DNP Program approved

The University of Kansas School of Nursing has a new educational program available, the Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP).

The DNP prepares advanced practice nurses at the highest level of nursing practice and offers sophisticated, cutting-edge experiences that help nurses actively engage in a complex, dynamic and demanding health care field. Skills in collaboration, innovation and evaluation, complemented by advanced practice nursing skills will prepare nurses to shape the future of health care. These advanced practice nurses will be prepared to provide patient-centered care that is evidence-based practice, and pursue leadership roles in a variety of health care end educational settings.

The DNP program was developed because the increasingly complex health care system created a need for more advanced education for clinical practice for all health professionals, including nurses, said Helen Connors, RN, PhD, FAAN, associate dean for academic affairs at the KU School of Nursing.

The master’s degree historically has been the degree for specialized advanced nursing practice. With development of DNP programs across the country, this new degree will become the preferred preparation for specialty nursing practice. The KU School of Nursing joins a number of schools of nursing across the country that has added a DNP program to its educational offerings.

DNP specialty tracks include: Adult-Gerontological Clinical Nurse Specialist, Adult-Gerontological Nurse Practitioner, Certified Nurse Midwife, Family Nurse Practitioner, Nurse Anesthesia, Psychiatric-Mental Health Nurse Practitioner, Healthcare Informatics, Organizational Leadership and Public Health.

“With a strong foundation in both theory and practice, our graduates are well-prepared to succeed in the ever-changing, high-tech health care environment,” Connors said.

For the fall 2008 and fall 2009 years the DNP program will be a post-masters program only. Applications for the post-masters DNP program are currently being accepted through March 1 for the Fall 2008 semester. For more information, call the KU School of Nursing at 913-588-1619 or go click on the DNP Program Information.