Getting a DNP degree in the state of Maryland.

In the state of Maryland, there are four schools that offer the Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) degree program. The schools are University of Maryland, Baltimore, and Johns Hopkins University also in Baltimore, Salisbury University, and the Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences in Bethesda for active or retired military personnel. The requirements to be considered for admission into the DNP program include a cumulative GPA of 3.0 on a 4.0 scale in a program resulting in the award of a master's degree in nursing from an NLNAC- or CCNE-accredited college or university, or an equivalent degree from a comparable foreign university, all official transcripts for all prior undergraduate and graduate study regardless of whether a degree was earned and three letters of recommendation. A 500 to 1,000-word essay outlining goals, objectives, and focused area of interest in pursuing the DNP, an active united states registered nurse license and a current resume or curriculum vitae are required after which an interview with selected applicants after the applications are received and reviewed is conducted. All the programs are blended (has an online and in class mode of instruction). The University Of Maryland Baltimore offers a 3-year fulltime DNP/Master of Business Administration (DNP/MBA) option to allow a unique blend of advanced nursing and business management expertise, so they can analyze, plan, implement, and evaluate innovative and creative responses to the health care marketplace. The state of Maryland has a graduate and professional scholarship program for degree-seeking graduate and professional students in nursing that are Maryland residents who demonstrate financial need. The minimum award is $1,000 per year and the

maximum award is $5,000 per year. There is also a graduate nursing faculty scholarship and living expenses grant, a statewide initiative, also for Maryland residents fully admitted and enrolled at a Maryland college or university as a full-time or part-time graduate student in a masters of science in nursing program, post-graduate certificate program in nursing education, doctorate program or another graduate-level nursing program required to prepare individuals to become nursing faculty. Living expenses grant award amounts is based on need. Awards may not exceed the maximum of $25,000 per academic year ($12,500 per semester) for full-time recipients and will be prorated for part-time recipients. The maximum total award amount is $50,000 over four years. If a recipient is receiving any type of stipend, salary supplement, and/or other financial assistance for living expenses, it may be deducted from the grant award total. There are also several private scholarships for DNP students including the American Cancer Society Graduate Scholarship, March of Dimes Graduate Nurse Scholarship, Nurses Educational Funds Nursing Scholarships for Graduate Education, and several others. Nurses with a Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) Degree can work as a Family Nurse Practitioner (NP), Advanced Practice Registered Nurse (APRN), Nurse Practitioner (NP), Advanced Registered Nurse Practitioner (ARNP), Psychiatric Nurse Practitioner (NP), Pediatrics Nurse Practitioner (NP) Associate Professor for Postsecondary / Higher Education depending on their specialty. The salary range for nurses with a Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) Degree is $77,083 - $122,175 per annum. The DNP Program prepares leaders in nursing practice to guide healthcare reform for the future. With increasingly complex patients and multi-layered systems of care,

experts are needed in the field. Nurses have traditionally worked closely with patients and are well-suited to guide future reform measures to focus on improving patient outcomes. Gaining the systems perspective, technological expertise and skills to translate research into practice will empower DNP graduates to be healthcare leaders for the region. Many hospitals are moving toward Magnet status. Having a highly educated nursing staff facilitates this move toward excellence; therefore, the DNP credential is highly valuable to nurses and the institutions where they are employed. Additionally, studies have shown that patient care is better with a more highly educated nursing staff. DNP graduates will have a different and more advanced skill set to integrate evidence into practice and to utilize policy, informatics, and interprofessional competence to improve outcomes for patients and families within the complex health care environment.