School of Nursing

Personal Statement and Resume Requirements for Graduate Applicants

Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP)

Below you will find the prompts and guidelines for the personal statement and resume requirements for the specialization to which you are applying. Please include your answers to these questions in the program materials section of your NursingCAS application.

BSN to DNP–Nurse Anesthesia

Personal Statement
Please respond to one of the following prompts in two pages or less. Consider the content as well as writing skill. 

• Please tell us what your professional goals are and how your graduate degree will enhance your achievement of these goals? 

• Do you have a background, identity, interest or talent that is so meaningful you believe your application would be incomplete without it? Please share your story. 

In addition, please answer the following in 250 words or less: 

• What steps have you taken or resources have you put in place to move you towards success within the anesthesia specialization? 

Formatting requirements: 

• Double Spaced 

• Size 12 Font 

Resume/CV Guidelines
General Instructions: 

• Use 12-point font 

• List information for each section in reverse chronological order (most recent first) 

Please include the following information in the order listed:

1. Name 

2. Contact Information 

3. Education (please include Institution, Degree, Major, Date; include degree granting institutions only) 

4. Employment (please include Employer, Unit, Title, Dates; include all RN positions and other relevant employment) 

5. Licensures and Certifications (please include type, State/Agency/Institution, Date) 

6. Honors and Awards (please include name of award or honor, society/agency, Date) 

7. Professional Activities (please include organizations, memberships, advisory boards – include name, role, date) 

8. Scholarship Activities (research, quality improvement projects, publications, etc.)  

9. Community Service  

BSN to DNP–Family Nurse Practitioner, Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner

Personal Statement
Please respond to one of the following prompts in 500 words or less. Consider the content as well as writing skill. 

• Describe how social determinants of health figure into advanced practice primary care. 

• Consider a primary care issue and review the current evidence related to that issue. What can an APRN do to improve patient outcomes related to that issue?

In addition, please answer the following in 250 words or less: 

• What are your professional goals? How does obtaining the DNP versus a master's degree help you to achieve your professional goals? 

Formatting requirements: 

• Double Spaced 

• Size 12 Font 

Resume/CV Guidelines
General Instructions: 

• Use 12-point font 

• List information for each section in reverse chronological order (most recent first) 

Please be sure to include the following information:

• Community Service/Volunteer Experience

• Leadership Roles

• Experience with diverse populations

• Research or quality improvement experience

FNP to DNP-Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner

Personal Statement
Please respond to one of the following prompts in 500 words or less. Consider the content as well as writing skill. 

• Describe how social determinants of health figure into advanced practice primary care. 

• Consider a primary care issue and review the current evidence related to that issue. What can an APRN do to improve patient outcomes related to that issue?

In addition, please answer the following in 250 words or less: 

• What are your professional goals? How does obtaining the DNP help you to achieve your professional goals? 

Formatting requirements: 

• Double Spaced 

• Size 12 Font 

Resume/CV Guidelines
General Instructions: 

• Use 12-point font 

• List information for each section in reverse chronological order (most recent first) 

Please be sure to include the following information:

• Community Service/Volunteer Experience

• Leadership Roles

• Experience with diverse populations

• Research or quality improvement experience

Post-Graduate Certificate-Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner

Personal Statement
Please respond to one of the following prompts in 500 words or less. Consider the content as well as writing skill. 

• Describe how social determinants of health figure into advanced practice primary care. 

• Consider a primary care issue and review the current evidence related to that issue. What can an APRN do to improve patient outcomes related to that issue?

In addition, please answer the following in 250 words or less: 

• What are your professional goals?

Formatting requirements: 

• Double Spaced 

• Size 12 Font 

Resume/CV Guidelines

General instructions:

• Use 12-point font

• List information for each section in reverse chronological order(most recent first)

Please be sure to include the following information

• Community Service/Volunteer Experience

• Leadership Roles

• Experience with diverse populations

• Research or quality improvement experience