Program Overview
The University of North Alabama’s Doctor of Nursing Practice program prepares advanced nursing professionals to lead change, improve healthcare outcomes, and influence the future of patient care. Through advanced curriculum focused on leadership, evidence-based practice, and healthcare innovation, students develop the expertise needed to address complex healthcare challenges and drive meaningful improvements across healthcare systems.
Why Choose This Program?
- Advance your leadership skills and expand your impact within healthcare organizations and communities
- Apply evidence-based practice to improve patient outcomes and healthcare delivery
- Learn from experienced faculty dedicated to preparing nurse leaders for today’s evolving healthcare environment
Curriculum & Coursework
DNP students benefit from an advanced curriculum that integrates leadership, healthcare policy, quality improvement, and evidence-based practice. Through scholarly inquiry and applied learning experiences, students develop the skills needed to address complex healthcare issues and implement meaningful system-level change.
Sample Courses:
- NU 706 Evidence-Based Practice Design and Translation
- NU 722 Health Policy and Politics
- NU 728 Leadership
- NU 800 DNP I: Project Identification (DNP Scholarly Project)
[UNA: Confirm Class Info Above]
Career Paths & Outcomes
A Doctor of Nursing Practice degree prepares nurses for advanced leadership roles focused on improving patient care, influencing healthcare systems, and driving organizational success. Graduates will be equipped to lead healthcare innovation and implement evidence-based solutions that improve outcomes for patients and communities.
Common Career Paths:
- Nurse Executive
- Healthcare Administrator
- Advanced Practice Nurse Leader
- Clinical Director
- Healthcare Consultant
- Quality Improvement Specialist
- Nursing Faculty
- Healthcare Policy Advocate
Student Experience
At UNA, our DNP students engage in advanced scholarship, leadership development, and practice-focused learning experiences designed to address real-world healthcare challenges. By collaborating with faculty mentors and healthcare professionals and applying evidence-based solutions that improve patient outcomes and strengthen healthcare systems, you will graduate feeling fully-equipped for your career in the field.
Opportunities include:
- Faculty mentorship and individualized support
- Applied scholarly projects addressing healthcare challenges
- Leadership development opportunities
- Collaboration with healthcare professionals and organizations
- Evidence-based practice and quality improvement initiatives
- Professional networking and career advancement opportunities
Meet the Faculty
Ms. Joni Atkins
Lecturer
jbbaker@una.edu
Dr. Peggy Bergeron
Professor
mhbergeron@una.edu
Ms. Candy Bishop
Enrollment Coordinator/Academic Advisor
cthigpen1@una.edu
Dr. Will Brewer
Professor
wbrewer@una.edu
Ms. Lindsay Bright
Coordinator, Clinical Placement
lbright1@una.edu
Dr. Neysa Brown
Assistant Professor
nbrown3@una.edu
Ms. Hope Buckley
Coordinator, Clinical Placement
hbuckley1@una.edu
Ms. Rebecca Canterberry
Lecturer
rcanterberry@una.edu
Dr. Victoria Casson
Assistant Professor
vcasson@una.edu
Dr. Stephanie Clark
Associate Professor
sbarger1@una.edu
Dr. Helen Coronel
Professor
hcoronel@una.edu
Ms. Melissa DeFoor
Assistant Professor
magrissom@una.edu
Ms. Tasha Garrison
Business Manager, ACONHP
tclanton@una.edu
Dr. Ashton Glover
Assistant Professor
hglover2@una.edu
Ms. Vickie Green
Lecturer
vegreen@una.edu
Dr. Clarissa Hall
Professor
cdhall@una.edu
Dr. Lisa Harrington
Associate Professor
lharrington@una.edu
Dr. LaKeva Harris
Assistant Professor
lbcasey@una.edu
Ms. Monica Hester
Lecturer
mphester@una.edu
Ms. Sarah Beth Hester
Academic Advisor
shester3@una.edu
Ms. Amanda Hitt
Assistant Professor
ahitt@una.edu
Dr. Sharon Holley
Associate Professor
slholley@una.edu
Dr. Sarah Hood
Assistant Professor
sestumpe@una.edu
Ms. Amanda Hunt
Clinical Simulation/Technology Manager
ahunt5@una.edu
Ms. Ann-Marie Irons
Associate Professor
airons@una.edu
Ms. Britney Jones
Lecturer
bjones13@una.edu
Dr. Leah Keith
Assistant Professor
lkeith1@una.edu
Dr. Tera Kirkman
Dean, ACONHP
trkirkman@una.edu
Ms. Wendy Little
Coordinator, College Partnerships and Regulatory Compliance
wlittle@una.edu
Dr. Melanie Looser
Assistant Professor
mlooser@una.edu
Dr. Paige Martin
Assistant Professor
wmartin3@una.edu
Dr. Brittnay Mitchell
Assistant Professor
bmitchell12@una.edu
Dr. Michelle Nelson
Associate Dean, ACONHP
mlnelson1@una.edu
Ms. Sydni Pate
Administrative Assistant, ACONHP
spate4@una.edu
Ms. Alaina Ramey
Director, Enrollment & Student Success
aramey@una.edu
Ms. Beverly Russell
Assistant Professor
brussell3@una.edu
Ms. Amy Seay
Assistant Professor
amseay@una.edu
Ms. Savannah Siniard
Academic Advisor
ssiniard@una.edu
Ms. Kaylee Stokes
Lecturer
ksmith26@una.edu
Mr. Matthew Thompson
Senior Administrative Assistant, ACONHP
mthompson30@una.edu
Ms. Jane Tinkham
Academic Advisor
jtinkham@una.edu
Dr. Rachel Winston
Professor
rwinston@una.edu
