SAUSALITO, CA (ASRN.ORG) -- Beginning in the fall of 2012, Yale University School of Nursing (YSN) will offer a doctor of nursing practice (DNP) degree.

"Not only is the DNP program essential to align YSN's academic initiatives with national trends and growing pressures to replenish the nursing professoriate, it will also support the continued development of advanced practitioners who wish to expand their influence in the delivery of health care," said Margaret Grey, DrPH, RN, FAAN, Dean and Annie Goodrich Professor. "The DNP degree will afford YSN another opportunity to advance its leadership position in the profession by driving transformational change in health care delivery."

YSN's DNP program is intended for mid-career nurses who seek to advance in the practice of nursing through leadership, management, and participation in interdisciplinary policy and politics. The program will build on YSN's experience with the Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) specialty in Nursing Management, Leadership, and Policy (NMPL), which is offered as a hybrid program (with both intensive on-campus and on-line sessions).

The DNP at YSN is the product of two years of work by a faculty task force, currently chaired by Margaret Moss, PhD, JD, RN, FAAN, who will serve as Director of the DNP program. The program will enroll 12 students for the fall semester of 2012, and ramp up to 18 students by the third year of operation. The DNP is a post-Master's program targeting nurses with a Master's degree in nursing or other closely related field.

"This degree will be a professional doctorate in contrast to an academic research degree like the PhD," commented Dr. Moss.

"This will be a terminal degree that prepares senior clinicians who also are seeking leadership and policy roles related to the future of healthcare."

"The post-master's DNP program at YSN will include content for students who have achieved specialty level practice and have been active in practice prior to further advancing their education," added Dr. Moss.

It is well known that the nursing profession is facing a shortage of faculty, which is, in turn, already contributing to an overall shortage of nurses. Because of the nursing faculty shortage, schools have declined admission to qualified applicants. The DNP is seen as providing some relief to the shortage of practice-savvy nursing faculty.  In most cases, DNP-prepared faculty will fill appointments aimed at supporting clinical education in baccalaureate and master's programs.


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