Goldfarb's Post-masters Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) program launches in fall 2018.
With a $5,000 scholarship available to new students. Jean Davis, PhD, RN, FAAN sums up the doctor of nursing practice (DNP) program at Barnes-Jewish College Goldfarb School of Nursing in a single word – rigorous.
Set to begin this fall, the two-year, online program will be taught by doctorally-prepared faculty who are experts in their fields. It aims to prepare master’s degree-level nurses for advancements in nursing, new technology and emerging trends to directly affect patient outcomes in a wide range of health care settings.
Davis, the Paul J. McKee, Jr. Senior Associate Dean for Research and Doctoral Studies at Goldfarb, says the need is ever increasing for evidence-based research to improve nursing practice. She believes rigor in a DNP program, as well as faculty engagement, are essential to prepare nurses for advanced leadership roles.
“The faculty are thrilled to come together on this program,” says Davis. “Working closely with our instructional designers, they’ve brought their experience teaching both online and in the classroom, along with their individual expertise, to develop a demanding curriculum. The program will take up to eight students per term, which will enable instructors to actively engage students in robust study and discussion.”
Davis says students are expected to be working practitioners so they can bring their unique experiences and perspectives into the classroom. She anticipates interest from potential students around the country because the online format requires no travel.
A key component of the DNP degree is the evidence-based capstone project driven by student interests. Chris Seckman, DNP, MSN/FNP, RN, an associate professor at Goldfarb, will oversee the students’ projects. “Students identify a problem they see in their practice, do a literature review to establish what the best practice is to alleviate the problem and then implement the intervention identified in the literature to make the change so the problem is resolved,” says Seckman. “It is similar to a research study but the evidence-based project is based upon what research studies have already found to work.”
While the program will be rigorous, tremendous effort has been placed on ensuring student success. A doctoral programs officer will focus solely on each student’s needs, a key contact for everything including registration and financial aid. Online discussion boards will encourage formal and informal interactions. The course outline sets specific weekly workload expectations and time commitments, as well as instructor commitments to the students.
“I anticipate the students we will see are self-learners and dedicated to the practice of nursing,” adds Davis. “But they’ll also be supported every step of the way. Our faculty feel good about what they’re teaching, which makes a difference.”
Seckman agrees. “As educators, we all enjoy the learning process. Goldfarb has superior faculty with several areas of expertise thus providing a wealth of knowledge to make them successful.”
New students to the Post-MSN DNP program will have the opportunity to receive a one-time $5,000 scholarship.
Learn more about the DNP program by visiting www.BarnesJewishCollege.edu/DNP.
