MC School of Nursing gains Mississippi IHL approval for three new DNP tracks

Three IHL-approved program tracks offered by the MC School of Nursing prepare nurses who view education as a calling rooted in Christian values.

The Mississippi Institutions of Higher Learning has given Stage Two approval for three Doctor of Nursing Practice tracks at the Mississippi Christian University School of Nursing. This approval will allow MC to admit students into its August 2026 cohort of the fully online programs.

Mississippi consistently has approximately 3,000 nursing vacancies, about one-fifth of the state's nursing workforce. This has led to numerous challenges in healthcare delivery within the hospital system.

Kelly Harden, professor of nursing and dean of the MC School of Nursing, said there is a growing need for nurse educators and healthcare leaders to meet the demands of an evolving healthcare system.

“While research-focused doctoral programs are essential, they do not align with the career goals of all nurses,” Harden said. “The Doctor of Nursing Practice degree provides an alternative doctoral pathway that emphasizes the translation and application of research into clinical practice, quality improvement, healthcare innovation and leadership.

“By preparing nurses to implement evidence-based solutions and assume leadership and faculty roles, the DNP helps address critical shortages of nurse educators and nursing leaders while improving healthcare outcomes.”

She said a doctoral degree is the preferred qualification for nurse educators and is commonly required for those teaching in graduate nursing programs.

“By increasing the number of doctorally prepared faculty, nursing programs can expand enrollment opportunities, educate more future nurses and play a critical role in addressing the persistent nursing shortage.”

The DNP-Nurse Executive Leadership track is offered to students with a baccalaureate degree and who seek a nurse leadership degree at the doctoral level.

The DNP-Nurse Educator track is offered to students with a baccalaureate degree who seek a doctoral-level nurse educator degree.

The post-graduate DNP track is offered to students with a master’s degree in nursing who seek a doctoral degree without a new certification.

These program tracks prepare nurses who view education as a calling rooted in Christian values. Graduates will be equipped to design, implement and evaluate nursing curricula with compassion, integrity and respect for human dignity.

The MC School of Nursing is the only school in the state to offer a DNP in Nursing Education and the only faith-based school with a leadership concentration. The three tracks expand the pipeline of well-prepared educators for academic and health care organizations, support workforce development and advance MC’s mission of faith-informed leadership and service.

While the demand for nurse educators and nurse leaders continues to grow, the educational infrastructure to prepare them remains limited. Access to high-quality, flexible and values-based graduate nursing programs is insufficient to meet the needs of aspiring nurse leaders, educators and healthcare employers who depend on them.

“These advanced degrees give them the skills to serve the community better in regulatory issues and to understand all of the issues present in healthcare and healthcare education,” Harden said.

Jeanne Bernier, MC assistant professor of nursing and director of graduate programs, said the IHL’s approval of the three DNP tracks expands MC’s ability to develop servant leaders who integrate faith, scholarship and professional practice.

“The approval affirms the strength of our nursing programs and our shared vision for the future,” Bernier said. “These online DNP tracks are particularly important because they provide practicing nurses with a flexible pathway to earn the highest practice-focused degree in nursing while continuing to serve their patients, organizations and communities. As healthcare continues to evolve, there is an increasing need for nurse leaders who can translate evidence into practice, improve healthcare systems, influence policy and lead quality improvement initiatives.

“The DNP prepares nurses to meet these challenges and make meaningful contributions to healthcare outcomes.”

To enter any of the programs, nurses with a baccalaureate degree must have a 2.50 GPA, and nurses with a master’s degree must have a 3.0 GPA in their graduate-level courses; a license to practice in Mississippi or the state in which they will be doing their clinical training and must pass a background check and drug screening.

Nurses who have a bachelor’s degree can complete the program in three years; nurses with graduate degrees can complete the program in five full-time semesters or eight part-time semesters.

For more information about graduate degrees offered by the MC School of Nursing, visit https://nursing.mc.edu/degrees/online-dnp.