Almost 8,000 qualified Texas students were denied admission to nursing schools in 2007 mainly because of a lack of budgeted faculty positions; yet the demand for registered nurses will increase 86 percent by 2020.
These vacancy rates in practice and academic settings are indicative of the need to produce more highly skilled nurses, according to the Texas Center for Nursing Workforce Studies.
The Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center School of Nursing has established a new Doctorate of Nursing Practice Post-Master Program (DNP) to help nurses advance their careers and alleviate the shortages in key areas.
“We anticipate this program will inspire nurses currently in the work force to pursue additional roles to fill the state’s need for qualified nurses in clinical areas, health care administrators and nursing educators,” said School of Nursing Dean Alexia Green, Ph.D., R.N.
The School of Nursing’s DNP program is one of four in Texas and one of 63 new DNP programs in the country this year. The trend toward this type of program has been spurred by the national shortage of nurses and nursing faculty.
Green said the new DNP program is unique because it is the only one in Texas with two specialty concentrations: one for nurse practitioners to expand expertise in advanced practice and another for master’s-prepared nurses interested in expanding executive leadership skills.
“Our curriculum can be applied to the scenarios nurse practitioners or administrators encounter on a daily basis like treating patients in underserved areas or overseeing hospital finances,” she said. “Additionally, those who complete the DNP program also are qualified to teach at a university level.”
Linda McMurry, M.S.N., R.N., clinical instructor at TTUHSC School of Nursing and executive director of the Larry Combest Community Health & Wellness Center in Lubbock, is one of 20 nurse practitioners and master’s-prepared nurses from throughout the state who compose the School of Nursing’s inaugural DNP class. McMurry said she believes the courses will enhance her skill set as a clinic manager and leader.
“I am excited about all of the components of the executive leadership track, especially the course on leading teams,” McMurry said. “That’s a big part of what I do every day.”
The DNP program is completed in 48 credit hours during six semesters with a track in Post-Masters Advanced Practice Nursing or Post-Masters Executive Leadership.
The Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board approved the DNP program at TTUSHC in October.
For more information, call Barbara Cherry, R.N., DNSc, department chair of Leadership Studies or Mary Fenton, R.N., Dr.PH, professor and director of Doctorate of Nursing Practice at (806) 743-2730 or (800) 851-8240
