Admission and Program Requirements

There is a required Orientation Program for students accepted into the DNP program that occurs the Thursday and Friday before classes begin in the summer term. Details for the Orientation Program are sent by e-mail two weeks in advance of the orientation day.

Interested applicants should possess the following qualities:

• Master of Science in Nursing from a program accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE) or Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing (ACEN).
• A minimum grade point average of 3.0 for the last 30 hours of graduate or 60 hours of undergraduate course work; to include courses in which the student is currently enrolled
• Certified and licensed as an advanced practice nurse (certified nurse practitioner, certified clinical nurse specialist, certified nurse midwife, certified registered nurse anesthetist) or have completed a master's degree program in nursing administration.  Other MSN specialties will be considered. 
• A graduate level epidemiology course is a co-requisite of the DNP courses. Applicants are encouraged to complete the epidemiology course prior to entering the DNP program. If the applicant did not already complete epidemiology and is accepted to the DNP program, they must do so within the first year of the DNP program in conjunction with the required DNP program courses. Epidemiology could be taken in the summer, fall, or spring terms of the first year in the program to meet the co-requisite requirement. If completing epidemiology in conjunction with required DNP coursework, course hours increase from part time enrollment to full time enrollment.
• A graduate level statistics course is a co-requisite of the DNP courses. Applicants must enroll in graduate statistics with MCN the first summer of enrollment in the DNP program or have completed a graduate statistics course within one year of admission to the DNP program.  If a student completed a graduate statistics course more than one year prior to admission to the DNP program, they have the option to take the statistics proficiency examination.  If the student passes the exam, they have met the requirement, if they do not pass the exam, they will need to enroll in the graduate statistics course during the first summer semester of the DNP program in conjunction with one required DNP course.
• 640 post-BSN practice hours are required to enroll in the DNP scholarly project courses. If the student entering the DNP program has completed less than 640 practice hours, they can meet this practice hour requirement through enrollment in NUR 560 Advanced Nursing Practice Experience in addition to DNP courses.  If completing deficient practice hours in conjunction with required DNP coursework, program hours increase.  

Health and Safety Compliance Requirements for enrollment in Mennonite College of Nursing programs

All students entering their respective nursing program are expected to be compliant with all health & safety requirements of the University, MCN, and the clinical sites they are assigned to or have selected, at all times. In addition to any University and MCN expectations, all students engaged in a clinical for credit are subject to any applicable policies and/or procedures of the clinical site, including immunizations and other requests. Upon admission, students receive a comprehensive list of health & safety compliance requirements that must be adhered to prior to nursing course registration.  These include but are not limited to the following: immunizations, blood titers, TB skin test, influenza vaccination, criminal background checks, and drug tests. Upon clinical assignment and throughout the semester as applicable, students are provided with any additional clinical site-specific requirements beyond those outlined upon admission. If clinical rotations require more than ISU/MCN, (i.e., COVID-19 vaccination proof, weekly testing, etc.), students must meet the requirements of their clinical site by providing documentation as directed by the clinical site (i.e., directly to the site following their guidelines for compliance and/or through the College with an appropriate release). Students must comply with these requirements to receive an override to register or remain registered for clinical.  More details related to health and safety can be found in the Health and Safety section of the Student Handbooks.  Students should refer to their Health and Safety packets to be aware of requirements and deadlines.