Prepare for the highest level of specialized nursing practice, where you will translate evidence into practice, improve systems of care and measure health outcomes in diverse settings. Graduate uniquely qualified to collaborate with leaders in healthcare to improve the quality of care.
Why Get a DNP as a Clinical Nurse Leader?
UNH’s online Post-Baccalaureate Clinical Nurse Leader Doctor of Nursing Practice (PB CNL DNP) program prepares nurses for the highest level of specialized nursing practice. Graduates are innovative leaders prepared to translate evidence into practice, improve systems of care and measure health outcomes in diverse settings. Graduates are uniquely qualified to collaborate with leaders in healthcare to improve the quality of care.
Why Choose UNH's Clinical Nurse Leader DNP Program?
Benefit from UNH’s long history of leadership in the classroom and in the field of nursing. This unique program is geared towards the student who wants to specialize in quality improvement by achieving a terminal degree in nursing. Graduates are eligible for CNL certification, which addresses three areas:
- Nursing leadership with a focus on health care advocacy
- Clinical outcomes management with attention to benchmarks and quality metrics
- Care environment management to ensure that where they receive care is optimized through continual quality improvement
Potential Careers
- Director of Quality Improvement
- Chief of Quality Management
- Quality Management Specialist
- Chief Executive Officer
- Chief Nursing Officer
- Clinical Nurse Manager
- Clinical Nursing Faculty
- Director of Nursing
- Director of Outpatient Services
- Director of Quality & Safety
- Healthcare Innovation Officer
From the CHHS Blog
Curriculum & Requirements
New Online Program Approved for Academic Catalog Year 2024/2025.
Nursing: Clinical Nurse Leader (D.N.P.)
The online Post-Baccalaureate Clinical Nurse Leader Doctor of Nursing Practice (PB CNL DNP) program prepares nurses for the highest level of specialized nursing practice. Students are prepared for innovative leadership where they will translate evidence into practice, improve systems of care and measure health outcomes in diverse settings. Students are required to plan, implement, and evaluate a quality improvement project customized to support their unique aspirations.
This Post-Baccalaureate Clinical Nurse Leader DNP program is for nurses with a baccalaureate degree in nursing who are seeking leadership development and certification as a Clinical Nurse Leader with a doctoral degree.
Graduates are uniquely qualified to collaborate with leaders in healthcare to improve the quality of care. Graduates attain eligibility for CNL certification through the American Association of Colleges of Nursing (AACN) Clinical Nurse Leader certification examination.
Program requirements and student learning outcomes will be published at the end of May.
Applications must be completed by the following deadlines in order to be reviewed for admission:
- Fall: April 1
- Spring: Nov. 1
- Summer: N/A
- Special: N/A
Application fee: $65
Campus: Online
New England Regional: No
Accelerated Masters Eligible: No
New Hampshire Residents
Students claiming in-state residency must also submit a Proof of Residence Form. This form is not required to complete your application, but you will need to submit it after you are offered admission or you will not be able to register for classes.
Transcripts
If you attended UNH or Granite State College (GSC) after September 1, 1991, and have indicated so on your online application, we will retrieve your transcript internally; this includes UNH-Durham, UNH-Manchester, UNH Non-Degree work and GSC.
If you did not attend UNH, or attended prior to September 1, 1991, then you must upload a copy (PDF) of your transcript in the application form. International transcripts must be translated into English.
If admitted, you must then request an official transcript be sent directly to our office from the Registrar's Office of each college/university attended. We accept transcripts both electronically and in hard copy:
- Electronic Transcripts: Please have your institution send the transcript directly to grad.school@unh.edu. Please note that we can only accept copies sent directly from the institution.
- Paper Transcripts: Please send hard copies of transcripts to: UNH Graduate School, Thompson Hall- 105 Main Street, Durham, NH 03824. You may request transcripts be sent to us directly from the institution or you may send them yourself as long as they remain sealed in the original university envelope.
Transcripts from all previous post-secondary institutions must be submitted and applicants must disclose any previous academic or disciplinary sanctions that resulted in their temporary or permanent separation from a previous post-secondary institution. If it is found that previous academic or disciplinary separations were not disclosed, applicants may face denial and admitted students may face dismissal from their academic program.
Letters of recommendation: 3 required
Recommendation letters submitted by relatives or friends, as well as letters older than one year, will not be accepted.
References should be substantial with one academic, if available, and two current nursing professionals with graduate education background.
Personal Statement/Essay Questions
Prepare a brief but careful statement regarding:
- Reasons you wish to do graduate work in this field, including your immediate and long-range objectives.
- Your specific research or professional interest and experiences in this field.
Additional Department Requirements
Applicants are required to have an unencumbered RN license in the United States, degree in nursing or outside nursing, and successful completion of undergraduate statistics and research to be eligible to apply to this program.
Non-BSN Admission Requirements:
RNs whose baccalaureate degree is in a discipline other than nursing may apply to the master of science degree in nursing (M.S.) program and will be considered for the track that is commensurate with their clinical experience based on faculty discretion.
- Unencumbered, active RN license in the United States
- Baccalaureate degree in another field
- Cumulative GPA of 3.0 or higher in associate and baccalaureate programs
- Nursing experience preferred but not required
- Successful completion of undergraduate statistics course and undergraduate research course
- Interview may be requested
Important Notes
All applicants are encouraged to contact programs directly to discuss program-specific application questions.
International Applicants
Prospective international students are required to submit TOEFL, IELTS, or equivalent examination scores. English Language Exams may be waived if English is your first language. If you wish to request a waiver, then please visit our Test Scores webpage for more information.
