Nursing Practice, DNP

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The DNP program offers the terminal practice degree in Nursing Practice and is designed to meet our statewide demand for a highly competent nursing workforce equipped with the skills to ensure the delivery of safe, quality nursing care in Hawaiʻi.

The DNP competency-based curriculum educates students to practice at the top of their education through clinical placements focused on primary and specialty care available across the Hawaiian Islands, including neighbor islands, education in leadership and health policy, and culminates with the completion of the Doctor of Nursing Scholarly Project.

The program strives to provide an encompassing, holistic, rigorous, competency-based curriculum and program that is student-centered. Students are the drivers of the program and contribute to shaping their education through leadership, evaluations, and alumni relations.

DNP Scholarly Project

The DNP Scholarly Project demonstrates critical and systematic processes outlined in the AACN essentials (AACN, 2021). A series of evidence-based practice courses that focus on successful practice change, design, implementation, evaluation and dissemination, are required to fulfill the DNP Scholarly Project. The final products of the DNP Scholarly Project are an evidence-based practice paper and presentation and poster presentation which demonstrate how the student has met the AACN essentials. The DNP Scholarly Project requires 6 credits, including 270 post-baccalaureate practicum hours.

DNP Degree Programs

Adult-Gerontology Primary Care Nurse Practitioner

For RNs with a bachelor’s degree or higher
Fall (August) Admission only
Full-time cohort program

The Adult-Gerontology Primary Care Nurse Practitioner (AG-PCNP) program at the University of Hawai’i at Mānoa is a full-time cohort-based pathway designed to be completed in three years (eight semesters). This intensive 77-credit (including 765 supervised clinical hours) doctoral program equips future nurse practitioners with the skills, knowledge, and cultural competency to provide comprehensive primary care across the adult lifespan, from young adults to the elderly.

Family Nurse Practitioner

For RNs with a bachelor’s degree or higher
Fall (August) Admission only
Full-time cohort program

The Family Nurse Practitioner (FNP) track at the University of Hawai’i at Mānoa is a full-time cohort-based Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) program that spans three years (eight semesters) and requires the completion of 77 credits hours (including 765 supervised clinical hours). This advances practice program prepares nurses to deliver comprehensive primary care across the lifespan, addressing the health needs of individuals, families, and communities with a focus on holistic, culturally responsive care in an outpatient setting.

Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner for RNs with a Bachelor’s Degree or higher

For RNs with a bachelor’s degree or higher
Fall (August) Admission only
Full-time cohort program

The Psychiatric-Mental Health Nurse Practitioner (PMHNP) program at the University of Hawai’i at Mānoa is a full-time cohort-based DNP pathway designed to be completed in three years (eight semesters). The 75-credit program (including 810 supervised clinical hours prepares registered nurses to become highly skilled, independent psychiatric providers, capable of delivering comprehensive, holistic mental health care across the lifespan-from childhood to older adulthood, including care for individuals, families, and groups.

Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner for APRNs with a Master’s Degree degree or higher

For APRNs with a master’s degree or higher
Fall (August) Admission only
Full-time cohort program

The Post-Master’s Psychiatric-Mental Health Nurse Practitioner (PMHNP) program at the University of Hawai’i at Mānoa is designed for current Advanced Practice Registered Nurses (APRNs) who wish to further their careers by pursuing a Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) degree and achieving an additional national certification as a PMHNP. This full-time cohort-based program is structured to be completed in three years (eight semesters), with a total of 63 credit hours (including 810 supervised clinical hours) required for completion.

Post-Master’s in Organizational Leadership

For RNs with a master’s degree or higher
Fall (August) Admission only
Full- or part-time cohort program

The Post-Master’s in Organizational Leadership program at the University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa is a part-time, online, cohort-based DNP degree program pathway designed for nurses who are ready to elevate their leadership skills and drive systemic change in healthcare. The duration and number of credits required to complete the program will depend on the student’s previous education, post-baccalaureate practicum hours, and professional experience.

The curriculum requires a minimum of 29 credits and 1,000 supervised hours, which includes the completion of 6 credits/270 supervised DNP Scholarly Project hours.

UH Mānoa Shidler College of Business, Distance Learning EMBA - Health Care Management Track to DNP

For RNs with a master’s degree or higher
Fall (August) Admission only
Full- or part-time cohort program

This pathway begins with a program of study that allows students to obtain an MBA degree through the UH Mānoa Shidler College of Business. The EMBA-HC program is a two-year (5 semester) track, while the DNP is designed to be completed in one additional year (3 semesters). For information about the application process, please refer to UH Mānoa Shidler Business College’s website at shidler.hawaii.edu/distance-emba/healthcare.

Shidler EMBA-HC graduates can enroll in UH Mānoa Nursing to obtain their DNP degree. The curriculum builds on the MBA-HC coursework and requires a minimum of an additional 12 credits and 1,000 supervised hours, including the completion of 6 credits/270 supervised DNP project hours. Additional courses and/or credit hours may be required depending on the entering student’s documentation of previously completed post-baccalaureate practicum/fieldwork. Documentation of post-bachelor’s credit hours for students who complete healthcare practicum/fieldwork in the Shidler MBA curriculum is submitted for review to ensure DNP Essentials and completion of the 1,000 post-bachelor’s supervised hours required for the DNP degree.