Johns Hopkins School of Nursing Launches DNP/PhD Dual Degree Program

The Johns Hopkins School of Nursing (JHSON) recently announced a new Doctor of Nursing Practice/Doctor of Philosophy (DNP/PhD) dual degree program which combines the competencies and practice opportunities of the DNP degree with the clinical research and scientific rigor of the PhD.

Patricia Davidson, PhD, MEd, RN, FAAN, Dean of JHSON, tells Newswise.com, “This is an opportune time in health care for nurses to receive such a degree. Nurses are at the forefront of leadership and the demand for more highly qualified nurses is evident with the rise of chronic diseases, aging populations, and complex health system issues. This new degree meets the demands and will prepare nurses to find and implement solutions that will improve the future of care.”

This program is the first of its kind in the country that allows students to receive both degrees simultaneously from the same school, preparing graduates at the highest level to conduct clinical research, teach, and implement innovations to enhance patient outcomes. The program, called Clinical Research Intervention Scientists (CRIS), will allow students to receive dual terminal degrees for practice and research. The five-year curriculum will prepare graduates to develop, evaluate, and advocate for health care policy that shapes financing, regulation, access, and delivery of care across continuums.

The curriculum includes mentorship from DNP and PhD-prepared faculty, clinical placements, development of an evidence-based practice project, and residencies in teaching, clinical competency, and research. Clinical preceptors will lead students in managing the health care of more than 25 patients over a 12-month period.