Tennessee Tech University/ETSU Joint BSN to DNP Nurse Practitioner Programs
The Whitson-Hester School of Nursing through Tennessee Tech University and the College of Nursing at East Tennessee State University (ETSU) offer an online Doctor of Nursing Practice with five specializations: Family Nurse Practitioner (NP), Adult-Gerontology Acute Care NP, Pediatric Primary Care NP, Psychiatric/Mental Health NP, and Women’s Health Care NP. This joint program is called the ETSU-TTU DNP program and students may apply to either university as their home school. Because it is a joint program, students have the opportunity to work with faculty from both universities, including face-to-face support, peer collaboration, and networking.
The BSN to DNP is a blended program in which most coursework is online. Clinical preceptorships are completed at approved sites local to the student and DNP students come to the ETSU or TTU campuses two to three times per year for one-week intensives throughout the program. These intensives typically take place once in the Fall, Spring, and Summer. The DNP program is offered both part-time and full-time for maximum flexibility. Full-time programs can be completed in about three years while part-time study takes about five years.
Clinical preceptorship placement is currently approved in Tennessee, North Carolina, and Virginia. Placements outside these states are approved on a case by case basis. The TTU School of nursing cannot guarantee licensure eligibility outside the state of Tennessee, and it is the student’s responsibility to verify eligibility and gain approval for study outside of Tennessee.
DNP program objectives cover knowledge, skills, and values in the following areas:
- Translation of research into evidence-based practice through information technology
- Health care policy implementation
- Integration of scientific research, theory, and knowledge for NP application
- Leadership
- Health care management, planning, and delivery
The ETSU/TTU DNP program seeks to prepare graduates to serve in leadership and management positions in a variety of health care settings including, rural, urban, and underserved populations. Graduates may work in primary care clinics, hospitals, private practice, rehabilitation facilities, counseling centers, emergency care and acute care settings, long-term care facilities, schools, government facilities, and research organizations. Upon completion of the program, graduates will be eligible to take their respective nurse practitioner certification exams through the American Association of Nurse Practitioners (AANP), the American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC), or the Pediatric Nursing Certification Board (PNCB).
Tennessee Tech University and East Tennessee State University are accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC). The BSN to DNP program is accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE). TTU is located in Cookeville, TN. ETSU is located in Johnson City, TN.
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What to Expect from the Tennessee Tech University/ETSU Joint BSN to DNP Program
Admission Requirements: BSN to DNP applicants must have earned a bachelor of science in nursing degree with a cumulative GPA of 3.0 or higher. All applicants must hold an unencumbered RN license in their state of residence. Applicants whose cumulative GPA is less than 3.2 must take and submit results from the GRE. Two years of full-time nursing experience is required.
Application materials include an application to the chosen home school, application fee, official transcripts, proof of RN licensure, a current resume or CV, a cover letter expressing personal goals for doctoral study, three letters of recommendation with specific parameters, and a written essay. Students whose first language is not English must submit TOEFL test scores. All applicants will take part in an interview and complete a writing sample through the Joint DNP Admissions Committee.
State Restrictions: Although TTU and ETSU accept students from most NC-SARA approved states, there are some restrictions, especially when it comes to completing clinicals. Currently, only Tennessee, Virginia, and North Carolina are approved states for clinical placement and the universities cannot guarantee licensure eligibility outside these states. All other eligible states must be approved on an individual basis.
In addition, due to state restrictions, the ETSU-TTU DNP program does not accept students from the following states: California, Florida, Kentucky, Massachusetts, Nebraska, New York, Oregon, and Washington. It is the responsibility of the student to verify eligibility for study and licensure with the Whitson-Hester School of Nursing as well as their State Board of Nursing.
Concerning tuition, TTU in-state tuition applies to residents of Tennessee as well as the following six counties in Kentucky: Clinton, Cumberland, McCreary, Monroe, Wayne, and Whitley. All other students pay non-resident tuition.
ETSU in-state tuition applies to residents of Tennessee as well as the following counties in North Carolina: Ashe, Avery, Haywood, Madison, Mitchell, Watauga, and Yancey; and Virginia: Grayson, Lee, Scott, and Washington.
Study Plan: The BSN to DNP specializations are offered both part-time and full-time. Students can begin in the Fall or Spring. Full-time students can complete the DNP in three years including summers, while part-time students take about five years. Students have up to seven years to complete the DNP. In order to continue through the program, students must earn a GPA of 3.0 or higher on all graduate work and as a cumulative grade in the program.
While most coursework is online, DNP students come to campus two to three times per year for one-week intensives. Clinical preceptorships are completed at approved sites local to the student taking into account that only Tennessee, Virginia, and North Carolina are currently approved for clinicals.
BSN to DNP Curriculum: The BSN to DNP core courses for all NP specializations include Nursing Research for Evidence-Based Practice; Conceptual Systems for Advanced Nursing Practice; Advanced Role Development; Advanced Pathophysiology; Advanced Clinical Pharmacology; Health Assessment Throughout the Lifespan and Practicum; Scholarly Writing; Principles of Population Health and Data Analysis for Advanced Nursing Practice; Health Policy Leadership; Systems Management; and Quality/Translation.
DNP project courses for all specializations include Residency: DNP Project Identification; DNP Project Development; DNP Project Implementation; and DNP Project Analysis and Dissemination.
- FNP Specialization: The FNP specialization comprises a total of 83 credits to completion plus 1,040 clinical hours. Specialty courses may include Health Promotion, Diagnosis, Treatment, and Clinical Management: Nurse Practitioner I-II, plus Practicum I; Health Promotion, Diagnosis, and Clinical Management of Older Adults Practicum; Lifespan Assessment and Clinical Management: Women’s Health plus Practicum; Health Promotion and Clinical Management of Children and Adolescents plus Practicum; Improving Mental Health Outcomes in Primary Care; Advanced Nursing of Rural/Underserved Populations; and Advanced Intervention DNP Practice.
- PMHNP Specialization: The PMHNP specialization comprises a total of 80 credits to completion plus 1,040 clinical hours. Specialty courses may include Psychopharmacology; Advanced Family Psychiatric Nursing Care I-II plus Practicum I-II; Interpersonal Treatment Modalities for Advanced Practice Nursing plus Practicum; Neurobiology Psychiatric Disorder; Mental Health Care Delivery Systems; and Internship in Advanced Nursing Practice.
- WHNP Specialization: The WHNP specialization comprises a total of 84 credits to completion plus 1,100 clinical hours. Specialty courses may include Pharmacology for Women’s Health; Women’s Health for Advanced Practice I: Gynecology plus Practicum; Women’s Health for Advanced Practice II: Obstetrics plus Practicum; Advanced Nursing Care of the Older Woman; Issues in Reproductive Health; Complex Issues in Women’s Health; Women’s Health for Advanced Practice Practicum III; Primary Care in Women’s Health; Development of DNP Practice in Women’s Health; Advanced Nursing Care of the Vulnerable Woman; Interventions for Women’s Health; and Integrative Approaches to Women’s Health.
- AGACNP Specialization: The AGACNP specialization comprises a total of 84 credits to completion plus 1,060 clinical hours. Specialty courses may include Strategic Planning for Healthcare Organizations; Advanced Pathophysiology and Clinical Reasoning for Acute Disease Management I-II; Acute Care and Pharmacotherapeutics; Diagnostic Interpretation and Therapeutic Modalities plus Practicum; Advanced Wound Care; Advanced Concepts in Pathophysiology; Integrative Application of Advanced Practice Skills; and Internship and Acute Care Nurse Practitioner Practice.
- PNP-PC Specialization: The PNP-PC specialization comprises a total of 89 credits to completion plus 1,000 clinical hours. Specialty courses may include Pediatric Variations on Health Assessment and Measurement; Health Promotion of the Growing Child; Pediatric Pharmacotherapeutics; Pediatric Primary Care I: Well Child; Pediatric Primary Care II: Episodic and Minor Acute Illness; Pediatric Primary Care IIi: Chronic Illness, Disability, and Complex Conditions; Contemporary Issues in School-Age and Adolescent Healthcare; The Abused or Neglected Child; Pediatric Behavioral and Mental Health Issues; Pediatric Health Care Delivery Systems; Advanced Family System Assessment and Evaluation; Epidemiology of At-Risk Families: Urban, Rural, and Underserved Populations; and Advanced Practice Nursing: Pediatric Primary Care Practicum I-III. PNP-PC students may also choose an optional elective from the courses Genetic Influences on Child and Family Health; Pediatric Palliative Care; and Provision of School-Based Health Care.
Online Experience: Both ETSU and TTU utilize iLearn through D2L Brightspace as their online Learning Management System (LMS). Through iLearn, students are able to access syllabi, course materials, assignments, assessments, discussion boards, email, grades, course-related activities, and any necessary programs and technology related to the online learning environment.
Online students at both universities have access to a counseling center, disability services, student organizations, libraries, the Sigma Theta Tau Honor Society of Nursing, student health services, academic advising, faculty support, career counseling, and technical support. In addition, TTU’s Writing Excellence Studio @ Tech is available to help students with private writing consultations as well as writing programs. ETSU offers additional student services through the Center for Academic Achievement and the ETSU School of Graduate Studies’ Boot Camps which provide free tutoring, writing, and speech help services.
On-Site Requirements: DNP students come to the TTU campus in Cookeville, TN, or the ETSU campus in Johnson City, TN for one-week intensives two to three times per year. These typically take place once in the Fall, Spring, and Summer. Practice laboratories are located at both universities where students can practice nursing skills during their intensives. All other coursework is online and students complete clinicals in approved states. Students may visit campus any time as well as participate in graduation ceremonies on campus.
Paying for Tennessee Tech University/ETSU Joint BSN to DNP Program
Tennessee Tech University charges $739 per credit plus fees for residents of Tennessee and approved counties in Kentucky as listed above. Non-residents pay $879 per credit plus fees.
East Tennessee State University charges $610 per credit plus fees for residents of Tennessee and approved counties in North Carolina and Virginia as listed above. Non-residents pay the Online Out-of-State eRate of $841 per credit plus fees. Some fees are capped after a certain number of credits.
Prospective students should contact their respective home school nursing department or admissions department for current tuition information as costs typically change from year to year.
Both universities offer federal Stafford loans and Graduate PLUS Loans according to the FAFSA. As well, scholarships, grants, and other aid may be available. Prospective students should inquire with the financial aid office through their respective home schools. Finally, online DNP students may have the option of employer tuition reimbursement programs, tuition discounts, and organizational or community scholarships and grants.
Offered as a joint program between TTU and ETSU, the BSN to DNP offers collaboration and networking with faculty from two universities, mostly online coursework, 6-9 one-week campus intensives, and local preceptorships.
BSN to DNP – Adult-Gerontology Acute Care NP
BSN to DNP – Family Nurse Practitioner
BSN to DNP – Pediatric Primary Care NP
BSN to DNP – Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner
BSN to DNP – Women's Health Nurse Practitioner
1 William L Jones Dr
Cookeville, Tennessee 38505
Program Essentials
DNP – Doctor of Nursing Practice
AGNP – Adult-Gerontology Nurse Practitioner
Fall, Spring
No
6
84
1,060
CCNE – Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education
Program Admissions
BSN – Bachelor of Science in Nursing
Yes (if GPA <3.2)
3.0 or higher
CA, CT, DE, FL, HI, KY, MA, NJ, NY, NC, PA, SC, UT, WI
Program Tuition
84
$765.00
$64,260.00
$905.00
$76,020.00
Program Essentials
DNP – Doctor of Nursing Practice
FNP – Family Nurse Practitioner
Fall, Spring
No
6
83
1,040
CCNE – Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education
Program Admissions
BSN – Bachelor of Science in Nursing
Yes (if GPA <3.2)
3.0 or higher
CA, CT, DE, FL, HI, KY, MA, NJ, NY, NC, PA, SC, UT, WI
Program Tuition
83
$765.00
$63,495.00
$905.00
$75,115.00
Program Essentials
DNP – Doctor of Nursing Practice
PNP – Pediatric Nurse Practitioner
Fall, Spring
No
6
89
1,000
CCNE – Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education
Program Admissions
BSN – Bachelor of Science in Nursing
Yes (if GPA <3.2)
3.0 or higher
CA, FL, HI, KY, MA, NJ, NY, NC, PA, SC, UT, WI
Program Tuition
89
$765.00
$68,085.00
$905.00
$80,545.00
Program Essentials
DNP – Doctor of Nursing Practice
PMHNP – Psychiatric-Mental Health Nurse Practitioner
Fall, Spring
No
6
80
1,040
CCNE – Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education
Program Admissions
BSN – Bachelor of Science in Nursing
Yes (if GPA <3.2)
3.0 or higher
CA, CT, DE, FL, HI, KY, MA, NJ, NY, NC, PA, SC, UT, WI
Program Tuition
80
$765.00
$61,200.00
$905.00
$72,400.00
Program Essentials
DNP – Doctor of Nursing Practice
WHNP – Women's Health Nurse Practitioner
Fall, Spring
No
6
84
1,100
CCNE – Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education
Program Admissions
BSN – Bachelor of Science in Nursing
Yes (if GPA <3.2)
3.0 or higher
CA, CT, DE, FL, HI, KY, MA, NJ, NY, NC, PA, SC, UT, WI
Program Tuition
84
$765.00
$64,260.00
$905.00
$76,020.00
Tuition is calculated based on credits, at the published tuition rate. Rates may change, so please check here for the latest tuition information. For programs with variable tuition rates, we use the rates for part-time students. “Resident” and “non-resident” refer to the student’s school-recognized state residency status. Tuition number represents the cost of tuition for the entire program, not per semester or year. Estimated total tuition does not include additional fees.
Sara Navratil
WriterSara Navratil is a freelance writer and a Certified Canfield Success Principles Trainer. She’s the owner of Sara Liza Life, a company dedicated to helping people rewrite their lives. She enjoys researching and writing about healthcare-related topics, including information on online NP programs. When not working she likes to read, bake, and spend time with her family.