Momentum
A new seamless path from the baccalaureate to Doctor of Nursing Practice
Written by Story by Phillip Fiorini
The Purdue School of Nursing helped set the educational standard for quality health care delivery by launching one of the nation’s first Doctorate in Nursing Practice (DNP) degree programs nearly a decade ago. After examining national trends and with the vision to empower the next generation of nurse practitioners, Purdue Nursing has created a more seamless and efficient path to completing the advanced degree.
Beginning in 2017, Baccalaureate Nursing (BSN) graduates will be able to complete their DNP in three years, including summers, says Cheryl Erler, a clinical associate professor and director of Purdue’s DNP program.
“The purpose of the curriculum plan reorganization is to prepare an Advanced Practice Registered Nurse (APRN) with a doctoral degree prior to engaging in advanced practice, as is seen with other health disciplines such as medicine and pharmacy,” she says. “Additionally, the Advanced Practice, post-BSN to Doctorate pathway is in step with other Big Ten universities and leading universities across the country.”
Since 2005, Purdue has had an accredited pathway from BSN to DNP. Most students completed the nurse practitioner track in two years and then waited many more years to come back and complete the DNP. The reorganization of the curriculum plan will enable BSN graduates to complete the DNP and Advanced Practice requirements for certification simultaneously.
Graduates from Purdue’s BSN to DNP will be eligible for national certification in one of three advanced practice specialties: primary care pediatric nurse practitioner, family nurse practitioner or primary care adult gerontology nurse practitioner, Erler says. These DNP graduates are prepared as change agents. They not only are expert practitioners, they are the ones who will be ensuring that best practices in care are implemented.
“We can no longer tolerate a health care system that takes 15 or more years to implement best practices,” she says.
By obtaining the Advanced Practice Nursing skills along with the DNP tool set, the graduates understand how to implement best practices in their organizations in a timely fashion, she says.
“Our vision is that a large number of APRNs will also be equipped with the skills embedded into the practice doctorate before beginning their professional practice,” Erler says. “These individuals have the capacity to assume leadership and advanced practice patient-care roles in health care systems at an earlier stage of their professional careers. Purdue DNP graduates are prepared to be expert practitioners who are adept at addressing complex problems in health care systems, influencing health care policies, developing and implementing best practice guidelines, and translating research into practice to provide quality, safe care.”
Purdue offers a uniquely structured DNP program to provide leadership in solving complex clinical problems through partnerships with the Regenstrief Center for Healthcare Engineering, the College of Pharmacy, the Purdue University Homeland Security Institute, and the Center on Aging and the Life Course.
Shannon Moore, who is set to complete her DNP in summer 2017, is convinced that the already strong Purdue nursing program will benefit from the planned streamlining. An assistant professor of nursing at the University of Indianapolis, Moore will use her DNP degree to educate nurse leaders of the future.
“I chose Purdue for many reasons. I wanted a quality education from a reputable school. I also did not want to complete my degree solely online — I find great value in face-to-face meetings,” she says. “I have had wonderful professors and have truly enjoyed my experience.”
Diane Hountz was a nurse leader early in her career but realized she needed additional education to learn the skills necessary to have the role she desired in the industry.
“The Purdue DNP offers a comprehensive curriculum that focuses on systems thinking, health care policy and health care leadership with the added benefit of learning from experts not only in nursing but in health care engineering,” says Hountz, a clinical assistant professor of nursing at Purdue. She teaches nursing leadership to senior-level undergraduate students.
During her DNP studies, Hountz also attended a health care policy conference in Washington, D.C., and met with lawmakers to discuss health care concerns affecting local and state communities.
“This real-world experience has driven me to instill the importance of nursing’s voice and leadership at all levels of health care policy change in our current and future RNs,” she says.
The Purdue Nursing post BSN-DNP curriculum is set to begin in the fall 2017 semester. Applications are currently being accepted and inquiries about the program and application should be directed to Ashley Brooks, graduate administrative assistant, at 765-494-9248 or albrooks@purdue.edu.
