University eyes first doctorate program

    A bill recently introduced in the Kentucky Senate may allow Murray State to adopt the Doctorate in Nursing Practice, DNP, debuting its first doctoral program.
    Senator Ken Winters, R- Murray,  introduced KRS 164.295, which would give all Kentucky comprehensive universities, (including Murray State, Morehead State, Eastern Kentucky, Western Kentucky, Northern Kentucky and Kentucky State universities), degree granting authority, which is currently only held by University of Kentucky and University of Louisville.
    This bill follows a national trend reported by the American Association of Colleges of Nursing in 2004, which adopted the goal that preparation for specialization in nursing should occur at the doctoral level by 2015, according to a 2006 DNP Roadmap Taskforce report.
    “We’re very interested in the DNP,” University President Randy Dunn said. “There is a change in accreditation for nursing programs in the country, which will move to a doctorate degree. Since accreditation is moving this way, we need to look at how we can provide those programs for our students.”
    Dunn said although the bill has not passed in the state, it is never too early to plan for this kind of institutional change.
    The graduate committee of the department of nursing began planning for this change in January.
    The committee, including Dina Byers, Nancey France, Katy Garth and Dana Manly, are awaiting approval of their program plans by the Murray State Academic Council. Following legislative approval, the Council on Postsecondary Education, the University Board of Regents and Dunn will have to approve the change.
    “(DNP recipients) are prepared at a higher level, have a broader education, have more focus in health policy, leadership and organizational management,” Garth said. “As health care changes, more is demanded of these individuals. We feel that the doctoral-prepared (advance practice nurse) is going to be better able to meet those challenges than those with a master’s.”
    The committee developed a three-year program that will encompass 79 credit hour requirements, three winter intensives and 1,500 clinical hours, France said.    
    She said it will be a hybrid of distance learning and on-campus instruction.
    “We have worked our tails off since Christmas for this, and the whole department is behind it,” France said. “If it passes, we’re ready to go with it in the fall.”
    France said the committee looked to national standards, as well as the programs already active at other universities, while planning this program for advance practice nurses.
    The University of Kentucky currently has the only DNP program in the state.
    “If we don’t get the DNP it will hurt Murray State and it will hurt the health of the people in our region,” France said. “There are already people without access to health care, so it will be even worse than it is already.”
    There are 639 students in the nursing program, including the undergraduate and graduate levels.
    Nursing major Meghan Bryant, senior from Salem, Ill., said the DNP is a program she will take a closer look at before committing to a graduate school.
    “There are so many directions I can go at the graduate level that I don’t think I’ll be ready to commit to one specialty until I work for a few years,” she said.  “It is very important to be informed about your career.”
    To learn more about DNP programs, visit www.aacn. nche.edu/DNP.
    Contact Walters at mia.walters@murraystate.edu.