Doctor of Nursing Practice

All DNP program applicants are admitted on a rolling basis throughout the year. One cohort will be accepted annually for a Fall/August start.

• The Post-MSN DNP application deadline is June 15.

• The Post-BSN DNP application deadline for our CNS and NP tracks is May 15.

• The Post-BSN DNP application deadline for our CRNA track is December 1 of the year prior.

  • Interviews for the CRNA program will begin February 1 and continue until the cohort is filled.

Our events calendar houses all our academic calendar. Simply use the Academic Calendar and Semester filters to see important upcoming dates.

DNP Academic Calendar

The Healthcare Simulation Center is a state-of-the-art training facility where students gain hands-on experience with life-like manikins, standardized patients, and advanced medical equipment. It’s designed to help you build clinical skills and confidence before entering real healthcare settings.

Learn more about the Healthcare Simulation Center.

To apply to the DNP Executive Leadership or Clinical Leadership tracks, you must have:

• A baccalaureate degree in nursing from an NLN-CNEA, ACEN, or CCNE accredited institution.
• Master of Science in nursing (MSN) degree from an NLN-CNEA, ACEN, or CCNE accredited institution with a cumulative GPA of 3.3 or higher on a 4.0 scale.
  • Executive Leadership track requires that this be in one of five concentrations: Health Administration, Health Policy, Clinical Informatics, Clinical Leadership/Clinical Nurse Leader, or Public Health.
• Completion of a master's level statistics course with a grade of "B" or better within the last 5 years.
• Current licensure as a registered nurse in the United States.
• Evidence of the equivalent of 12 months of full-time nursing practice within the last three years.

Additional Executive Leadership track requirements

• National certification strongly recommended but not required.

Additional Clinical Leadership track requirements

• National certification as an advanced practice nurse (NP, CNS, CNM, CRNA).
• Evidence of a minimum of 500 precepted/supervised clinical practicum hours during the applicant’s advanced practice program.

Upon acceptance, the Director of the DNP Program will perform a gap analysis of all post-Master’s applicant transcripts to determine the amount of hours of practice post-baccalaureate is required in order to achieve the DNP competencies.

The DeSales DNP Program will provide up to 1,000 hours of practice post-baccalaureate as part of a supervised academic program that aligns with the corresponding DNP Essential(s) and to verify that standards specific to advanced practice have been met.

New graduates of the Clinical Leadership track are expected to obtain APN certification and an APN position within the first six months of program matriculation.

To apply to the BSN-DNP Nurse Practitioner or CNS tracks, you must have:

• Baccalaureate degree in nursing from an NLN-CNEA, ACEN, or CCNE accredited institution with a cumulative GPA of 3.0 or higher on a 4.0 scale.
• Students admitted to BSN-DNP programs shall be currently licensed as a registered nurse (RN) or, if enrolled in an RN to Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) or RN to Nursing Doctorate (ND) program, shall complete all competencies for undergraduate requirements prior to taking graduate courses.
  • New graduates are expected to obtain RN licensure within the first semester of program matriculation.
  • New graduates are expected to obtain a RN position within the first semester of program matriculation-specific to track option selected.
  • Pennsylvania, New Jersey, and Delaware RN licensures are also required prior to beginning the clinical sequence for all BSN-DNP track specialty curriculum.
• Completion of an undergraduate health assessment course with a grade of “C” or higher.
• Current Healthcare Provider CPR or ACLS certification.
• For the Family/Individual Across the Lifespan NP track
  • 24 months of care in the adult population prior to entering the clinical sequence.
• For the Adult-Gerontology Acute Care NP track
  • evidence of 24 months of adult acute care / ICU specialty area (i.e. medical/surgical ICU, trauma ICU, neuro/neurosurgical ICU, cardiac ICU, open heart unit, burn unit) experience prior to entering the clinical sequence.
• For the Psychiatric/Mental Health NP track
  • evidence of 24 months of psych mental health experience prior to entering the clinical sequence.
• For the Adult-Gerontology Clinical Nurse Specialist track
  • evidence of 24 months of adult gerontology RN experience prior to entering the clinical sequence.

We're so glad you are interested in applying for the BSN-DNP program at DeSales. One cohort will be accepted annually for a Fall/August start. The deadline to apply for Fall semester is May 15.

As part of the application process, we ask that you carefully review these guidelines prior to applying. Please feel free to contact us with any questions.

Application Requirements

1. Official transcripts from all undergraduate and graduate schools attended (when applicable).
   • Electronic official transcripts can be sent to gradadmissions@desales.edu
   • Paper official transcripts can be mailed to:
     DeSales University Admissions Office
     ATTN: Graduate Programs
     2755 Station Ave.
     Center Valley, PA 1803
   • All transcripts from any degree-granting institution outside the United States must be evaluated by a NACES-approved evaluation service, such as World Education Services, Inc., with the resulting report submitted directly to the Division of Nursing.  Visit  www.naces.org for more information. DeSales University’s institutional reporting code is 002021.

• Current RN license and other national certifications as applicable
  New graduates are expected to obtain RN licensure within the first semester.
  New graduates are expected to obtain an RN position within the first semester of program matriculation.
• Résumé or curriculum vitae
• DNP Vision Statement & Inquiry Question
  The Vision Statement is a 500–750-word description of the applicant’s future intentions and goals upon completion of a particular BSN-DNP NP track as a DNP graduate. The Vision Statement should clearly express the applicant’s reasons for applying to DeSales University’s DNP Program, the applicant’s professional and leadership goals, and how participation in DeSales University’s DNP Program will aid in achieving those goals. Additionally, the applicant should submit an Inquiry Question that identifies a question of clinical interest or a practice problem that will serve as the clinical inquiry topic for the final DNP Scholarly Project (SP).  The scope of the DNP SP should be large enough to result in a system-wide change at the organizational, regional, or national level; a new or revised state health policy; or the establishment of a significant new health service for a population or geographic region. The purpose of the Inquiry Question is to demonstrate the applicant’s insight into the topic of scientific inquiry so faculty can evaluate written communication and research skills.  The appropriate length of the combined Vision Statement and Inquiry Question should be between 3-5 pages.
• Applicants for whom English is a second language must submit scores for the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) taken within the past two years. Visit www.ets.org for more information. DeSales University’s institutional reporting code is 2021.

A $500 non-refundable deposit is due by June 15 in order to maintain the student’s offer of admission to that cohort. Students who have not deposited by June 15 will be considered to have withdrawn their application, and a student from the waiting list will be offered their seat. All waitlisted students will receive communication by June 30 as to whether or not a seat is available for them.

The admission process and requirements are rigorous; demonstrating minimum admission requirements does not guarantee acceptance into the DNP Program. Applicants selected for potential admission are required to have an interview before a final admission decision is rendered. Interviews will be conducted in person or via Zoom and will only be scheduled once all application materials have been received.

DeSales, in partnership with St. Luke's University Health Network, is excited to introduce a new program in Nurse Anesthesia, beginning Fall 2025, designed to prepare you for a critical role in healthcare.

*The program received accreditation in 2025 from the Council on Accreditation of Nurse Anesthesia Educational Programs (COA). The next scheduled review will be in 2030.

Graduates of accredited programs are eligible to take the National Certification Exam (NCE) administered by the National Board of Certification and Recertification for Nurse Anesthetists (NBCRNA) to be certified in every state as a Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetist (CRNA).

Council on Accreditation of Nurse Anesthesia Educational Programs (COA)
10275 W. Higgins, Suite 906
Rosemont, IL  60018
Phone: 224-275-9130
Email: accreditation@coacrna.org
www.coacrna.org

One cohort will be accepted annually for a Fall/August start. The deadline to apply for the CRNA track is December 1 of the year prior. Interviews will begin February 1 and continue until the cohort is filled.

To apply to the SLUHN/DSU Nurse Anesthesia program, you must have:

• A minimum of 1 year (preferably 2 years) of full-time ICU/critical care experience.
• ACLS/BLS/PALS certification.
• Documentation of 15 hours of shadowing within one year of application submission - use CRNA Shadow Form provided by DeSales University.
• Letters of recommendation (Three total)
  
  • Nurse Manager, Nursing Supervisor, or Unit Charge Nurse
  • Physician
  • Secondary Supervisor
• DNP Vision Statement
  • The DNP vision statement is a 250–500 word description of the applicant’s future intentions and goals upon completion of a particular BSN-DNP track as a DNP graduate. The statement should clearly express the applicant’s reasons for applying to the SLUHN/DSU Nurse Anesthesia track and future professional and leadership goals as a doctorally-prepared Advanced Practice Registered Nurse.

Application Requirements

1. Official transcripts from all undergraduate and graduate schools attended (when applicable).
   1. Electronic official transcripts can be sent to: gradadmissions@desales.edu
   2. Paper official transcripts can be mailed to:
      DeSales University Admissions Office
      ATTN: Graduate Programs
      2755 Station Ave.
      Center Valley, PA 1803
   3. All transcripts from any degree-granting institution outside the United States must be evaluated by a NACES-approved evaluation service, such as World Education Services, Inc., with the resulting report submitted directly to the Division of Nursing. 
      Visit  www.naces.org for more information. DeSales University’s institutional reporting code is 002021.
2. Current RN license and other national certifications as applicable
3. Résumé or curriculum vitae
4. Documentation of 15 hours of shadowing and submission of CRNA Shadow Form provided by DeSales University.
5. Letters of recommendation (Three total)
   1. Nurse Manager, Nursing Supervisor, or Unit Charge Nurse
   2. Physician
   3. Secondary Supervisor
6. DNP Vision Statement
   The DNP Vision Statement is a 250 – 500 word description of the applicant’s future intentions and goals upon completion of a particular BSN-DNP track as a DNP graduate. The Statement should clearly express the applicant’s reasons for applying to the SLUHN/DSU Nurse Anesthesia track and future professional and leadership goals as a doctorally-prepared Advanced Practice Registered Nurse.

*For applicants who do not meet the minimum GPA requirement, completion of the GRE or MAT will be required to be considered for admission to the program

*International applicants (regardless of citizenship) for whom English is a second language must submit English proficiency test scores (TOEFL, iBT, IELTS, or CAE) as part of their application. An official copy of test results must be sent by the testing agency directly to the Division of Nursing at DeSales University, 2755 Station Avenue, Center Valley, PA 18034. Visit the following websites for up-to-date information:

• The Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL)
• The International English Language Testing System (IELTS)
• The Cambridge English Proficiency (CPE)

All exams must have been taken within two years of application to a DeSales program.

A $2000.00 non-refundable deposit is due 2-weeks from date of acceptance to maintain the student’s offer of admission to that cohort. Students who have not deposited within that timeframe will be considered to have withdrawn their application, and a student from the waiting list will be offered their seat. All waitlisted students will receive communication 1-month from decision and leading up until start of program as to whether or not a seat is available. The deadline to apply for the CRNA track is December 1 of the year prior. One cohort will be accepted annually for a Fall/August start. Interviews will begin February 1 and continue until the cohort is filled.

The admission process and requirements are rigorous; demonstrating minimum admission requirements does not guarantee acceptance into the DNP Program. Applicants selected for potential admission are required to have an interview before a final admission decision is rendered. Interviews will be conducted in person and will only be scheduled once all application materials have been received.

• Electronic official transcripts can be sent to: 
  gradadmissions@desales.edu
• Paper official transcripts can be mailed to:
  DeSales University Admissions Office
  ATTN: Graduate Programs
  2755 Station Ave.
  Center Valley, PA 18034
• All transcripts from any degree-granting institution outside the United States must be evaluated by a NACES-approved evaluation service, such as World Education Services, Inc., with the resulting report submitted directly to the Division of Nursing. Visit www.naces.org for more information. DeSales University’s institutional reporting code is 002021.

Upon completion of Year 3 of the BSN-DNP curriculum, students are eligible to take the specialty track specific Certification Examination” offered by the American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC). The required 60-hour advanced pharmacology course exceeds the minimum 45 hours required for prescriptive authority in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania.

International applicants must contact Leslie Bartholomew, Designated School Official, at 610-282-1100, ext. 1859 or Leslie.Bartholomew@desales.edu to inquire about international admission requirements.

Applicants for whom English is a second language must submit English proficiency test scores (TOEFL, iBT, IELTS, or CAE) as part of their application. An official copy of test results must be sent by the testing agency directly to the Division of Nursing at DeSales University, 2755 Station Avenue, Center Valley, PA 18034. Visit the following websites for up-to-date information:

• The Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL)
• The International English Language Testing System (IELTS)
• The Cambridge English Proficiency (CPE)

* All exams must have been taken within two years of application to a DeSales program.

DeSales University accepts students from most states, however, applicants outside of Pennsyvania should check with the School of Nursing to confirm eligibility.

This information is not relevant to the CRNA track applicants.

DeSales University cannot admit students from the following states at this time: Alabama, Colorado, Louisiana, Missouri, Nebraska, North Dakota, North Carolina, South Dakota, and Wyoming.

In addition, residents of New York may be admitted, however, they may not complete clinical preceptorships in the state of New York. Prospective students should contact the licensing board of their specific state of residence to determine if the program meets state requirements for NP licensure.

As a DNP student, you are expected to have your own laptop computer and are responsible for the maintenance of your personal hardware. However, DeSales provides support for required DeSales software and networking systems as well as free instructional workshops and support to help you get the most out of your learning experience.