New nursing doctorate begins

Fort Worth, TX

8/17/2007

TCU's Harris College of Nursing & Health Sciences will welcome the doctorate of nursing practice’s (DNP) inaugural class this Saturday. The first DNP class begins with an orientation and welcoming ceremony at TCU’s Bass Building. The inaugural class of 38 includes 28 full-time and 10 part-time students.

“The Doctor of Nursing Practice is beneficial to Harris College because it opens the door to doctoral education,” said Dr. Linda Harrington, director of the DNP program. “This is extremely important as health care moves many disciplines to the doctoral level, primarily the practice doctorate such as the DNP.”

The students come mostly from across Texas and from Oklahoma, Florida, Georgia, Mississippi, North Carolina and Louisiana. Five of the students are TCU alumni, including two BSNs and three MSNAs. The types of advanced practice nurses admitted include 19 certified registered nurse anesthetists, 14 nurse practitioners and five clinical nurse specialists.

“These are highly qualified students. Some are academic leaders; others own their own business. Some are published, and some speak nationally,” said Dr. Harrington. “The inaugural class represents some of the most talented advanced practice nurses across the country. We are prepared to provide them with new knowledge and new inspiration that will enable them to make an even bigger contribution to health care.”

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 will not focus on why a process does not work or why a client’s problem exists - the focus will be 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.