Duke University will launch a new doctoral program in nursing that focuses on putting research and scientific findings into practice to improve health care systems.
The three-year Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) program was approved Friday by the university's Board of Trustees. The program plans to enroll eight students next fall. A full contingent of 65 students is expected to be enrolled by the fifth year.
"We anticipate that upon fully implementing the DNP program, Duke will be known as the center for preparing nurses to become leaders who will inform, develop, evaluate and transform disease management within complex health systems and diverse communities," said Catherine Gilliss, dean of the Duke University School of Nursing and vice chancellor for nursing affairs.
Nationally, 59 nursing schools have DNP programs, including several of the Duke School of Nursing's top-15 national peers. No nursing school in North Carolina currently offers the DNP degree.
The Duke approach differs from those of the traditional doctoral degrees in nursing, the Doctor of Philosophy in Nursing and the Doctor of Nursing Science, which prepare nurse scientists for careers in research and academia.
Duke's DNP program also will address a national need for clinical nurse leaders who will work with people from related professions to move research into clinical practice to promote innovative, high-quality and safe patient care, Gilliss said.
In addition, Duke's DNP program will help ease the nation's nursing shortage, which stems in part from a shortage of nursing faculty. DNP graduates are expected to be qualified to fill the gap and prepare the next generation of nurses, Gilliss said.