquino-Maneja, Failla, et al. (2023) Research, Evidence-Based Practice, and Quality Improvement Simplified. Journal of Continuing Education in Nursing 54(1), pp. 40-48.
• Guidelines for Thesis/Doctoral Dissertations (Because the DNP program’s culminating event/graduating work is a Doctoral Project, rather than a thesis or dissertation, please use the “Guidelines for Master's Thesis/Doctoral Dissertations” as assistive guidelines only.)
• SJSU Writing Center (Writing support and tutoring)
• Zoom Meetings Download
• Additional SJSU Campus, and Graduate/Doctoral Student Resources 

General Inquiries

• Email: DoctorNursingPractice@SJSU.edu
• Fax Number: 408-924-3135

Program Coordinator and Advisors

Robin L. Whitney, PhD, RN
Pronouns: She, her(s)
Assistant Professor and DNP Coordinator
robin.whitney01@sjsu.edu
Office: Health Building 404
Selected Works: Works.BePress/ScholarWorks

 Denise Dawkins, DNP, RN, CNL, CHSE
 Pronouns: She, her(s)
 Assistant Professor and DNP Program Advisor
 denise.dawkins@sjsu.edu
 Office: Health Building 404
 Selected Works: Works.BePress/ScholarWorks
SJSU People page

Lisa Walker-Vischer, RN, DNP, CNS, CCRN
Pronouns: She, her(s)
Lecturer and DNP Program Advisor
lisa.walker-vischer@sjsu.edu
Office: no perminant on-campus office
Selected Works: Works.BePress/ScholarWorks

The DNP program was life-changing and I know just how cliché that sounds. I entered the program as a seasoned Clinical Nurse Specialist but really left with a clear vision as a leader in nursing... The DNP has afforded me a broader view of healthcare and allowed me to influence nursing in a variety of ways in my current role. I’m forever grateful for my DNP.

— Lisa Walker-Vischer RN, DNP, CNS, CCRN (2014 NCCDNP Graduate) 

Program Staff

Maya Carlyle
Pronouns: She, her(s)
Recruitment & Events Associate
408-924-3182
maya.carlyle@sjsu.edu
Office: Health Building 420

Brian Gothberg
Pronouns: He, him, his
Student Support Analyst
408-924-1324
brian.gothberg@sjsu.edu
Office: Health Building 420

• DNP Newsletter

  • Keep up with news, highlights, and announcements from SJSU's DNP program! Sign up for our newsletter by emailing us at doctornursingpractice@sjsu.edu.

• Application Window for Fall 2025

  • Interested in applying to the DNP program for Fall 2025 admittance? The application window is open! Visit Cal State Apply to begin (or complete!) your application.

    Want to know what documents will be asked of you during the application? Check out this short form for a preview. 

• Fall Intensive & Orientation

  • Cohort 6: Cohort 6 will have their Semester 3 Intensive on Friday May 30, 2025.

    Reach out to doctornursingpractice@sjsu.edu for more information.

• Project Oral Defenses and Final Presentations

  • The Project Oral Defenses of our soon-to-be DNP graduates will take place, via Zoom, on Friday April 25. More information will be added in February 2025.

    Final presentations will take place on SJSU campus on Friday May 16th, 2025. Posters, snacks, and presentations. Times and keynote speaker will be announced in March 2025.

• Academic Calendar

  • Find out more about the academic calendar on the Registrar's website.

As a seasoned nurse with extensive experience in both the Navy and the Veterans Affairs, I thought I had seen it all. However, the DNP program at SJSU has been a game-changer. The program's emphasis on evidence-based practice, leadership, and healthcare policy has not only strengthened my own practice but also transformed my approach to mentoring and guiding others.

The DNP program has broadened my perspective, and I now look at the world a little differently. I have gained a deeper understanding of the disparities in healthcare and the importance of addressing these inequities. As a DNP, I am committed to using my knowledge and skills to make a positive impact, not only within my professional career but also in my personal choices.

I am forever grateful for the opportunity to have been part of this program and for the exceptional education and mentorship I received from the SJSU faculty. The DNP program has empowered me to become a more effective leader, advocate, and change agent in the healthcare arena.

Thank you for providing me with this transformative experience. I am proud to be an SJSU DNP alumna and look forward to continuing to make a difference in the lives of others.

— David Renfro, RN, DNP, MS, CCRN-A, NE-BC (2023 Graduate)