DNP in Systems Leadership

You will learn:

• Systems thinking principles and concepts
• Resource management in health care
• Quality improvement principles and practices
• Health care policy and advocacy
• Health care economics and finance
• Decision-making tools and processes

You will be able to: 

• Analyze trends, issues, and evidence in health care and health care systems
• Integrate the best evidence and patient preferences into the development, delivery, and evaluation of care at the highest level of nursing practice
• Provide leadership in advanced nursing practice
• Foster and maintain team partnerships in collaborative health care environments

Loyola Nursing is committed to preparing nurse leaders that value:

• The hallmark characteristics of a Jesuit education:
  • Commitment to excellence
  • Faith in God
  • Service that promotes justice
  • Values-based leadership
  • Global awareness

• Ethical and moral judgement
• Eliminating health disparities
• Promoting patient safety and excellence in nursing practice
• Engaging in leadership activities through intra- and inter-professional collaboration
• Ensuring equity in health policy
• Accountability to patients, society, and the profession

Semester hours: 30
Average completion time: Two to three years

Schedule: 

• Year 1: Fall
• Leadership and Roles in Advanced Nursing Practice (3 semester hours)
• Population Focused Health (3 semester hours)
• Year 1: Spring
• Evidence Translation for Advanced Clinical Practice (3 semester hours)
• Statistics for Health and Biological Sciences (3 semester hours)
• Year 1: Summer
• Elective (3 semester hours)
• DNP Practicum (1 semester hour)
• Year 2: Fall
• DNP Practicum (2 semester hours)
• Social Justice and Ethics in Health Care (3 semester hours)
• DNP Project (1 semester hour)
• Year 2: Spring
• DNP Practicum (2 semester hours)
• DNP Project (1 semester hour)
• Health Care Policy and Economics
• Year 2: Summer
• DNP Project (1 semester hour)
• DNP Practicum (1 semester hour)

*This plan assumes the student needs only seven credit hours of practicum to complete the required 1,000 hours post-baccalaureate degree. 

The online program includes two required immersion weekends for integrated learning and collaboration with classmates and faculty.  The weekends occur once a year during the last two years of the program at Loyola's Health Sciences Campus. 

Students are required to complete a final DNP project which must focus on translating evidence to practice, practice change, or health policy change.