About the DNP
The Move to Practice Doctorates
The Doctor of Nursing Practice degree will soon be the required degree for clinically practicing APRNs, CNMs, and nursing leaders in health care organizations. The Institute of Medicine's 2002 report on Health Professions Education recommended strategies for restructuring all clinical education in the health professions to be consistent with the principles of 21st century health systems. These recommendations stressed that health science students and all working professionals develop and maintain proficiency in 5 core areas: delivering patient-centered care, working as part of interdisciplinary teams, practicing evidence-based medicine, focusing on quality improvement, and using information technology.
Incorporating the Goals of the Hartford Center
The overall goal of the Universitity of Utah Hartford Center of Geriatric Nursing Excellence is to expand the number of highly qualified geriatric faculty nationally and in the Mountain West. To reach toward this goal, the Center will provide universal geriatric preparation for all adult clinical care graduate students by requiring one three-credit course (or equivalent) in geriatric nursing. DNP students may choose to obtain a nine-hour geriatric subspecialty as part of their program of study. Additionally, students have the option to choose a fifteen hour Hartford/Gerontology Interdisciplinary Program graduate certificate that will prepare clinically practicing nurse leaders to meet the needs of an aging population.
Follow this link for more information on the DNP Program at the College of Nursing or contact Lara Kandolin by e-mail, lara.kandolin@nurs.utah.edu or phone at (801) 581-3414.
