BSN to DNP
At Illinois State University's Mennonite College of Nursing, we believe that educating nurses to the highest level is essential for the future of health care and nursing practice. Guiding nurses to reach the top of their field not only means continuous improved quality care and better patient outcomes, it also gives nurses the option to teach nursing at the highest level, safeguarding the future of nursing education.
Currently, only 13% of nurses hold a graduate degree.* At MCN, we know that nurses are capable of reaching that next level. We want to support you in getting there.
We also know that it is often hard to imagine taking on one more thing. At MCN we are dedicated to helping make this journey not only imaginable, but achievable.
To align with this mission, we have created two BSN to DNP sequences, designed by faculty-practitioners. Many of these practitioners started as ADNs and worked their way up the educational ladder to the top of their fields.
They made it. So can you.
Family Nurse Practitioner (FNP) Sequence |
Nursing Leadership & Management Sequence |
| Hybrid delivery | Online delivery |
| MSN completion = 2-3 years | MSN completion = 2.5 years |
| MSN with DNP completion = 4-5 years | MSN with DNP completion = 4-5 years |
| Stand alone MSN = 44 credit hours with 660 clinical hours | Stand alone MSN = 34 credit hours with 360 clinical hours |
| DNP completion = 78 credit hours with 1020 clinical hours | DNP completion = 64 credit hours with 1000 clinical hours |
| Focus on advanced practice nursing | Focus on leadership, health policy development and patient advocacy |
| Learn More | Learn More |
"I entered the DNP program to build upon my 18 years as a pediatric nurse practitioner. I chose Illinois State because of the history of their strong nursing program for BSN and MSN students. The professors were supportive all along the way and realized we were already professionals and treated us as such. I completed the program with a sense of family due to the involvement of the faculty in helping me achieve my goals."
Dana DeShon, DNP '16
Interested in just your master's for now?
No problem. Our BSN-DNP sequences offer a stop-out point. We encourage students to earn their Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) degree, but we also know that sometimes life happens. You can opt to complete only the MSN coursework to earn the MSN degree and exit the program.