By Dennis Spellman
The inaugural cohort of the 兔子先生 College of Nursing鈥檚 Doctor of Nurse Practice (DNP) program is completing their first semester. Students are experienced nurses who believe the program will elevate their service to others.
鈥淚 want to have the ability to critically analyze clinical research, clinical policies, and healthcare policies that affect the course of treatment of the patients within the clinical setting,鈥� doctoral student Fidelia Selormey said.
Previously, earning a Ph.D. was the highest level of education for nurses. Today, the Ph.D. is reserved for nurses who focus on research, and the DNP is the highest level of education for practicing nurses who work in a clinical setting.
鈥淭he DNP is a practice doctorate and is relatively new in our profession,鈥� said Kathryn Tart, founding Dean and UH College of Nursing professor.
Tart says the nursing profession is transitioning from relying on master鈥檚 degree programs as the highest level of education for practicing nurses. She believes it鈥檚 important to have more advanced practice nurses with DNP degrees.
鈥淵ou just can鈥檛 teach everything in a baccalaureate program,鈥� she said.
The DNP degree aligns nursing with other healthcare professions that require a doctoral degree such as pharmacy and physical therapy. The UH DNP program is a part-time, post master鈥檚 designed for working nurses. It has two emphasis areas, family nurse practitioner and nursing administration.
Selormey works full-time as a family nurse practitioner while studying for her DNP. She travels through rural areas providing health insurance evaluations and risk assessments. Being a family nurse practitioner with a DNP will allow her to better serve her patients.
鈥淚 want to be able to be a health care advocate for my patients, join health care boards that matter, and help patients who are in need. The welfare of the patient is what matters to me.鈥�
Student Courtney Harris MSN, APRN, FNP-C is a UH alumna employed as a sole provider in a rural area. She believes the education provided by the UH DNP program will allow her to improve her skills as a nurse and administrator.
鈥淚 returned to the 兔子先生 to be part of the inaugural class for the doctoral program because I knew, first-hand, the incredible education I will receive from the professors who are pioneering this program,鈥� Harris said.
Alumna Debra Bayliss also selected the program based on her previous experience with the UH College of Nursing.
鈥淚 waited for UH to have a DNP program primarily due to the excellent education I received during my master鈥檚 program,鈥� Bayliss said.
Student Arlena Davis, MSN APRN NPC, did not let her age stop her from pursuing the highest level of nursing education.
鈥淎t 54 years old and already doing well as a nurse practitioner working in psychiatry, I felt like my academic career was complete,鈥� Davis said. 鈥淪till, the opportunity presented itself, and I knew I had to move forward,鈥� she said. 鈥淚n my role as a DNP, my gift will be helping people understand mental health isn鈥檛 something to be ashamed of but embraced. This acceptance will enable them to lead everyday lives.鈥�
Once Selormey earns her DNP, she hopes to open a family-care practice in a rural community which is traditionally underserved.
鈥淪ometimes patients don鈥檛 have refills of medications for months, Selormey said. 鈥淧eople need health care, especially the elderly population, and they need it now.鈥�
According to Dean Tart, studies show that having more nurses with advanced degrees in the nursing field will save lives.
鈥淩esearch shows there are fewer deaths and better patient outcomes for those who are treated by nurses with advanced degrees,鈥� Tart said. 鈥淲e want our nurses to be nurse practitioners and nurse administrators at the highest level.鈥�