The Post-Master’s Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) program, the only program in Connecticut and just the second in New England, is designed to serve nurse practitioners, clinical nurse specialists, midwives, nurse anesthetists, and administrators who prefer an alternative to doctoral programs focused on research. The program prepares practitioners at the professional doctoral level with courses focused on adding the highest degree of professional expertise in eight essential areas specified by the American Association of Colleges of Nurses (AACN). Students have the opportunity to specialize in an individual area. AACN has called for implementation of the DNP program as entry into advanced practice nursing in schools of nursing throughout the U.S. by 2015.
“The program was developed in direct response to the national need for doctorally prepared leaders in practice,” said Anne Bavier, dean of the School of Nursing. “The program emphasizes the scientific basis of knowledge, evidence-based practice, and development of leadership expertise within advanced practice nursing.”
The UConn program was approved from the state Board of Governors of Higher Education in April and the School's first class now has 16 enrolled and has enormous growth potential.
The program is headed by Associate Dean Regina Cusson, a professor of nursing who is also a registered nurse and neonatal nurse practitioner. Cusson coordinates the neonatal nurse practitioner faculty special interest group of the National Association of Neonatal Nurses. “She is well versed in issues facing advanced practice educators in the United States,” says Bavier.
UConn Advance - DNP program article - Click here to view the article. (01-28-08)
UConn's new Doctoral Nursing Program (DNP) - Click here to view the Voicesnews.com article. (01-19-08)
DNP Information Sessions
Date
Day
Time
Venue
TBD
TBD
TBD
TBD
Please RSVP with name, address and contact information to (860) 486-1968 or to
Mission and Purpose
The statement of mission for the University of Connecticut defines the institution as both the land-grant and the public research university of the State of Connecticut. As such, the potential range of university programs and activities is extremely broad. The mandate of the University is to be the center within the state for graduate and professional training, research, and public service. As a public university, the University of Connecticut must not only be responsive to the needs of society, but also be capable of anticipating such needs.
Within this context, the University has identified specific responsibilities associated with its mission. Among these is the concentration on the excellence of the graduate and advanced professional degree programs for which it has primary responsibilities in the public sector. These include doctoral degree programs in all fields.
The mission and goals of the School of Nursing mirror, complement, and enhance those of the University. The mission of the School of Nursing is to provide quality, public-university based nursing education at the undergraduate, graduate, and continuing education levels. The programs are designed to be responsive to the dynamic and changing health care needs of the people of the state, while using established nursing knowledge and creating and testing new nursing theory.
The Doctor of Nursing Practice program at the University of Connecticut is a Post-Masters DNP program.This DNP program provides a terminal degree in nursing practice for those currently engaged in advanced practice, offering an alternative to doctoral programs focused on the science of research. DNP-prepared advanced practice nurses focus on the science of clinical scholarship. DNP-prepared advanced practice nurses will be well-equipped to fully implement the science developed by nurse researchers prepared in PhD, DNSc and other research-focused nursing doctorates.
Program Objectives
The DNP program will:
1. Develop and evaluate new practice approaches based on theories from nursing and other related disciplines.
2. Provide graduates with a foundation of scientific and ethical knowledge that will promote competency at the advanced practice nurse level in areas of clinical practice and administration.
3. Prepare graduates to participate in the development, implementation and dissemination of research that supports evidence-based practice.
4. Prepare advanced practice nurses competent in the use of information systems technology to influence outcomes through quality improvement processes.
5. Prepare graduates to work collaboratively on health care teams to enhance health promotion and risk reduction/illness prevention.
Sandra Bellini DNP, NNP-BC Assistant Professor in Residence DNP Program Coordinator University of Connecticut School of Nursing 231 Glenbrook Rd. Office #321 Storrs, CT 06269-2026
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