The College offers the only professional Nursing programs in Northeastern Minnesota, a predominately rural area. Program faculty believe they have a particular obligation to respond to the healthcare needs of the region, especially those whose health needs have been underserved or neglected. Outreach is also extended to healthcare providers in the region who desire to continue their education.

The DNP is a post-master's program based on The Essentials of Doctoral Education for Advanced Nursing Practice (AACN, 2006) guidelines for the curriculum, and reflects a multidisciplinary design incorporating appropriate graduate level courses from other disciplines. For example, courses from the Management Department in organizational behavior, systems, finance and performance; Health Information and Informatics Department, courses in informatics for nursing and assessing clinical outcomes; and lastly program evaluation from Psychology. Students come to the program as skilled advanced practice nurses, nurse practitioners, clinical nurse specialists and other specialties.

This post-master's program is designed to guide APN profressionals in the development of a higher level of skill at the organizational and systems level of practice for improving health care outcomes that focus on the following essential elements:

• Scientific Underpinngs for Practice
• Organizational and System Leadership for Quality Improvement and Systems Thinking
• Clinical Scholarship and Analytical Methods for Evidence-Based Practice
• Information System/Technology and Patient Care Technology for the improvement and
  Transformation of Health Care
• Health Care Policy for Advocacy in Health Care
• Inter-professional Collaboration for Improving Patient and Population Health Outcomes
• Clinical Prevention and Population Health for Improving the Nation's Health
• Advanced Nursing Practice

Program Description and Outcomes

The curriculum buildes upon outcomes of the current master's curriculum to incorporate the essential elements not met in the master's program. Outcomes of the post-master's program are to prepare nursing leaders with the following competencies:

• Evaluate care delivery models and/or strategies using concepts related to community, environmental, cultural, socioeconomic and ethical dimensions of health.
• Assume leadership roles in inter-professional teams involved in the development of clinical practice models, practice guidelines, quality improvement processes, health policy, and standards of care.
• Analyze multiple sources of client outcome data through information technology and research methods for application to health care delivery, program development, practice guidelines, and problem solving processes.
• Evaluate interventions to improve health status, access patterns, and/or gaps in care of populations within a community of focus, particularly rural or culturally disadvantaged.
• Design evidence-based, cost-effective strategies that influence health care outcomes positively for individuals or populations.

Format

The program accommodates working professionals and can be completed in two (full time) to three (part time) years depending upon the track chosen. Classes are conveniently scheduled and may be offered in the late afternoon, one full day format, or weekends. Some course assignments are done through innovative learning formats such as Web-based technology, campus seminar and independent study.

Chair, Department of Nursing

Carleen Maynard, Ph.D., R.N.
School of Nursing
College of St. Scholastica
1200 Kenwood Avenue
Duluth, MN 55811