College of Staten Island Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) — A Prestigious Nursing Program in the NYC Metro Area
STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. – The College of Staten Island, of the City University of New York (CSI/CUNY) provides students a unique opportunity to become an Advanced Practice Nursing (APRN) leader by offering the prestigious Doctor of Nursing Practice degree (DNP) at an incredible value for New Yorkers as well as non-residents, with available scholarships.
The College of Staten Island is the only higher education institution in New York to offer a facilitated pathway in Nursing from the Associate’s, Bachelor’s, and Master’s degree all the way to the DNP, ensuring the completion of all necessary prerequisite courses.
The DNP is geared toward the nurse already in practice with flexible scheduling and remote classes.
The DNP, accredited by the Accrediting Commission for Education of Nurses (ACEN), is presently overseen by Interim Dean of Health Sciences Dr. Heyward Michael Dreher.
Discussing the program, Dr. Dreher said, “The College of Staten Island values our strong collaboration with the Staten Island community, and our solid reputation of excellence will further establish this program as a source of Nursing leaders and administrative healthcare professionals in our community. CSI’s DNP program encourages our best and brightest healthcare professionals to consider taking their careers to the next level.”
The DNP program prepares the Advanced Practice Nurses for leadership in practice.
Students can begin the MS in Nursing degree at CSI and then transition to the DNP.
Apply for the Masters
Great Value and Available Scholarships
This incredible opportunity represents not only a significant tuition savings to our students via a CUNY degree, (less than $15,000 for residents of NY) but also offers a top-notch accredited program and rich academic experience with renowned professors and one-on-one advisement. Scholarships will be available to each accepted DNP applicant.
Applications are Open
Apply by January 15 for early decision and by April 15 for regular admission to the DNP Fall 2025 cohort.
Rewarding Careers
With a DNP education, students gain entrée to an important and rapidly evolving profession. Graduates are typically employed within six months of graduation. DNPs enjoy rewarding careers—along with playing key leadership and administrative roles in managing the holistic care of patients, and establishing roles in the community as accessible healthcare professionals.
College of Staten Island students enjoy the benefit of studying in close proximity to hospitals in NYC and the five boroughs, in the heart of the Staten Island community. It is one of only a handful of accredited DNP programs offered in the Metro area.
For over 60 years, the College of Staten Island has continually been considered a leader in the education of nurses, renowned for its excellent programs in healthcare and its nursing graduates who serve the Staten Island community and metro area. Accredited by (ACEN) CSI is a top-ten ranked school of Nursing in New York State and its graduate programs are ranked a top 20 in the U.S. by GradReports.
Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) Adult Gerontology Primary Care Nurse Practitioner (AGPCNP) or Adult Gerontology Clinical Nurse Specialist (CNS)
The Department of Nursing offers the Post-Masters Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) degree programs which has two options: Adult Gerontology Primary Care Nurse Practitioner (AGPCNP) and Adult Gerontology Clinical Nurse Specialist (CNS).
The current Post-Masters Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) degree program admits Advanced Practice Nurses who are Masters prepared and are ANCC or AANP certified as Adult Gerontology Primary Care Nurse Practitioners or Adult Gerontology Clinical Nurse Specialists.
The DNP program is designed to meet health care workforce needs and to provide education at the highest level of clinical nursing practice.
Students who apply to any graduate program must meet the following criteria:
- Official baccalaureate and master's degree transcript(s) documenting a cumulative grade point average of 3.0 on a 4.0-point scale.
- Two recommendation letters supporting the applicant’s potential for completing graduate studies; one must be from a current nursing supervisor or recent professor who can address the applicant’s clinical performance and ability to succeed in graduate study
- Recent Curriculum Vitae.
- Current and unencumbered RN and APRN license to practice in New York State
- National Certification (ANCC or AANP) as an Adult Gerontology Primary Care Nurse Practitioner or Adult Gerontology Clinical Nurse Specialist.
- One year of relevant clinical nursing practice experience as determined by the admissions committee.
- Interview with admissions committee
- A well written personal statement that serves as an illustration of the applicant's ability to write as a professional.
Instructions: Your personal statement should be 300 words, 2 to 4 pages in length total, double-spaced with one-inch margins, in 12-point font.
- We want to know more about you – your life and goals, your challenges and strengths, and the clinical path that you have chosen that has led you to this point in your career. Describe an example from your nursing career where your clinical leadership fostered a successful outcome for one or more patient.
- Share specific experiences from your nursing career where your leadership efforts and caring intentions fostered the success of patients from diverse cultural backgrounds.
- Describe why you selected this course of study.
- How has advanced practice nursing impacted health care delivery in the USA?
- What are your personal goals as a Doctor of Nursing Practice?
Applicants with non APRN Nursing Masters degrees
Applicants who have a Master’s degree in Nursing but are not Adult Gerontology Nurse Practitioners or Clinical Specialist, or applicants with a non-clinical Master’s degree will have prior credits evaluated through a full gap analysis by the admissions committee, but must complete the role specialization (Nurse Practitioner or Clinical Specialist) courses before entering the DNP course sequence.
Applications will be evaluated on an individual basis when all official transcripts and supporting documents have been received.
Application deadline: April 18th for September Admission.
Doctoral Program Student Learning Outcomes
- Use theories of nursing, other sciences, and humanities to provide the highest level of culturally competent advanced nursing practice in population health.
- Engage effective organizational and systems leadership principles for safety and quality initiatives through a through a variety of care delivery approaches
- Implement evidenced-based clinical scholarship to improve health outcomes in diverse populations.
- Demonstrate skills to improve and transform culturally competent healthcare for diverse populations through use of information systems and technology
- Propose policy changes related to advocacy, quality healthcare, and the elimination of health disparities in the local, state, national and/or global arena
- Employ effective communication skills to establish interprofessional and intra- professional collaboration and scholarly projects aimed at improving patient and population health outcomes
- Develop broad evidenced-based practice and organization plans (when indicated) for population health, promotion and disease prevention for diverse populations.
- Implement the highest level of advanced practice through a personal philosophy that includes professional values, lifelong learning, advocacy, and mentorship to optimize population health interventions and outcomes.
In the DNP, The Scholarly Project serves as the final evaluation of all End of Program outcomes. The clinical hour requirement of 500 is fulfilled with the completion of this project.
Doctoral Course List
| Course Number | Credits |
|---|---|
| BIO771 Principles of Epidemiology | 3 Credits |
| NRS 755 Application of Leadership Models in Professional Practice | 3 Credits |
| NRS 756 Technological Integrations | 3 Credits |
| NRS 757 Professional Nursing Bioethics | 3 Credits |
| NRS 759 Clinical Finance and Management | 3 Credits |
| NRS 711 Health Care Program Development | 3 Credits |
| NRS 775 Nursing Research Methods | 3 credits |
| NRS 762 Integrative Practice Proposal | 6 Credits |
| NRS 763 Integrative Practice Application | 6 Credits |
ACEN Accreditation
The DNP Nursing Program of the College of Staten Island located in Staten Island, New York is accredited by the:
- Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing (ACEN)
- 3390 Peachtree Road NE, Suite 1400
- Atlanta, GA 30326
- (404) 975-5000
The most recent accreditation decision made by the ACEN Board of Commissioners for the DNP Nursing Program is Continuing Accreditation.
View the public information disclosed by the ACEN regarding this program.
Additional Information
Academic Policies
The DNP program follows Academic Policies as set forth by the College. Policies on Academic Standards, Academic Integrity, Registration, Appeals, Graduation and more can be found on the Graduate Catalog.
Progression in the DNP
Students must have a minimum grade point average (GPA) of 3.0 (B) to be retained in a graduate program. Students whose GPA falls below 3.0 are on probationary status.
Transfer credits
Graduate courses taken within the last five years at an accredited college or university may be accepted at the discretion of the coordinator of the graduate program.
Student Services
The College offers many student services. The Division of Student Affairs describes many of these services and can be located on the following link:
www.csi.cuny.edu/campus-life/student-services
The counseling center is free to students. Professional counselors provide support and assistance in developing skills for success in and out of the classroom.
www.csi.cuny.edu/students/counseling-center
Veterans, LGBTQ+, International Students, Accessibility Students
The center for career and professional development provides many services to students and can be viewed on the link below.