While Missouri’s APRNs continue to fight for the freedom to practice autonomously (APRNs here must enter into a collaborative physician agreement to practice), significant gains are being made toward independence. Many see it as only a matter of time before NPs and other APRNs are allowed to practice independently to the full extent of their knowledge and training.
Specifically, as of 2018, Missouri authorized a loosening of distance requirements when it comes to physician collaboration, allowing many nurse practitioners to provide services in rural communities where primary care services are either sparse or non-existent due to a lack of physicians. Their services are vital in a state where at least one-fifth of its population will be over the age of 65 by 2030, according to the Missouri Hospital Association – that’s an increase of 87% over the last 30 years.
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Nurse practitioners and other APRNs don’t take their position in today’s complex healthcare sector lightly, so it comes as little surprise that many nurses here are choosing the DNP – whether it’s RNs looking to enter the advanced practice nursing field or currently practicing APRNs looking to transition to administration or specialize in an additional patient population. The DNP provides today’s nurses with the competency, skills, and knowledge they need to work—and thrive—in an increasingly complex healthcare environment.
As of 2020, Missouri was home to eight universities and colleges offering the DNP, with many of these schools offering entry points for both BSN- and MSN-educated nurses.
Earning a Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) in Missouri
The DNP is available to nurses who hold either a Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) degree or a Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) degree.
On-site and online classes are readily accessible in Missouri and can be found in traditional MSN-to-DNP programs, as well as BSN-to-DNP programs:
- MSN-to-DNP – Nurses who already possess an MSN can enter conventional DNP programs to advance in their current APRN role and patient population focus, add an additional focus or area of specialty, or to prepare for careers with an aggregate/systems/organizational focus in areas like informatics, executive leadership, public health and healthcare policy.
- BSN-to-DNP – BSN-educated RNs will find post-bachelor’s BSN-DNP programs available that will allow them to prepare for initial certification and licensure in an APRN role, whether nurse practitioner, nurse midwife, nurse anesthetist or clinical nurse specialist. These programs are also available with an aggregate/systems/organizational focus. BSN-to-DNP programs allow students to earn an MSN then seamlessly transition to a DNP, all in one accelerated program.
Even in light of the many on-campus schools available to students in Missouri, the growing preference of BSN-to-DNP and MSN-to-DNP students remains in the online forum. Many choose the route of online schooling so they won’t need to take time off work in order to further their nursing education
Online DNP programs offer the same level of rigor one would expect to find in traditional campus-based programs, but online students are presented with the benefit of flexible class schedules and a personalized study pace.
Doctorate-Level Coursework and DNP Projects
As the highest practice-focused nursing degree available, the Doctor of Nursing Practice degree prepares nurses to:
- Integrate nursing science, research, theory, and scholarship into advanced practice nursing.
- Design effective health care environments to improve quality, cost-effectiveness, and outcomes.
- Apply evidence and clinical scholarship to support clinical/systems decision making, policy, and advocacy.
- Utilize information systems and technology to support decision making and improve outcomes.
- Extend knowledge of clinical prevention, population health, and policy through the application of evidence and collaboration with stakeholders and professionals.
- Apply evidence-based advanced clinical decision making and culturally competent care to individuals, families, and populations.
BSN-to-DNP and MSN-to-DNP Programs Available in Missouri
The following DNP programs have been accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE) (current as of 2016).
Maryville University of St. Louis
Myrtle E. and Earl E. Walker College of Health Professions
Saint Louis
Accreditation: CCNE
BSN-DNP (online)
- Family Nurse Practitioner
- Adult-Gerontology Primary Care Nurse Practitioner
- Adult-Gerontology Acute Care Nurse Practitioner
- Pediatric (Primary Care) Nurse Practitioner
- Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner
MS-DNP-NP (online)
- Acute Care Nurse Practitioner
- Adult-Gerontology Nurse Practitioner
- Family Nurse Practitioner
- Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner
- Pediatric Nurse Practitioner
Missouri State University
School of Nursing
Springfield
Accreditation: CCNE
BSN-DNP (hybrid)
- Family Nurse Practitioner
Post-Master’s-DNP (online)
- Advanced Practitioner
Saint Louis University
Trudy Busch Valentine School of Nursing
Saint Louis
Accreditation: CCNE
Post-BSN-DNP (online)
- Adult/Gerontological Acute Care Nurse Practitioner
- Family Nurse Practitioner
- Pediatric Primary Care Nurse Practitioner
- Family Psychiatric-Mental Health Nurse Practitioner
Post-MS-DNP (online)
- Clinical Nursing Practice
University of Missouri – Columbia
Sinclair School of Nursing
Columbia
Accreditation: CCNE
BSN-DNP (online)
- Clinical Nurse Specialist – Adult Gerontology
- Family Nurse Practitioner
- Psychiatric & Mental Health Nurse Practitioner 4) Pediatric Nurse Practitioner- Primary Care
- Nursing Leadership & Innovations in Health Care
MSN-DNP (online)
- Clinical Nurse Specialist – Adult Gerontology
- Family Nurse Practitioner
- Psychiatric & Mental Health Nurse Practitioner
- Pediatric Nurse Practitioner- Primary Care
- Nursing Leadership & Innovations in Health Care
University of Missouri – St. Louis
College of Nursing
Saint Louis
Accreditation: CCNE
BSN-DNP (online)
- Adult/Geriatric Nurse Practitioner-Primary Care
- Family Nurse Practitioner-Primary Care
- Pediatric Nurse Practitioner-Primary Care
- Pediatric Nurse Practitioner-Acute Care
- Psychiatric-Mental Health Nurse Practitioner-Primary Care
- Women’s Health Nurse Practitioner-Primary Care
- Leadership in Population Health and Healthcare Systems
MSN-DNP (online)
- Clinical Nursing Practice
University of Missouri – Kansas City
School of Nursing and Health Studies
Kansas City
Accreditation: CCNE
BSN-DNP (online/hybrid)
- Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetist
- Pediatric Nurse Practitioner
- Women’s Health Nurse Practitioner
- Family Nurse Practitioner
- Adult-Gerontology Primary Care Nurse Practitioner
Post-MSN-DNP (online/hybrid)
- Pediatric Nurse Practitioner
- Women’s Health Nurse Practitioner
- Family Nurse Practitioner
- Adult Gerontology Nurse Practitioner
- Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner
- Neonatal Nurse Practitioner
Other DNP programs in the state not shown here may be regionally accredited or hold specialty accreditation through the Council on Accreditation of Nurse Anesthesia Educational Programs or the Accreditation Commission for Midwifery Education.
A larger selection of CCNE and ACEN (American Commission for Education in Nursing)-accredited DNP programs are available online.
Opportunities Available to DNP-Prepared Nurses in Missouri
The DNP has become the degree of choice for Missouri nurses who want to futureproof their careers and gain both a professional and financial edge over their MSN-educated peers.
The following job posts highlight some of the exciting professional opportunities available to DNP-educated nurses in Missouri:
Neuro CNS Clinical Nurse Specialist, Nealy Pierce, LLC, St. Louis, MO
- MSN required, doctorate a plus
- NACNS or AOCNS certification as a clinical nurse specialist
- Strong neurological background
Assistant/Associate Professor or Assistant/Associate Clinical Professor, School of Nursing & Health Studies, University of Missouri, Kansas City, MO
- Adult gerontology NP or FNP national certification
- Minimum of two years of experience as an NP
- Current NP clinical practice
- MSN required, doctoral degree in nursing or related field required for tenure/tenure track position
CRNA, CoxHealth, Monett, MO
- Master’s or doctorate from an accredited nurse anesthesia program
- Minimum of two years of related experience
Clinical Nurse Specialist, General Surgery, BJC Healthcare, St. Louis, MO
- Master’s degree in nursing, CNS program
- RN license and CNS certification
- Doctorate degree in nursing preferred
Clinical Nurse Specialist, Medical ICU, BJC Healthcare, St. Louis, MO
- Master’s degree in nursing, CNS program
- RN license and CNS certification
- Doctorate in nursing preferred
RN Scientist, Cardinal Glennon Children’s Hospital, St. Louis, MO
- Doctorate in nursing or related field with a strong emphasis in research
Examples of DNP nursing positions were taken from a survey of job listings in January 2020 and are shown for illustrative purposes only. These examples do not represent job offers or positions that are currently available.