|
William Paterson University, Wayne, NJ, will offer its first doctoral degree program, the doctor of nursing practice, to provide advanced practice nurses with opportunities for the further education. The New Jersey Presidents' Council and the New Jersey Commission on Higher Education have authorized the degree program.
The doctor of nursing practice degree is the highest-level clinical degree in nursing. It will give nurses who already hold master's degrees additional education in leadership in nursing practice and healthcare organizations, and prepare them to be scholars.
"As part of healthcare reform, there is a great need for nurse practitioners with preparation at the highest level, as more emphasis will be placed on care that can be provided at nurse-run practices and clinics, as well as inpatient settings," said Sandra DeYoung, EdD, RN, dean of William Paterson's College of Science and Health.
The program, which will begin fall 2011, will be comprised of 38 credit hours that can be completed in six semesters of part-time study (two courses per semester).
Course work includes utilizing technology to advance the quality of care, evaluating healthcare policy, providing leadership and inter-professional collaboration in multiple healthcare areas, and evaluating systems responses to health and illness, along with knowledge of nursing theories, related sciences, humanities and economics. Students must also complete a minimum of 1,000 supervised practice hours.
|