Doctor of Nursing Practice in the Field of Health Policy

The doctor of nursing practice (DNP) in health policy is designed for those who wish to possess the tools to empower them to advance meaningful change in an increasingly complex healthcare system. Students in the program gain in-depth knowledge of the legislative, regulatory, and judicial processes that shape health policy. They also deepen their understanding of the economic forces, research evidence, and political developments that directly affect health care and the nursing profession; develop new perspectives on effective advocacy; and learn about the roles of nurses and other health professionals in improving access and advancing the health of patients, families and populations.

This distance-based program combines academic study with hands-on experience in addressing real-world policy issues. Graduates of the DNP in health policy program can apply their policy expertise in any number of ways, from advancing within their current institutions/practice to roles such as working for government agencies, legislative offices, research organizations, consumer groups, or professional associations as policy analysts, advocates, or consultants.

The GW School of Nursing is known for its focus on health policy and its faculty include respected leadership in the field. The school also houses the GW Center for Health Policy and Media Engagement. Located in the nation’s capital, GW Nursing's proximity to federal agencies, Congress, national healthcare associations, and other policy-makers provides an “only at GW” experience and a unique opportunity to prepare for a career in health policy.

Visit the GW Nursing website for additional information.

Adminssion Requirements

Article	Requirement
Admission deadline:	Fall - Priority: December 1 | Final: May 15
Recommendations required:	Two letters of recommendation
Prior academic records	Official transcripts from all post-secondary schools attended
Statement of Purpose:	Compose a 500-750 word essays describing your reasons for pursuing a DNP at The George Washington University, your academic objectives, career goals, and related qualifications (including any relevant collegiate, professional, and/or community activities). You should include a general idea for your DNP project. Your vision for your post-DNP contributions to advance the nursing profession through scholarship and evidence-based practice must be emphasized in the statement.  Also, briefly describe your professional nursing practice and indicate any current or previous leadership roles.
Prerequisites	Graduate-level inferential statistics course taken within the past five years* *NURS 6208: Biostatistics for Health Care Research (3) is offered in the spring and summer for those who have not met this requirement
Additional Requirements:	Bachelor of Science in Nursing from a regionally accredited college or university Master's degree in Nursing, or a relevant field such as an MBA, MPA or MPH, from a regionally accredited college or university Minimum cumulative GPA of at least 3.0 on a 4.0 scale Active and unencumbered RN license from a U.S. state or territory Current resume
International Requirements:	TOEFL is: Internet-based test: 100 or higher Paper test: 600 or higher The minimum required score for the IELTS is: An overall band score of 7.0 Individual band scores of 6.0 or higher

Supporting documents not submitted online should be mailed to:
Office of Admissions
45085 University Drive, Suite 201-T
Ashburn, VA 20147

Contact for questions:
nursing@gwu.edu ~ 571-553-0138 (phone)
https://nursing.gwu.edu/admissions-aid
9:00 am – 5:00 pm, Monday through Friday

The following requirements must be fulfilled: 39 credits in required courses.

All DNP students are expected to complete a minimum of 1,000 post-baccalaureate practice hours as part of their academic program. Most advanced practice RN students will already have completed 500 hours in their master of science in nursing (MSN) program and the remaining 500 hours are included in the curriculum requirements for the DNP.

Course List

Code	Title	Credits
Required
NURS 8400	Epidemiology and Population Health
NURS 8401	Organizational Concepts in Nursing
NURS 8402	Knowledge Management in Nursing
NURS 8403	Translating Research into Practice
NURS 8405	Healthcare Quality Improvement
NURS 8417	Health Policy and Analysis
NURS 8418	Healthcare Economics, Finance, and Reimbursement
NURS 8420	The Health Policy Process
NURS 8421	The Legislative and Judicial Processes and Health Policy
NURS 8423	The Regulatory Process and Health Policy
NURS 8490	DNP Project Planning
NURS 8491	DNP Project Implementation
NURS 8492	DNP Project Evaluation and Dissemination