Doctor of Nursing Practice
Post Master's Option
Pathway for master's prepared advanced practice nurses.Offered in a hybrid format flexible for the working nurse with courses provided online and in conjunction with Portland based 2-4 day intensives once a term.
Post Baccalaureate Option
Pathway for current bachelor prepared nurses who want to become advanced practice nurses in certain specialty areas as part of the doctoral program. OHSU offers Post Baccalaureate specialties in Adult Health Illness Clinical Nurse Specialist, Family Nurse Practitioner, Nurse Midwifery, or Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner.Coursework specific to the specialty areas is offered in a campus based format in Portland, Ore.
The coursework for both post baccalaureate and advanced practice nurses will help clinicians expand their knowledge and increase their understanding of policy, systems, economics, evaluation and the need for greater translation of research into practice. The coursework within the DNP program is characterized by a contextual and systematic analysis of clinical phenomena with the intention of optimizing health outcomes. Students will apply scientific methods to conduct clinical inquiry and translate research evidence into practice and will engage at all levels of health care delivery, from individuals and populations to the systems in which health care is embedded.
Program Objectives
The objectives of the OHSU DNP program are to prepare nurses who, using leadership and collaboration, will:
1. Practice within an advanced practice nursing specialty in a professional, evidence-based, skilled and ethical manner;
2. Influence health and health outcomes of individuals, groups, and populations through clinical inquiry; and
3. Influence health policy and systems of health care in the local, regional, state, national and international forums.
Ultimately, the DNP degree will provide practicing clinicians with the depth and breadth of clinical skill, leadership, and clinical inquiry techniques that are needed as they grow their role in advanced practice, nursing leadership and as nurse educators.
In 2004 the American Association of Colleges of Nursing (AACN) endorsed the DNP degree and proposed that the DNP is the terminal (or highest) degree for nursing practice. As a top tier institution which offers four advanced practice nursing specialties and the only PhD in Nursing program in Oregon, the OHSU School of Nursing is uniquely qualified to provide the framework for this new practice doctorate degree. As an institution that is integrated with the OHSU health system, the exposure to state of the art facilities, top research faculty, and cutting edge clinical expertise OHSU is a dynamic environment for DNP students to grow into new leadership roles and clinical arenas.
For more information about the Doctor of Nursing Practice, please visit the American Association of Colleges of Nursing website athttp://www.aacn.nche.edu/DNP/index.htm.
The OHSU School of Nursing plans to seek accreditation for the DNP Program from the Commission of Collegiate Nursing Education in 2010.
FNFSA Scholarship:
Amount: $1,000 - $7,500
Deadline: March 7
Requirements: Applicants must demonstrate academic excellence, financial need and a commitment to the nurse educator role and a plan to serve in this capacity upon completion of the program.
