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You've pursued a career in nursing to make a difference in your community. You provide care for others and are a positive influence in the lives of your patients and their families. But you're looking to do more. To advance your career or effect positive change on a systemic level as a clinical nurse specialist (CNS). Mizzou's online Doctor of Nursing Practice with an emphasis in Adult-Gerontology Clinical Nurse Specialist gives you the tools to meet that goal and flourish, not only in your own practice, but as you empower other nurses and staff within your health care system.
As you work towards your doctorate in nursing practice from Mizzou, you'll:
- Fold advanced knowledge of nursing theories into your practice.
- Learn best methods of inquiry for the delivery of care to rural and underserved populations.
- Participate in multidisciplinary collaborations to improve health care outcomes on a systemic level.
- Incorporate the latest advances in medical technology to advance health care delivery.
- Analyze the various components of health care policy to better advocate for patients and improved health care outcomes across populations.
About the DNP in Adult-Gerontology Clinical Nurse Specialist
Developed by Mizzou's Sinclair School of Nursing, this online doctorate is a 72-credit-hour program. Courses are primarily taught online, but some campus visits are required. You will need to attend an orientation session for five days the summer before your first semester in the program and can expect to be on campus about once a year after that.
Graduates will be eligible for certification from the following bodies:
Quick facts
Official name
Doctor of Nursing Practice with an emphasis in Adult-Gerontology Clinical Nurse SpecialistCampus
Program type
DoctorateAcademic home
Sinclair School of NursingDelivery mode
Blended, some campus visits requiredAccreditation
Higher Learning Commission, Commission on Collegiate Nursing EducationCredit hours
72Estimated cost
$45,360.00*This cost is for illustrative purposes only. Your hours and costs will differ, depending on your transfer hours, your course choices and your academic progress. See more about tuition and financial aid.
Career prospects
Potential careers
- Clinical nurse specialist for aging adults
- Health care services coordinator
- Institutional health care consultant
- Research coordinator
- Clinical instructor
Program structure
Delivery of this program is blended: You will complete most coursework online, but an on-campus visit is required for five days during the summer before coursework begins for orientation to the DNP program. Additional campus visits will be required throughout the program, approximately once per year.
Courses are semester-based. How long it takes to complete the program depends on your academic experience. If already have a master’s degree, you can study part time and complete the program in three years. If you have a bachelor’s degree and want to study part time, the program is more likely to take you five or six years.
Course work includes
- Diagnosis and treatment of acute, critical and chronic illness
- Improvement and monitoring of quality, safety and performance outcomes
- Teaching clients symptom- and self-management strategies
- Health care policy and finance
- Physiology/pathophysiology
- Pharmacology
Delivery
Blended, some campus visits requiredCalendar system
Semester-basedTypical program length
4-5 yearsTypical course load
Part timeAccreditation
The University of Missouri is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission, one of six regional institutional accreditors in the United States. The DNP at the Sinclair School is accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education.