Focused on clinical practice and translating research findings to benefit patients, our Doctor of Nursing Practice (D.N.P.) program will prepare you to become a critical thinker and evidence-based practitioner who can initiate change within increasingly complex health care systems.
Our post-baccalaureate D.N.P. program helps RNs take their practice and careers to new heights. In this program, you will earn a master’s degree for your NP education and then continue immediately into your post-master’s DNP studies, preparing you to become an advanced practice clinician.
Our post-master’s D.N.P. program helps current NPs take their practice and careers to new heights. This program is designed for you if you earned a master's degree in nursing and your goal is to become an advanced practice clinician.
Our program allows current RNs without bachelor’s degrees to maximize both their experience and the credits they have earned from previous programs. If you are a motivated and accomplished student who wishes to transform your professional knowledge into a career as an advanced practice nurse, this program is for you. In this program, you will earn a master’s degree for your NP education and then continue immediately into your D.N.P. studies, preparing you to become an advanced practice clinician.
Our graduates have been hired at local and national institutions, including:
$128,490
Median annual wage for nurse practitioners
Bureau of Labor Statistics, May 2023
52%
Projected growth in the Nurse Practitioner field by 2030—nearly six times the national average for all occupations.
Bureau of Labor Statistics
“At Boston College, you will be taught by actively practicing providers who work in a variety of health care settings. When you graduate, you will be prepared to provide excellent and equitable advanced practice nursing care in one of our five specialties. ”
In your last two semesters as a D.N.P. candidate, you'll apply your clinical and classroom experience in a rigorous practice change project, dedicated to improving health care outcomes for a patient population. These projects apply existing research in practice, develop evidence-based solutions, and identify ways and means of delivering more efficient care.
Students: Emily R. T. Carson, Meaghan E. Hoyt-Thompson
Exploring Nurse Turnover & Retention: A Descriptive Cross-Sectional Study Utilizing a Motivator & Satisfier-Focused Survey Tool
Advsor: Marie Borgella, RN, DNP
Students: Sera Ellerson, Samantha Nortelus, Sherry Spacco
Improving Exclusive Breastfeeding Rates at Newton-Wellesley Hospital through Human Donor Milk: A Quality Improvement Initiative
Advsor: Marie Borgella, RN, DNP
Students: Sarah Dominique, Kelly Lu
Bridging the Gap: Advancing Postpartum Hypertension Care through Nursing Education at Newton-Wellesley Hospital (Phase III)
Advsor: Marie Borgella, RN, DNP
Students: Hayley Parét, Nadia Yang
Health Policy Change for Nurse Practitioners in Neurotherapeutics
Advsor: Marie Borgella, RN, DNP
Students: Shalyn Texeira, Fikirte Megerssa
Increasing Obstetric Team Member Confidence and Participation in Post-event Debriefs within Newton-Wellesley Hospital Obstetrics
Advsor: Marie Borgella, RN, DNP
Students: Lauren Belschner, Sarah Gordon, Emily McClure
Follow-Up Appointments for Hospitalized Heart Failure Patients
Advsor: Catherine Conahan, DNP, AGNP-C
Students: Deirdre Callahan, Julia Crane, Shira Chandler
Rates of Breastfeeding Initiation and Duration at a Boston Community Health Center
Advsor: Catherine Conahan, DNP, AGNP-C
Students: Trisha Kelley, Abby McCarthy
Assessing Simulation Effectiveness: Unveiling Insights through the SET-M Tool in Incidental Finding Simulations
Advsor: Catherine Conahan, DNP, AGNP-C
Students: Ruth Mongare, Lihua Zhang, Laura Laudani, Adam Popp
A Comparison of Guidelines for Detoxification of Alcohol and Opioids at Several Correctional Facilities in New England
Advsor: Catherine Conahan, DNP, AGNP-C
Students: Claire Sinai, Maya Hrkalovich
Creating an Autism-Friendly Practice
Advsor: Catherine Conahan, DNP, AGNP-C
Students: Anna Athanasopoulos, Erin Feeney, Ellery Spencer
Worth a Shot: Reducing Vaccine Hesitancy for Caregivers of Young Children
Advsor: Corrine Jurgens Ph.D., RN, ANP, FAHA, FHFSA, FAAN
Students: Brittney Cifarelli, Micaela Harrison, Jennifer Mazzotta
Tune in Again to Better Training
Advsor: Corrine Jurgens Ph.D., RN, ANP, FAHA, FHFSA, FAAN
Students: Leslie Hirshberg, Chien Yi Weng, Emir Duhovic
Onboarding Perspectives: Bridging Past Experiences to Future Programs for APPs
Advsor: Corrine Jurgens Ph.D., RN, ANP, FAHA, FHFSA, FAAN
Students: Maxwel Carlson, Bethany Dalger, Tamara Hanley
Improving Quality of Life at a Senior Living Facility
Advisor: Beth McNutt Clarke, RN, DNP, CWOCN
Courtney Hoblock, Caitlin Keaveny, Cornelia Photopoulos, Alexandra Roberts
Nurses’ Perceptions of Patient-Centered Care within a Senior Life Care System
Advisor: Beth McNutt Clarke, RN, DNP, CWOCN
Students: Theresa Shanahan, Meghan Hughes, Madeleine Morse Retrospective Analysis of Falls Data to Determine Targeted Fall Prevention Strategies
Advisor: Beth McNutt Clarke, RN, DNP, CWOCN
Students: Celeste Anderson, Jessica Ayer, Margaret Kobs, Julia Shaughnessy
Echoes of Wellness: Integrating a Podcast-Based Educational Intervention to Enhance Culturally Responsive Diabetes Prevention and Management in DNP Curriculum
Advisor: Tam H. Nguyen, Ph.D., M.S.N./M.P.H., RN
Students: Catherine Griffin, Gabrielle Murray, Katherine Neuberger
Ecosystem Mapping to Facilitate Electronic Referral of SDOH and Diabetes Prevention and Management Services in Massachusetts
Advisor: Tam H. Nguyen, Ph.D., M.S.N./M.P.H., RN
Students: Jessica Bedwell, Emily Nugent, Claire Sullivan
Improving Fire Safety Preparedness Among SRNAs at Boston College Using a Quick-Reference Code Accessed Resource
Advisor: Patricia Reid Ponte, RN, DNSc, FAAN
Students: Mary Brennan, Caroline Dork
Pressure Injury Screening and Prevention at Franciscan Children’s Hospital
Advisor: Patricia Reid Ponte, RN, DNSc, FAAN
Students: Brian Cidado, Juan Carlos Barranco, Ivy Gosselin, Michael Frisbie
Improving the Perioperative Patient Hand Off Process at Mount Auburn Hospital
Advisor: Patricia Reid Ponte, RN, DNSc, FAAN
Students: Caitlin Fournier, Jennifer Merrill, Talia Pina, Andrea Simoes
An Educational Video Identifying Operating Room Distractions and Mitigation Strategies to Prepare Student Registered Nurse Anesthetists for Safe Medication Handling in Clinical Practice
Advisor: Patricia Reid Ponte, RN, DNSc, FAAN
Students: Kalee Kite, Shalini Patel
Fall Prevention within Continuing Care Retirement Community
Advisor: Patricia Reid Ponte, RN, DNSc, FAAN
Students: Kristina Lee, Tamaya Tompoe, Kira Yasuda
The Design, Implementation, and Evaluation of Programs and Resources to Support Student Registered Nurse Anesthetists at Boston College
Advisor: Patricia Reid Ponte, RN, DNSc, FAAN
Students: Christine Ogonowski, Hillary McNamara, Lindsay Fleming Papas
Stakeholder Perspectives – The First Step Towards Implementing a Perioperative Huddle at Mount Auburn Hospital
Advisor: Patricia Reid Ponte, RN, DNSc, FAAN
Students: Brandon Onyechefule, Bethany Croke, Kate Krummenacher
Reducing Falls at Brigham and Women’s Faulkner Hospital
Advisor: Patricia Reid Ponte, RN, DNSc, FAAN
Students: Kylynn Ann Barbero, Briana Bowler, Nicola Amy Kim, Caroline Denise Trickett
Be Proactive: Who is Most Likely to Fall? Screening Older Adults in Assisted-Living
Advisor: Beth McNutt-Clarke, RN, DNP, M.Sc.(A), MBA, CWOCN
Students: Ashley Altmann, Victoria Foote, Emily Manfra, Lauren Shea
Utilizing Vitalize 360 at Orchard Cove Senior Living to Assess Residents’ Perception of Health and Wellness
Advisor: Beth McNutt-Clarke, RN, DNP, M.Sc.(A), MBA, CWOCN
Students: Sara Dilbarian, Kathryn Postma, Jennifer Kelly Wilson
Adding a Standardized Headache Flowsheet to a School-Based EMR
Advisor: Catherine Conahan, AGNP-C, DNP
Students: Brittany Boltz, Josephine Elvira Pagliuca, Alexandra Terwilliger
Implementation of Baseline Concussion Testing in Student-Athletes at a High School Serving Students of Lower Socioeconomic Status
Advisor: Catherine Conahan, AGNP-C, DNP
Students: Ariana Marie Rowell-Hanson, Mbaira Micheline Maorongarti
Increasing Understanding of Period Poverty Among Faculty and Staff at Cristo Rey High School Boston (CRB)
Advisor: Catherine Conahan, AGNP-C, DNP
Students: Julie Sanders, Gina Pallanta, M. Katherine Valovcin
Advanced Practice Nursing Students Beliefs are Consistent with Weight Bias
Advisor: Catherine Conahan, AGNP-C, DNP
Students: Linda Uche, Michaela Voyer
The Problem of Underrepresentation: Developing a Toolkit to Increase Diversity in Cognitive Trials at MGB-ACTRU
Advisor: Corrine Y. Jurgens, Ph.D., RN, ANP, FAHA, FHFSA, FAAN
Students: Carole Anne Malloch, Shanyse Lingham
Transforming Clinical Research Nurse Orientation with Interactive Modules at an Academic Medical Center
Advisor: Corrine Y. Jurgens, Ph.D., RN, ANP, FAHA, FHFSA, FAAN
Students: Nicolette Tyler Bushman, Amanda Veronica McNally, Allison Rodgers
Caregiver Education on Cough, Cold, and Congestion Management to Decrease Pediatric Emergency Department Use with a Language-Based Intervention
Advisor: Corrine Y. Jurgens, Ph.D., RN, ANP, FAHA, FHFSA, FAAN
Students: Jason C. Driscoll, Bridget Jaklitsch, Laura Rianne Turner
Tune in to Better Training
Advisor: Corrine Y. Jurgens, Ph.D., RN, ANP, FAHA, FHFSA, FAAN
Students: Elizabeth Lessman, Katina M. Athanas
Qualitative Analysis of Current Practices of Screening to Brief Intervention of Adolescents: A Doctorate of Nursing Practice Quality Improvement Project
Advisor: Corrine Y. Jurgens, Ph.D., RN, ANP, FAHA, FHFSA, FAAN
Students: Monika DeTurk, Joelle Fern Mamon, Ellen Tracy
An Evaluation of Attitudes, Knowledge, and Beliefs about Race-Based Medicine at Signature Health // Race-Based Medicine: Breaking the Cycle
Advisor: Corrine Y. Jurgens, Ph.D., RN, ANP, FAHA, FHFSA, FAAN
Students: Alycia Dymond, Abigail Steiner
Lactation Services Quality Improvement at East Boston Neighborhood Health Center
Advisor: Christine Repsha, Ph.D., RN, CNP, CHSE
Students: Emily Molina, Andrea Gabriela Lopez, Haram Park
Implementing and Adopting EHR Nursing Templates in a School Based Setting
Advisor: Christine Repsha, Ph.D., RN, CNP, CHSE
Students: Colin Young, Ryan Lee
Improving Perceived Self-Efficacy Among Medical Providers in the Transition Care of Pediatric Patients with Neurodevelopmental Disabilities
Advisor: Christine Repsha, Ph.D., RN, CNP, CHSE
Students: Kaitlin M. Hammon, Grace Po-Yin Hsieh
Establishing an Autism Developmental Clinic at East Boston Neighborhood Health Center
Advisor: Christine Repsha, Ph.D., RN, CNP, CHSE
Students: Tia Andrawis, Alexandra Himel, Niah Gibbs, Gilberte Elise Erilus
Music & Memory: Hebrew Senior Life (HSL)
Advisor: Elizabeth P. Howard, Ph.D., RN, ANP, ACNP, FAAN
Students: Emily Brown, Emily Nicole Stansky, Sarah Manuppelli, Cameron Michael Howe
Implementing Hands-On Simulations to Enhance Dementia Training at Hebrew SeniorLife
Advisor: Elizabeth P. Howard, Ph.D., RN, ANP, ACNP, FAAN
Students: Esther Apraku Bondzie, Sarah Buckley, Elizabeth Williams
Racial Disparities in Colorectal Cancer Screening
Advisor: Jacqueline Sly, DNP, RN, NP-C
Students: Madeline Aubertine, Katherine Lizbeth Carrera Pena, Sydney Cheney
Influencing Healthcare Provider Awareness and Attitudes Regarding Race-Based Corrections Used in Spirometry
Advisor: Jacqueline Sly, DNP, RN, NP-C
Students: Kelly Cavan, Kimberly Lai, Sarah McDonnell
Educating Anesthesiology Providers on Systemic Racism in Medicine
Advisor: Jacqueline Sly, DNP, RN, NP-C
Students: Christine Miller, Natalie Corrales
Initial Prenatal Visit Postpartum Depression Screening at NWO
Advisor: Patricia Reid Ponte, RN, DNSc, FAAN, NEA-BC
Students: Emma K. Blackwell, Emily Ursini
Postpartum Hypertension Patient Education and Documentation Compliance - A Quality Improvement Initiative: Phase Two Newton Wellesley Hospital
Advisor: Patricia Reid Ponte, RN, DNSc, FAAN, NEA-BC
Students: Brittany Bayne, Katherine Love
Utilizing a Health and Social Needs Screening Tool to Identify Opportunities for Improved Access to Care at a Community Free Medical Program
Advisor: Patricia Reid Ponte, RN, DNSc, FAAN, NEA-BC
Students: Kitzia Colliard, Julia Wilson
Assessing the Effectiveness of Patient Education Tool (Breastfeeding in the NICU) Using PEMAT
Advisor: Patricia Reid Ponte, RN, DNSc, FAAN, NEA-BC
Students: Elizabeth S. Blocker, Isabella McDonald, Elizabeth Weyman
Co-Creating Patient-Facing Materials for Primary Ovarian Insufficiency: A Nurse-Led Quality Improvement Project
Advisors: Patricia Reid Ponte, RN, DNSc, FAAN, NEA-BC & Andrew Dwyer, PhD, FNP-BC, FNAP, FAAN
Students: Emily Bower, Elizabeth Cilia, Jennifer Marie Schmitz
Concussion Policy Development and Education for Staff Implementation at Cristo Rey Boston High School: A Doctor of Nursing Practice Student Quality Improvement Project
Advisor: Susan Kelly-Weeder, Ph.D., FNP-BC, FAANP, FAAN
Students: Katie Chaucer, Rachel Zhang
Optimizing School-Based Health Center (SBHC) Follow-Up Appointment Scheduling and Clinic Utilization: A DNP Student Quality Improvement Project
Advisor: Susan Kelly-Weeder, Ph.D., FNP-BC, FAANP, FAAN
Students: Emily Bower (FNP), Elizabeth Cilia (FNP), Jennifer Schmitz (FNP)
Concussion Policy Development and Education for Staff Implementation at Cristo Rey Boston High School: A Doctor of Nursing Practice Student Quality Improvement Project
Advisor: Susan Kelly-Weeder,Ph.D.., FNP-BC, FAANP, FAAN
Students: Vy Hoang (FNP), Caitlin Martin (FNP), Katlyn Noonan (FNP)
Implementation of a Comprehensive Health Intake Tool at Cristo Rey Boston High School and Its Impact on the Confidence of Nurse Practitioner Students
Advisor: Susan Kelly-Weeder,Ph.D.., FNP-BC, FAANP, FAAN
Students: Megan Catherine Mellon (WHNP), Samantha Paragona (WHNP)
Implementation of the Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale at the Initial Prenatal Visit: A Quality Improvement Initiative
Advisor: Patricia Reid Ponte, RN, D.N.Sc., FAAN, NEA-BC
Students: Sara Bowen (WHNP), Anastasia Green (WHNP)
Retrospective Chart Review of Readmission Rates for Women with Postpartum Hypertension and Evaluation of the Discharge Process: A Quality Improvement DNP Project
Advisor: Patricia Reid Ponte, RN, D.N.Sc., FAAN, NEA-BC
Students: Jessica Damiano (PNP), Katherine Vooys (PNP)
Optimizing Emergency Department Follow-Up in Primary Care to Reduce Future and Unnecessary Utilization in the Pediatric Population: A DNP Quality Improvement Project
Advisor: Corrine Jurgens, Ph.D.., RN, ANP, FAHA, FHFSA, FAAN
Students: Elizabeth Lessman (PMHNP), Katina Athanas (PMHNP) Qualitative Analysis of Current Practices of Screening to Brief Intervention of Adolescents: A Doctorate of Nursing Practice Quality Improvement Project
Advisor: Corrine Jurgens, Ph.D.., RN, ANP, FAHA, FHFSA, FAAN
Students: Monika DeTurk (FNP), Joelle Mamon (AGNP), Ellen Tracy (FNP)
An Evaluation of Attitudes, Knowledge, and Beliefs about Race-Based Medicine at Signature Health // Race-Based Medicine: Breaking the Cycle
Advisor: Corrine Jurgens, Ph.D.., RN, ANP, FAHA, FHFSA, FAAN
Students: Amy Azevedo (FNP), Milenis Cevallo-Pimentel (AGNP)
Qualitative: A Novel Qualitative Analysis of a Dementia Research Unit’s Participants’ Ethnic Diversity and Experiences. Quantitative: A Novel Quantitative Analysis of a Dementia Research Unit’s Participants’ Ethnic Diversity
Advisor: Corrine Jurgens, Ph.D.., RN, ANP, FAHA, FHFSA, FAAN
Students: Katie Chaucer (PNP), Rachel Zhang (PNP)
Optimizing School-Based Health Center (SBHC) Follow-Up Appointment Scheduling and Clinic Utilization: A DNP Student Quality Improvement Project
Advisor: Susan Kelly-Weeder,Ph.D.., FNP-BC, FAANP, FAAN
Students: Mary Ladesic (FNP), Samantha Weinberg (PMHNP)
Implementing a Health and Social Needs Screening at a Community Free Clinic
Advisor: Patricia Reid Ponte, RN, D.N.Sc., FAAN, NEA-BC
Caregivers’ Perception of Nurse-Led Discharge Education Interventions: Knowledge Needed for Adequate Care of a Technology-Dependent Infant in the Home Setting
The Experience of Older Adult Couples Living with Chronic Illness at Home
Factors Associated with Refeeding Hypophosphatemia in Adolescents and Young Adults Hospitalized with Anorexia Nervosa
Identification of Optimal Stool Donor Health and Intestinal Microbiome Characteristics for Fecal Microbiota Transplantation
Level of Mindfulness in Persons with Anorexia Nervosa Entering Residential Treatment and the Relationship with Eating Disorder Symptomology and Clinical Indicators of Health
Understanding Patient Engagement in Breast Cancer Survivorship Care: A National Web-Based Survey
The GNA facilitates professional development opportunities and sponsors social events, connecting you to your fellow students and serving as a voice for the CSON graduate community.
The KILN program helps students maximize their leadership potential, prepares them to provide nursing care in an increasingly multicultural society, and nurtures their ability to create positive social change.
Participation in CSON's international programs can count toward nurse practitioner (NP) supervised hours for graduate students.
A non-refundable application fee of $75 is required.
Deadlines
To be uploaded to your online Application Form.
Please submit a goal statement which will be used as a source of information about your educational objectives and as a sample of your writing ability. The goal statement should be typewritten (double-spaced) and no more than four pages in length.
Two letters of recommendation:
Official transcripts are preferred but not required upon application. If admitted, official transcripts will be required.
Official digital transcripts can be sent to csongrad@dos5.net.
All hard copy transcripts may be sent to the following mailing address:
Boston College
Graduate Nursing Office
Maloney Hall - 2nd Floor
140 Commonwealth Avenue
Chestnut Hill, MA 02467
*If the last name on your transcript does not match the application name, please contact csongrad@dos5.net after submitting the application.
GRE is preferred, but not required for application
Official Graduate Record Examination (GRE) scores* (current within five years of application deadline). Institutional code 3062
* Please allow 2-4 weeks for test scores to be received in order to meet application deadline
Based on the answers you provide in your application, you may need one or more of the following forms to complete your application: