Doctor of Nursing Practice: Master’s to D.N.P.

The fully online Master's to D.N.P. degree program is clinically oriented for advanced practice nurses who have a master’s degree. It prepares graduates to employ clinical reasoning at the highest level of nursing practice to plan and implement patient care. Nurses completing the program have a strong practice-oriented preparation with the ability to work within teams of health professionals, care for diverse populations, and lead other providers in providing safe, high-quality healthcare.

The fully online program takes five semesters, or less than two years, to complete and provides the individual attention students need to succeed.

RMU also offers students the Access to Interprofessional Mental Health Education (AIME) program, whose mission is to expand the number of psychiatric mental health care providers and educate future Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioners to provide evidence-based holistic care as part of an interprofessional team to individuals of all ages experiencing mental health problems.

The Bachelor of Science in Nursing, the Master of Science in Nursing and the Doctor of Nursing Practice programs in the School of Nursing, Education and Human Studies are accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education.

Course Plan

Year 1 - Fall Semester

• STAT 8010 Statistics for Health Sciences
• NURS 8020 Research & Theory

Year 1 - Spring Semester

• HSIC 8120 Clinical Teams & Teamwork II
• NURS 8150 Integrating Research/Practice
• NURS 8030 Epidemiology

Year 1 - Summer Semester

• NURS 8140 EBP Advanced Nursing Roles
• HSIC Health Care Economics

Year 2 - Fall Semester

• HSIC 8020 Health Policy
• NURS 9130 Information Systems and Evidence-Based Practice

Year 2 - Spring Semester

• NURS 9610 Practice Mgt Issues/Role
• NURS 9620 Applying EBP Health Care Settings

Admissions Requirements

• Admission to DNP Programs

DNP Faculty Bios

Dr. Stephen Foreman is Professor of Health Economics at Robert Morris University, Pittsburgh, PA where he teaches health economics, health policy, statistics and health law and ethics in the University’s graduate programs.  Dr. Foreman has been a Fulbright Scholar at the Crimea State Medical University, Simferopol, Crimea, where he lectured and conducted research in comparative international health policy. His research focuses on structure, performance and strategy in health insurance, hospital and physician markets and health insurance data. His work includes the international economics of aging, economic mechanisms as they relate to corruption and the economics of human trafficking.  Dr. Foreman holds a Ph.D. in Health Economics from the University of California, Berkeley, a J.D. with Honors from the University of North Carolina and a Master in Public Administration from Harvard’s Kennedy School of Government where he was a Littauer Fellow.

Dr. Susan Hellier is a professor at Robert Morris University where she teaches women’s health, research, and physical assessment in the School of Nursing and Health Sciences.  In addition, she is on the medical staff at Magee Women’s Hospital of UPMC where she works in the obstetrical/gynecological out-patient clinic.  Her research focus is education of healthcare providers.  She is an experienced presenter at conferences and well-published in women's health topics. Dr. Hellier received her Ph.D. from Indiana University of Pennsylvania, her DNP from Waynesburg University, and her nurse practitioner training at the University of Pittsburgh. 

Dr. Kirstyn Kameg is a University Professor of Nursing at Robert Morris University and Coordinator of the Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner program. She has been a nurse educator and practicing Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner since 2000. She has published and presented extensively on topics related to mental health nursing. Her research interests include use of simulation as an educational methodology in the psychiatric specialty and interprofessional education. Dr. Kameg also maintains a private practice diagnosing and treating individuals across the lifespan with mental health diagnoses.

Dr. Judith Kaufmann is an Associate Professor in the School of Nursing and Health Sciences.  In addition, she is a nurse practitioner in an Internal Medicine practice in the St. Clair Health System. She is a nationally certified Family Nurse Practitioner who has practiced in both acute and primary care settings since 1988 and taught in the nurse practitioner program at the University of Pittsburgh from 1995 to April 2007.  In addition, Dr. Kaufmann was the Founding Director of the Doctor of Nursing Practice Program at Robert Morris University from 2007-2014.   She earned her Doctorate in Public Health from the University of Pittsburgh Graduate School Of Public Health and has had funded research in the areas of childhood obesity and interdisciplinary education for nurse practitioners.  She has multiple presentations and publications that focus on both acute and chronic health conditions encountered in primary care.   

Dr. Lisa Locasto is an assistant professor in the School of Nursing and Health Sciences.  She earned her Doctorate in Nursing Practice from Robert Morris University.  Her research interest is childhood obesity.  In addition, Dr. Locasto manages a pediatric weight management program at a pediatric primary care office. Her recent publications include “Effect of the dedicated education unit on nursing student self-efficacy: A quasi-experimental research study”, “The development of an electronic headache pain diary for children who experience headache as a symptom of concussion”.  She has also presented on “Outcomes Using an Electronic Food and Activity Tracking Device with Children”.

Dr. Denise Ramponi is an Associate Professor in the School of Nursing & Health Sciences.  She earned her Doctorate of Nursing Practice at Waynesburg University.  Her research interests center around education regarding advanced practice procedures and simulation.  Dr. Ramponi’s most recent publications include “Using simulation to teach primary gynecological procedures”, “Dental procedures”, and “TMJ dislocations and relocation procedures”.  

Dr. Luann Richardson in an Associate Professor at Robert Morris University School of Nursing and Health Sciences. She earned her Doctor of Philosophy and Doctor of Nursing Practice Degrees at the University of Pittsburgh. She is certified as a Family Nurse Practitioner, Geriatric Nurse Practitioner, and Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner. Her academic interests include Integrative care, gero-psychiatry and advanced practice clinical issues. Dr. Richardson has published numerous publications on advanced practice issues and has presented nationally. 

Dr. Carl Ross is a University Professor of Nursing at Robert Morris University. He earned his Doctorate of Philosophy at Duquesne University. He is also a certified Family Nurse Practitioner and maintains a steady practice in gerontology. His research interests center around international, men’s, and transgender health, in addition to critical care nursing and disadvantaged students. Dr. Ross has published several articles and received multiple grants in his areas of expertise. Some titles include: “Preparing nurse practitioner students for international experiences using skills acquisition.”, “The older adult experiencing sepsis”, “Long-term Bisphosphonate Therapy: Possible Link to Rare Femur Fracture.” In addition to publishing, Dr. Ross recently completed his 101st trip to Nicaragua where he provides nursing students an international experience.

Dr. Janene Luther Szpak is an Associate Professor in the School of Nursing and Health Sciences at Robert Morris University.  In this capacity, she teaches across the nursing curriculum. She is a board-certified Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse practitioner and earned her Doctorate in Nursing Practice degree from Robert Morris University, Moon Township, PA. Dr. Szpak's areas of clinical interest include the treatment of various anxiety disorders, substance use disorders, the use of simulation in Psychiatry, and creating awareness for domestic violence and abuse.  She has various publications and presentations in multiple psychiatric mental health topics.  In addition to serving as a nursing educator, she maintains an active private practice.