Purpose
The Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) program prepares graduates for careers as adult gerontology primary care or psychiatric-mental health nurse practitioners with the skills to lead interdisciplinary teams and implement population- focused and evidenced-based health interventions. In addition, DNP graduates are prepared to improve and transform health care through systems’ leadership, research translation, advanced clinical knowledge, application and nursing education. The DNP course work includes translation research methods, theory, health policy, population health, informatics, systems leadership, leadership residencies, and capstone projects to achieve the goals for the DNP and to meet national accreditation and certification standards.
Outcomes
The Doctor of Nursing Practice Program is designed to prepare advanced practice nurses who are qualified for the American Nurses Credentialing Center examination. The graduate with a Doctor of Nursing Practice degree is prepared to:
1. Model nursing practice that demonstrates respect for human dignity, ethical responsibility, interpersonal connectedness and equity to promote health and reduce risk.
2. Master communication, collaboration and consultation strategies to address complex health issues in a variety of forums and formats.
3. Evaluate outcomes using accepted professional standards and evidence-based benchmarks to improve quality within and across systems so that consumers and staff can contribute to continuous quality improvement initiatives.
4. Translate evidence, clinical judgment, research findings, and theoretical perspectives to improve practice, care environments and maximize health outcomes.
5. Synthesize scientific knowledge and humanistic perspectives in a variety of roles and areas of practice.
6. Influence nursing practice and health policy to shape care delivery, addressing gaps resulting from growing healthcare needs at the local, state, national and international levels.
7. Use organizational and systems leadership in collaboration with interdisciplinary team members and community partners to promote health, guide clients through the illness experience and improve the health systems.
8 Integrate effective use of informatics and technology to support quality improvement initiatives, clinical decision-making and safe care.
9. Assume a leadership role in advancing, fostering and maintaining nursing values and standards in a variety of settings and roles for individuals, populations and systems.
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