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The Idaho State Board of Education approved a new online doctor of nursing practice (DNP) degree program at Boise State University in Feb. The program is aimed at nurses who are seeking a terminal degree in nursing that is an alternative to a research-focused Ph.D. The program starts in August 2013.<\/p>\n
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\u201cThis program highlights our growing commitment to the expansion of nursing education programs vital to preserving the quality of life we enjoy in the Treasure Valley,\u201d said Martin Schimpf, provost and vice president for academic affairs. \u201cI am very proud of our nursing faculty and the energy and commitment they have put into designing this state-of-the-art program to prepare nurse leaders for the rapid changes we are experiencing in health care.\u201d<\/p>\n
Boise State\u2019s ninth doctoral program will prepare more nurses to assume leadership responsibilities in education and the clinical work force, and is self-supporting. Entry into the program will require a current registered nurse (RN) license, a bachelor\u2019s degree in nursing with a master\u2019s degree in a related field, or a master\u2019s degree in nursing.<\/p>\n
\u201cHealth care systems are growing and becoming more complex and nurses are pivotal in these systems,\u201d said Pam Springer, associate dean of the College of Health Sciences and director of the School of Nursing. \u201cNurses prepared with practice doctorates have the skills necessary to work within these complex systems to improve the health care experience and outcomes.\u201d<\/p>\n
Boise State has forged a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with Idaho State University that\u00a0outlines how graduate education at the two schools can benefit Idaho. The agreement includes a new doctorate in nursing at ISU that will focus on direct care advanced practice nursing.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe are pleased to work with ISU to coordinate offerings to ensure we can deliver a variety of graduate nursing programs to citizens in Idaho,\u201d Springer said.<\/p>\n
Boise State\u2019s DNP builds upon the content of the School of Nursing\u2019s existing master of nursing and master of science in nursing programs. The doctorate is a part-time program consisting of 40 credits earned over eight semesters. Fifteen students per year will be admitted.<\/p>\n
The program will emphasize the use of evidenced-based practice to enhance the development of interventions that affect health outcomes and that are effective even in highly complex healthcare systems. Graduates will be able to assume leadership roles in a wide range of settings, including acute, ambulatory and community-based care.<\/p>\n
In 2004, the American Association of Colleges of Nursing (AACN) proposed the current level of preparation for advanced nursing practice be increased from the master\u2019s level to the doctoral level. Additionally, a recent \u201cFuture of Nursing\u201d report from the Institute of Medicine and Robert Wood Johnson Foundation called for nursing leaders to achieve higher levels of education and be able to act as full partners in the redesign efforts of the health care system.<\/p>\n
The program is part of a broader set of existing and newly approved graduates programs at Boise State University:<\/p>\n
Boise State will continue to work closely with local hospitals and other health care providers, who partner with the university to offer clinical placements for students and faculty assistance. In addition to educating nurse leaders, the new doctorate will assure a strong pool of talented leaders that will benefit local health care organizations for many years to come.<\/p>\n
\u201cBoise State has an exceptional School of Nursing, and Saint Alphonsus has played an important role in the development of the program,\u201d said Sally E. Jeffcoat, president and CEO of Saint Alphonsus Health System, in a letter of support for the new program. \u201cIt is important to us that we have a high quality local program that we can be part of developing and implementing.\u201d<\/p>\n
David C. Pate, president and CEO of St. Luke\u2019s Health System, agreed that the program will benefit the local healthcare community. \u201cSt. Luke\u2019s Health System has a close relationship with Boise State and we are looking forward to partnering with Boise State in the development of these programs.\u201d<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
The Idaho State Board of Education approved a new online doctor of nursing practice…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":202,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[4072,4071],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-20871","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-cohs-news","category-son-news"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"\n