Barry University’s School of Nursing will begin offering a doctorate of nursing practice degree to those who currently hold master’s degrees in nursing, Dean Pegge Bell, PhD, announced.
The program, that starts in August 2008, is designed for those advanced practice nurses who wish to attain the highest level of educational preparation and excellence in nursing practice, or in areas that support clinical practice such as management and policy-making. Barry’s DNP is a practice-focused doctorate, designed to prepare advanced practice nurses such as leaders and experts on health care programs, standards, and guidelines that reflect evidence-based research findings. The program is an alternative to the research-focused doctor of philosophy, which Barry’s School of Nursing continues to offer. This 38-credit DNP program may be completed in seven continuous semesters of part-time study. Although all students will be enrolled in the same courses, each DNP student will choose a scholarly project which is designed by the student in collaboration with a faculty committee to improve a selected aspect of health care practices. It is anticipated that the knowledge and skill base developed in this program will improve the quality and delivery of healthcare to all populations.
