Report an accessibility problem

Advanced Nursing Practice (Women's Health Nurse Practitioner), DNP

Advanced Nursing Practice (Women's Health Nurse Practitioner), DNP

Academic programs / Graduate degrees / Advanced Nursing Practice (Women's Health Nurse Practitioner), DNP

Click to save to my favorites

Doctor, Doctor of Nursing Practice, Nurse, Practitioner, nursing

Program description
Degree awarded: DNP  Advanced Nursing Practice (Women's Health Nurse Practitioner)

The women's health nurse practitioner concentration of the DNP program is an advanced nursing practice degree. The program prepares graduates to provide holistic, client-centered primary care to women of any age from adolescence through older adulthood.

This is a hybrid program, which is a blend of in-person and online learning. Students are required to travel to campus for orientation once and for immersions two or three times per semester.

Core courses include pharmacology, advanced pathophysiology and advanced health assessment across the lifespan. Specialty courses focus on the assessment, screening, diagnosis and evidence-based management of common and complex gynecologic, sexual, reproductive, menopause-transition and post-menopause health care; uncomplicated and high-risk antepartum and postpartum care; as well as sexual and reproductive health care for men. Courses emphasize research and theories to provide the context essential to advanced nursing practice. These courses will focus on health promotion, risk assessment and disease prevention for women across the lifespan, taking into account factors that influence health care and health outcomes. Any deficiency courses determined by the student's specific gap analysis must have been completed within the past five years to be eligible for credit.

Focused clinical experiences are arranged for students residing in Maricopa County, Arizona. Students should expect to travel throughout Maricopa County and, in some cases, surrounding counties to complete their assigned clinical placement.

Students residing outside of Maricopa County, Arizona, are responsible for identifying the required number of clinical sites in their area of residence and for identifying preceptors and sites willing to accommodate clinical rotations, and Edson College of Nursing and Health Innovation must approve these sites before starting any clinical experience; the Doctor of Nursing Practice program office does not guarantee a clinical placement site for any student outside Maricopa County. If, during the program, faculty determine the student needs additional supervision for clinical progress in the program, the student must complete clinical experiences in the Phoenix area.

The Doctor of Nursing Practice program offers clinical rotations in health profession shortage areas throughout the state, both in urban underserved and rural areas, that provide students with multicultural experiences to enhance professional development.

As a participating National Council for State Authorization Reciprocity Agreements member, Arizona State University is authorized to offer distance education to persons located in individual state authorization reciprocity agreement member states in accordance with the council's established policies and standards. California is not a state authorization reciprocity agreement member and the California Bureau of Private Postsecondary Education does not regulate out-of-state public institutions offering online and in-person education from Arizona. ASU may offer educational activities in California. There are some exceptions for specific programs at Edson College of Nursing and Health Innovation; these exceptions are noted on the ASU state authorization website.

At a glance
Degree requirements

84 credit hours including the required applied project course (DNP 707)

Required Core (13 credit hours)
DNP 704 Principles of Evidence-Based Care in Advanced Practice (4)
DNP 705 Health Care Outcomes Management (3)
DNP 708 Systems Thinking in a Complex Health Care Environment (3)
DNP 709 Individual and Innovation Leadership in Health Care Practice (3)

Concentration (22 credit hours)
DNP 613 Women's Health Promotion I (3)
DNP 614 Women's Health Practicum I (3)
DNP 615 Management of Common Problems in Women's Health (3)
DNP 616 Advanced Women's Health Practicum II (5)
DNP 617 Management of Complex and Chronic Disease in Women (3)
DNP 618 Advanced Women's Health Practicum III (5)

Other Requirements (40 credit hours)
DNP 601 Theoretical Foundations for Advance Practice Nursing (3)
DNP 602 Evaluating Research for Practice (3)
DNP 604 Advanced Human Pathophysiology Across Lifespan (4)
DNP 605 Advanced Health Assessment Across Lifespan (3)
DNP 608 Applied Pharmacotherapeutics Across Lifespan (3)
DNP 609 Advanced Practice Nursing Role (1)
DNP 679 Biostatistics: Principals of Statistical Inference (3)
DNP 703 Innovation in Communication: Scholarly and Professional Writing (2)
DNP 711 Healthcare Policy and Innovation (3)
DNP 712 Clinical Residency and Management (12)
DNP 715 Dynamics and Principles of Information in Health Care (3)

Electives and Research (6 credit hours)

Culminating Experience (3 credit hours)
DNP 707 Disseminating Evidence to Advance Best Practice in Health Care and Health Policy (3)

Additional Curriculum Information
Completion of an evidence-based doctoral applied project focused on a clinical issue relevant to advanced practice nursing is required.

The American Nurses Credentialing Center has recommended a minimum of 1,000 postbaccalaureate practicum hours for all students completing a nurse practitioner doctoral program. This program includes 1,125 practicum hours, exceeding the ANCC requirement.

For electives or research, students should see the academic unit for the approved course list. Other coursework may be used with the approval of the academic unit.

When approved by the student's supervisory committee and the Graduate College, this program allows up to 30 credit hours from a previously awarded master's degree to be used for this program.

Other requirement coursework may be substituted with approval of the academic unit if the student is in an approved concurrent program.

Admission requirements

Applicants must fulfill the requirements of both the Graduate College and the Edson College of Nursing and Health Innovation.

Applicants are eligible to apply to the program if they have earned a bachelor's or master's degree in nursing from a nationally recognized, regionally accredited institution.

Applicants must have a minimum cumulative GPA of 3.00 (scale is 4.00 = "A") in the last 60 hours of their first bachelor's degree program, or a minimum cumulative GPA of 3.00 (scale is 4.00 = "A") in an applicable master's degree program.

All applicants must submit:

  1. graduate admission application and application fee
  2. official transcripts
  3. three professional letters of recommendation
  4. resume
  5. goal statement
  6. admission essay
  7. proof of English proficiency

Additional Application Information
An applicant whose native language is not English must provide proof of English proficiency regardless of their current residency per the Graduate College requirement and all requirements for the Commission on Graduates of Foreign Nursing Schools.

All students also are required to have an unencumbered Arizona RN license or an unencumbered compact state RN license as mandated by the Arizona State Board of Nursing. The RN license must remain unencumbered throughout enrollment in any nursing program.

An interview with program faculty is required.

One year of clinical experience working within the student's specialty population is preferred.

Health and safety requirements include passing disposition on a background clearance and satisfactory completion of a substance screen.

An admission examination is not required.

Tuition information
When it comes to paying for higher education, everyone’s situation is different. Students can learn about ASU tuition and financial aid options to find out which will work best for them.
Application deadlines
SessionModalityDeadlineType
Session A/CIn Person 12/15Priority
Career opportunities

The Edson College of Nursing and Health Innovation prepares graduates for excellence upon entering the workplace. Graduates of the women's health nurse practitioner program have the knowledge and training they need in order to provide health care to patients across the lifespan in a wide variety of settings. The broad base of comprehension and clinical expertise enables graduates to effectively participate and lead within clinical, community and academic arenas.

Career examples include:

  • business owner
  • community advocate
  • nurse practitioner
  • professor
Professional licensure

ASU programs that may lead to professional licensure or certification are intended to prepare students for potential licensure or certification in Arizona. Completion of an ASU program may not meet educational requirements for licensure or certification in another state. For more information, students should visit the ASU professional licensure webpage.

Contact information
What are accelerated programs?
Accelerated programs allow students the opportunity to expedite the completion of their degree.

3 year programs

These programs allow students to fast-track their studies after admission and earn a bachelor's degree in three years or fewer while participating in the same high-quality educational experience of a 4-year option. Students should talk to their academic advisor to get started.

Accelerated master's

These programs allow students to accelerate their studies to earn a bachelor's plus a master's degree in as few as five years (for some programs).

Each program has requirements students must meet to be eligible for consideration. Acceptance to the graduate program requires a separate application. Students typically receive approval to pursue the accelerated master’s during the junior year of their bachelor's degree program. Interested students can learn about eligibility requirements and how to apply.
What are concurrent programs?
Concurrent degrees allow students to pursue their own personal or professional interests, earn two distinct degrees and receive two diplomas. To add a concurrent degree to your existing degree, work with your academic advisor.
What are joint programs?
Joint programs, or jointly conferred degrees, are offered by more than one college and provide opportunities for students to take advantage of the academic strengths of two academic units. Upon graduation, students are awarded one degree and one diploma conferred by two colleges.

What constitutes a new program?
ASU adds new programs to Degree Search frequently. Come back often and look for the “New Programs” option.
What are online programs?
ASU Online offers programs in an entirely online format with multiple enrollment sessions throughout the year. See https://asuonline.asu.edu/ for more information.
What is WRGP (Western Regional Graduate Program)?
The Western Regional Graduate Program (WRGP) provides a reduced tuition rate to non-resident graduate students who qualify. Visit the WRGP/WICHE webpage for more information: https://graduate.asu.edu/wiche.

click back to top