Friday, December 14, 2007
Indiana Commission for Higher Education approved DNP program
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A first-ever doctoral-level academic program at the University of Southern Indiana received approval today by the Indiana Commission for Higher Education. The new degree, expected to be implemented in fall 2008, is a Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP). The College of Nursing and Health Professions proposed the nursing degree as the first doctoral program to be offered at USI. The program would serve Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) graduates who are currently practicing as nurse educators, nurse practitioners, or nurse administrators. The DNP is an alternative to research-focused doctorates in nursing and is comparable to practice doctorates in pharmacy and physical therapy. Dr. Linda L. M. Bennett, provost and vice president for Academic Affairs at USI, said “It is the next natural step given the success of the master’s degree program. The program is not a research doctorate. It is a practice-focused terminal degree. The approval of the degree speaks to the strength of the USI nursing program.” Dr. Nadine Coudret, dean of the College of Nursing and Health Professions, explained that through a survey, the college learned of the high-level of interest and support for the establishment of a clinical nursing practice doctorate. The 2007 President’s Task Force on Workforce and Economic Development, prepared at the direction of USI President H. Ray Hoops, supported the need for clinical nursing and other health-related programs. The doctorate will support the education, social, and economic growth of southern Indiana by providing expert nurse clinicians, educators, and administrators. The program is offered at 45 universities nationally and at Purdue University in Indiana. The program will be offered through a hybrid approach to course delivery using online learning technology with on-campus intensives. Dr. Coudret said, “The current graduate nursing program has had great success in delivery of course content through the use of advanced instructional technology. Employer evaluations and graduates’ success in passing the national certification exam on the first attempt point to the success.” The DNP program would begin with 20 students, and it would offer the program for full-time and part-time students. Students seeking admission to the program must have completed an M.S.N. degree to be eligible to enroll. The curriculum will build on the current MSN program and include courses on advanced scientific principles for nursing practice, organizational and system leadership, informatics, cultural competence, health care policy, and evidence-based practice. |
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