The University of Saint Francis (USF), located in northeast Indiana, is launching a new Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) program to improve access to health care for local patients and increase medical research locally while training nurses to fill high-level jobs. It is the first doctoral degree offered at USF and the first program of its kind in the area.
Developed to complement existing nursing programs in the area and fill gaps in nursing education, the goal of USF’s DNP program is to improve health in the region. The DNP program will offer two tracks:
- Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) degree to DNP-Nurse Anesthesia Program
- Post-Master’s degree in Nursing to DNP Program
The first BSN to DNP-Nurse Anesthesia program is a three-year, full-time program that will accept 15 students per year, with the first cohort of students starting classes this fall. News-Sentinel.com reports that the Council of Accreditation now requires Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetists (CRNAs) to hold doctorate degrees, and graduates of USF’s program will be able to provide the same quality of care as anesthesiologists. USF hopes that graduates of the program will stay and work in northeast Indiana, adding local CRNAs to their workforce.
Ideal candidates for the post-masters to DNP program are health care system chief nurses who don’t hold doctorates. The program will emphasize implementing and applying original research to improve patient outcomes, enhance quality of care, and reduce costs.
To learn more about FSU’s new DNP programs, visit here.
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