U of M School of Nursing Expands Doctor of Nursing Practice Program

New specialty areas include integrative health and healing and informatics

Contact:
Peggy Malikowski, School of Nursing, 612-625-2496 or malik025@umn.edu
Tony Baisley, Center for Spirituality and Healing, 612-624-2141 or baisl001@umn.edu
Laura Stroup, Academic Health Center, 612-624-5680 or stro0481@umn.edu

MINNEAPOLIS/ST. PAUL (Sept. 30, 2008) - In a move to meet the emerging needs and opportunities in health care, the University of Minnesota School of Nursing is expanding its  doctor of nursing practice (D.N.P.) program. The program provides nurses with upward mobility in specialized advanced practices with expertise in health care ranging from nurse anesthesia, nurse practitioner, clinical nurse specialist, nurse midwifery, health care administration, health policy, and now informatics and integrative health, bringing the total number of D.N.P. specialty areas to 14. Recent D.N.P. graduates from the University of Minnesota are the first in the state with this degree to advance their education and leadership roles in health care. Health systems have recognized the value of the D.N.P. and many graduates have returned to their organizations with expanded responsibilities and leadership opportunities.

Recognizing the increased need for nurse leaders in all areas of health care, the school has evolved its D.N.P. program in order to further the education of nurse leaders in these two new focus areas, integrative health and informatics, which are increasingly important areas of care. "In response to health care reform, it is time for new approaches that emphasize health and wellness, provide safe, quality chronic care management, and ensure access," said Dean Connie Delaney, Ph.D., R.N., F.A.A.N., F.A.C.M.I. "The D.N.P. program prepares advance practice nurses for these leadership roles and to design new models for care delivery. Informatics and integrative health are core to the future of health care and we are very pleased to be the first in the country to offer a nursing degree program with these focus areas," she added.

The D.N.P. program at the University of Minnesota School of Nursing provides nurses additional study in evidence-based care with the goal of transferring research into clinical practice across a range of settings. Community and clinical partnerships allow students to work with individuals, families, communities, and health systems on ways to improve health and the systems in which it is delivered. As a part of the D.N.P. program, the new informatics focus will expand students’ knowledge of the tools that are needed to systematically generate information from health records and transfer the findings to their clinical practice. In health care systems, the roles of nurses are expanding as their expertise in analyzing information used to support decisions on care delivery and improve patient outcomes and safety is being utilized.

The new integrative health and healing focus of the D.N.P., a collaboration with the University of Minnesota Center for Spirituality and Healing, allows students to acquire knowledge in several areas including mind/body healing, botanical medicine, clinical aromatherapy, health coaching, spirituality, and culturally-based healing traditions. This program is one of only a few in the country available for nurses with bachelor’s degrees seeking a D.N.P. in this specialty focus area.

The University of Minnesota School of Nursing offers D.N.P. students a blend of online, classroom, experiential, and clinical learning in order to accommodate the needs of adult learners and part-time students. The deadline for applications is November 1, 2008. For more information on the D.N.P. degree visit: www.nursing.umn.edu/DNP.

About the School of Nursing: The University of Minnesota School of Nursing is ranked among the nation’s top nursing schools. It is a leader in nursing research and has a combined undergraduate and graduate enrollment of approximately 850 students. The school produces 55 percent of the faculty in Minnesota’s public and private nursing schools, advanced practice nurses and nurses who can assume leadership positions. It is the oldest continuously-operated, university-based school of nursing. The School of Nursing is one of six schools and colleges in the Academic Health Center, one of the most comprehensive facilities for health professionals in the nation, fostering interdisciplinary study, research and education. For more information, visit www.nursing.umn.edu.

About the Center for Spirituality & Healing: Recognized nationally as a resource and leader in integrated health, the University of Minnesota's Center for Spirituality & Healing's goal is to transform healthcare by educating health professionals and students about complementary therapies and healing practices, conduct rigorous scientific research into complementary and non-pharmacological interventions, provide meaningful outreach programs, and work with partners to develop integrative clinical services. The inspiration behind the Center’s work is the knowledge that health and well-being are enhanced when the best of complementary and conventional care are integrated. For more information, visit www.csh.umn.edu.