TCU’s inaugural Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) class graduated at Commencement ceremonies May 9. The 23 DNP graduates were the first to complete the groundbreaking program, which is designed to educate nurses at the highest level of advanced practice. The class was also the first DNP graduating class in the North Texas/DFW area and second in Texas, after UT Houston.

Launched in August 2007, the two-year DNP curriculum is designed specifically for working professionals and is completed entirely online. It was created to prepare advanced practice nurses to be leaders in solving intricate health care issues and generating new health care opportunities. DNP students are required to complete a minimum of 30 semester hours while maintaining a 3.0 GPA or better. Students are also required to maintain their advance practice recognition— as defined by appropriate certification and licensing boards — throughout the program.

The students came mostly from across Texas and from Oklahoma, Florida, Georgia, Mississippi, and North Carolina. The types of advanced practice nurses admitted include certified registered nurse anesthetists, nurse practitioners and five clinical nurse specialists. A second class of doctoral students has been accepted to start the program in August 2009.

Harris College launched this degree program to meet the numerous challenges of health care today. The DNP program at TCU is in response to national trends shaping the future of nursing education and practice. The degree program focuses on why a process does not work or why a client’s problem exists - the focus is on solutions. The DNP is a two-year program designed with an innovative, solution-focused curriculum. The program is a practice doctorate designed to prepare experts in specialized advanced nursing practice. The focus is heavily on practice that is innovative and evidence-based, reflecting the application of credible research findings and theories to improving health care outcomes.

At three million, nurses are the largest group of health care professionals in the United States, followed by approximately 800,000 physicians and 200,000 pharmacists. Due to the number of nurses and intensity and amount of contact with patients, a dramatic change in nursing required to make important changes in health care. Nursing offers the greatest potential for improving the quality of health care. The American Association of Colleges of Nursing (AACN) adopted a position that recognizes the DNP program as the highest level of preparation for clinical practice. The AACN has recommended that the current level of preparation necessary for advanced nursing practice move from the master's degree to the doctorate level by the year 2015.

For more information on the Doctor of Nursing Practice at TCU, visit www.harriscollege.tcu.edu/dnp.asp.