Transcript The Catholic University of America

The Catholic University of America
Doctor of Nursing Practice
DNP
What is a DNP?
• A doctoral degree in nursing that is
practice focused rather than the
research focused PhD.
• It is viewed as a final (terminal)degree.
• Focus is on clinical practice that is
innovative and evidence-based,
bringing research findings into practice.
Why the DNP?
• The AACN has recommended that by the
year 2015, all APRNs ( NPs, CNS, CNM,
NA) be educated in DNP programs that
prepare practice experts in specialized
advanced nursing practice ……and that, in
the future, the MSN degree be reserved for
clinical nurse generalists.
• This is a recommendation (not a mandate).
Why?
• Expansion of knowledge necessary to be an
excellent APRN in changing health care
system is growing beyond what can
reasonably be taught in an MSN program.
• Necessary credit allocation warrants a
doctoral degree.
• To bring nursing specialties “up to par” with
other health care providers.
Reactions
• Varied but general support from other
nursing organizations.
• There is no plan to require that currently
certified and licensed NPs return to school
for a DNP.
• However, for those NPs who would like a
doctoral degree, the DNP holds great
appeal.
Standards for DNP Programs
• AACN – focuses on Essentials of Doctoral
Nursing Practice for all APRN roles
• NONPF – focuses on DNP competencies
for nurse practitioners.
• Great similarity between the two sets of
standards.
Expected Content Areas
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Evidence Based Practice
Epidemiology
Population Health
Leadership
Health Care Finance/Economics
Emerging Science or Practice Innovations
Residency ( Integration)
EBP Project
There is great variability in DNP Programs
Catholic University of
America’s DNP
• Purpose is to prepare ……
• Expert Clinicians and Leaders
• Graduates are ready to assume positions of
leadership in health care with the ultimate
goal of improving health care and health
status of people.
Not all DNP Programs are
the Same!
• A national survey asked practicing NPs what they
would like to learn if they returned to school for a
doctoral degree: over 50% identified specific
clinical skills, such as those that would round out
current areas of perceived weakness…….
• More knowledge and skills in radiology, wound
care, cardiology; sports medicine, spirometry, etc
etc. – things they identified as important to feeling
like “clinical experts.”
• Fewer identified the content found in the
traditional coursework found in most DNP
programs.
CUA created a DNP Program that would
meet the individualized needs of students
based on their own professional goals
while also meeting the standards.
What is Different at CUA?
• CUA’s program is uniquely planned to allow
NPs to use the DNP program to expand or
refine their clinical skills.
• NPs may choose two clinical cognates and
a residency to allow them to expand their
scope of practice and/or sit for further
certification or add a specialty.
Some examples
• While earning the DNP ……
• A primary care PNP may choose pediatric
acute care courses to sit for certification as
an acute care PNP
• An ANP may add courses to enable her/him
to sit for certification as an FNP.
• A CNS may choose cognates that will allow
her to add the NP role.
More Examples
• A midwife is seeing more and more patients with
mental health needs with few referral resources.
She has decided to take a Psychopharmacology
course and another in Brief Solution Focused
Counseling or Cognitive Behavioral Therapy to
better prepare her for her clients with depression.
• A PNP is using coursework and residency to
become lactation certified with plans to open her
own lactation consultation business.
Other examples
• One NP wants to open her own wound care
consulting business upon completion. She will
take cognates and do a residency to prepare her
with added clinical skills in this area as well as the
business skills.
• Another NP has been unable to be added to the
panel of a managed care group because she is
not prepared to “admit patients.” Her coursework
will be focused on acquiring this knowledge and
skills.
More examples
• Other arenas for practice also exist,
including policy and public health.
• A student is looking at an internship with a
state legislator working on a health care
mandate.
• Another may work with a global health
organization around an AIDs initiative
CUA’ Executive Format DNP
Post-Master’s- 34 credits
Primarily taught in an Executive Format:
• Students meet with faculty for 2-3 days in
beginning of semester on campus and again at
the end of the semester. In between classes are
online and web enhanced.
CUA’s DNP
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Full or Part Time Options
Year-Round courses available
Full time- 15 months
Part Time – 24 months
Most current students work full time and take
courses part time.
• Small classes – ideal faculty to student ratio
More Specifics re CUA’s DNP
• Faculty are all actively practicing and experts in the content area
they teach. For example, the faculty member for EBP Is Director of
Research at a large multi-centered health agency. The faculty
member who teaches Leadership and Complex Health
Organizations is employed in a top leadership position at FDA.
• The Epidemiology course is taught by DrPH/NP with significant
field experience in Central America and global nutrition
• Health Care Finance is taught by an nurse with international
expertise in health services and policy analysis.
• Students are encouraged to work with outside mentors/experts
across the disciplines.
Advice to NPs
considering the DNP
• This will probably be the last formal education program
you enroll in.
• A DNP is more than a degree to add to your resume.
• Yes, a doctorate may be valuable in itself for some
positions……But it can be so much more!
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Make sure it puts you in a position to meet your own
professional goals.
Specifics regarding CUA’s DNP
• For more information, call:
• 202 319-6536
or
• hppt://nursing.cua.edu.graduate/DNP