Health Innovation and Leadership

Specialty Area Information
Health care is delivered today in diverse settings, by an expanding workforce and with extraordinary opportunities for nurses to lead, whether through formal leadership positions or through personal advocacy, in traditional settings or in emerging sites. This requires an individual who can think broadly and embrace a global perspective; who embraces diversity in all its forms, including diversity of thought; who is curious and never satisfied with the status quo; who stimulates new ways of thinking and solutions which open up possibilities for action; who bases action on informed practice gained from multiple ways of knowing; who engages in critical thinking, and learns from other thought leaders; who inspires and creates needed change within a particular environment; who can work effectively with a variety of individuals and within disparate groups; and one who can create healing environments within which others can do their best work.  

The DNP with a focus on Health Innovation and Leadership prepares nurses to function effectively as leaders in traditional and contemporary settings.  The goal is to prepare a leader who can work well in the current environment while promoting change and improvement.  The program has two options: the baccalaureate to DNP, and a post-master’s to DNP. Students in the program utilize a combination of learning strategies, heavily relying on web-based coursework with 2 or 3 on-site sessions per semester, readings, reflections, and independent learning experiences.  Seminars will enable students and faculty to discuss relevant issues and share expertise.

Admissions
Applications are reviewed once a year; the deadline is the first day in November. After this date, DNP applications may be considered on a space available basis. Those students who are not selected may be placed on a waiting list. If placed on a waiting list, it does not ensure entrance into the specialty area for the following year. If you are not selected from the wait list, you must reapply the following year for consideration. Applicants are required to have one year of clinical nursing experience prior to beginning a practicum course.

Courses in the Curriculum 

Sample curriculum for full-time student

• Students will learn from a broad array of courses that draw from distinctive bodies of knowledge and integrate them within a generative leadership framework.  Courses include
• Health innovation and leadership
• Health systems and care models
• Optimal healing environments
• Health care finance and resource management
• Relationship-based leadership and management
• Interdisciplinary informatics
• Program evaluation