New Doctor of Nursing Practice Meets Growing Demand

January 28th, 2011

The University of Southern Maine will offer a new doctoral nursing degree program in the fall of 2011, reports the Portland Press Herald.

Students who choose to pursue the university’s doctor of nursing practice (DNP) will acquire the advanced leadership and management skills that are utilized by healthcare professionals on a daily basis.

According to the university’s official website, the DNP is for advanced practice nurses. School officials add that the program will be the first of its kind in northern New England at a time when interest in this field of study is growing.

That demand is due in part to the American Association of Colleges of Nursing’s decision to change the required level of preparation for advanced practice from a master’s degree to the doctoral level by 2015.

As the nation’s healthcare industry expands to meet the needs of an increased patient population, a push for higher levels of nursing education has arisen.

In October, the Institute of Medicine published a report – The Future of Nursing: Leading Change, Advancing Health. In it, the organization recommended that care providers practice to the full extent of their education and training.