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Doctor of Nursing Practice (Post-Master's)

CAMPUSES South College Online Programs
SCHOLARSHIPS Yellow Ribbon

As you work toward your future professional goals, review the related information at the Bureau of Labor Statistics.

Program Learning Outcomes

  • Synthesize scientific evidence and analytical methods to design, direct and evaluate research and strategies to promote and provide effective, patient-centered care at the highest level of nursing practice.
  • Incorporate leadership skills and interprofessional team-building strategies to improve quality metrics within healthcare systems, organizations and diverse practice settings.
  • Employ information systems and technology in the delivery of transformative healthcare.
  • Advocate for evidence-based healthcare policy to improve local, national, and/or global patient outcomes in diverse populations.
  • Utilize effective interprofessional communication and collaborative skills to facilitate and/or lead teams for the improvement in population health.
  • Apply advanced levels of clinical judgment and systems thinking in designing, delivering and evaluating evidence-based care for the clinical treatment, clinical prevention and improvement of population health through comprehensive practice at the highest level.

KEYS TO SUCCESS

Students in the DNP program must be committed, focused, and eager to provide the best possible care to patients of all ages. A commitment to lifelong learning, critical thinking, inquisitiveness, and collaboration are all important to success.
South College is eager to support our students as they progress through their educational pathway.  Our experienced faculty members are available to provide one-on-one mentoring, and the distance learning platform includes discussion forums so that students and faculty can communicate and collaborate. Also, students may complete the clinical portion of the program at an approved location near their homes or workplaces.

 

Accreditation or Approval

DOCTOR OF SCIENCE IN NURSING, POST-GRADUATE CERTIFICATE PROGRAMS, MASTER OF SCIENCE IN NURSING, BACHELOR OF SCIENCE IN NURSING, ASSOCIATE OF SCIENCE IN NURSING, CERTIFICATE IN PRACTICAL NURSING

State Authorization (Asheville, Atlanta, Indianapolis, Knoxville, Nashville, Pittsburgh, Orlando)

The South College Bachelor of Science in Nursing program offered at the Parkside Learning Site (Knoxville) received initial approval from the Tennessee Board of Nursing in December 2003, with full approval granted in September 2008. Approval for the addition of the Nashville Learning Site was granted in November 2016. The Master of Science in Nursing program received approval in November 2016. The Doctor of Nursing Practice program received approval in February 2020. The Post-Graduate Certificate programs received approval in August 2021. The South College Bachelor of Science in Nursing program offered at the Asheville Learning Site received initial approval from the North Carolina Board of Nursing in February 2016, with full approval granted in May 2019. The Bachelor of Science in Nursing program offered at the Atlanta Learning Site received initial approval from the Georgia Board of Nursing in September 2018. The Bachelor of Science in Nursing program offered at the Orlando Learning Site received initial approval from the Florida Board of Nursing in November 2021. The Bachelor of Science in Nursing program offered at the Indianapolis campus received initial accreditation from the Indiana Board of Nursing in July 2022. The Bachelor of Science in Nursing program offered at the Pittsburgh campus received initial approval from the Pennsylvania Board of Nursing in April 2023.

The South College Associate of Science in Nursing program (Knoxville & Nashville Learning Site) was approved by the Tennessee Board of Nursing in November 2022. The program was approved by the Florida Board of Nursing in January 2023 and the Georgia Board of Nursing in March 2023.

The South College Certificate program in Practical Nursing offered at the Parkside Learning Site (Knoxville) received approval from the Tennessee Board of Nursing in February 2018. Approval for the addition of the Nashville Learning Site was granted in November 2018. The Certificate program in Practical Nursing was approved by the Georgia Board of Nursing for the Atlanta Learning Site in May 2019 to begin the first class in June 2020. The Certificate program in Practical Nursing was approved by the Florida Board of Nursing for the Orlando Learning Site in November 2021. The Certificate program in Practical Nursing was approved by the Pennsylvania Board of Nursing for the Pittsburgh Learning Site in March 2023.

Programmatic Accreditation

The Bachelor of Science in Nursing, Master of Science in Nursing, Doctor of Nursing Practice, and Post-Graduate APRN Certificate programs offered at South College are accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education, 655 K Street NW, Suite 750, Washington, DC 20001, 202-887-6791 ( ). The South College DNP Nurse Anesthesia Program was granted initial accreditation by the Council on Accreditation of Nurse Anesthesia Educational Programs (COA) effective October 13, 2021. The address for COA is: 10275 W. Higgins Rd., Suite 906, Rosemont, IL 60018-5603, Phone number: 224-275-9130, website address: http://www.coacrna.org. Additionally, during the same October 2021 accreditation meeting, the COA granted the following two items for the South College DNP Nurse Anesthesia Program: (1) Approval of Distance Education Courses, and (2) Approval of Waiver of Graduate Degree Requirement.

Consumer Information

Amounts for tuition, fees, books, and supplies are subject to change. South College follows the required methodology provided by the Tennessee Higher Education Commission for the reporting of employment information for graduates. This information is compiled on an annual basis and submitted to the Commission by October 15 each year for graduates during the most recently completed reporting year (July 1-June 30). For more detailed information related to the calculation of graduate employment rates, please click here.

*The career options listed above are a small sample of potential job titles, and are not meant to be comprehensive. Students may or may not find employment in these positions. Job growth statistics are taken from the Bureau of Labor Statistics 2014–2024 projections. Note that the Bureau does not publish estimates for all job titles, so in some cases these numbers are an approximation based on similar job titles.

Success at South College

Amanda and Breanna Brown, A South College Success Story

The thing we like most about attending South College is the amazing instructors we have had who encourage us in school, help whenever needed, and always go the extra mile for their students. If we decide to further our degree we are going to come back to South College.

- Amanda and Breanna Brown, Associate of Science in Criminal Justice
Elizabeth Ferichs

One of the major reasons I chose South College was for the smaller class sizes. It allows more one-on-one time between students and professors, which enhances the learning experience for me.

- Elizabeth Frerichs, Bachelor of Science in Health Science
Adam Hatcher

I went to college originally straight out of high school with the intent of majoring in musical performance with a concentration in theoretical studies. I was not prepared to for college at that point, so I decided to gain some experience and maturity by joining the work force full-time. After working for 10 years, I felt it was time to try school again.

- Adam Hatcher, Bachelor of Business Administration
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