D.Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP

D. DOCTOR OF NURSING PRACTICE (DNP) PROGRAM

DNP Program Director: Jean Boucher PhD, ANP-BC, AOCNP Location: Tan Chingfen Graduate School of Nursing , Room S1-853

E-mail:

Jean.Boucher@umassmed.edu

Director of Adult-Gerontology & Family Nurse Practitioner Tracks:

Susan Feeney DNP, FNP-BC, NP-C

Location:

Tan Chingfen Graduate School of Nursing , Room S1-853

E-mail:

Susan.Feeney@umasssmed.edu

Director of Psychiatric Mental Health Programs:

Mechelle Plasse PhD, RN, PMHNP-BC

Location: E-mail:

Tan Chingfen Graduate School of Nursing , Room S1-853 Mechelle.Plasse@umasssmed.edu

The DNP program is designed to prepare graduates in advanced nursing practice for careers in clinical practice with diverse populations, organizational and systems leadership in health care systems, and clinical nursing education in professional nursing programs. The core and track course work meet the standards and guidelines established by the American Association of Colleges of Nursing (AACN), The Essentials of Doctoral Education for Advanced Nursing Practice, and the NONPF Core and Population Focused Competencies. There is a strong focus on interprofessional /interdisciplinary partnerships with the School of Medicine, School of Biomedical Sciences, Commonwealth Medicine, UMass Memorial Health Care and the greater Central Massachusetts community.

Program Outcomes: The DNP program produces expert advanced practice nursing leaders to improve and transform healthcare through systems leadership, research translation, and advanced clinical knowledge. Graduates will be able to: • Assess, intervene, and evaluate the responses of patients to health/illness states by applying the population competencies of advanced practice (NP Tracks) • Critically appraise and communicate the best evidence for nursing practice to promote safe, timely, effective, efficient, ethical, equitable patient/family centered care. • Design and plan care delivery approaches grounded in the ethical principles of the nursing discipline to support and improve patient care and healthcare systems through organizational and systems leadership. • Lead and participate in interprofessional teams to collaborate and create healthcare solutions to improve population health outcomes. • Synthesize biopsychosocial data to create, provide and evaluate patient centered interventions to optimize health (individual, family, and group). • Interpret scientific data to create new strategies to address social determinants of health, health equity, diversity and inclusion that supports population health initiatives.

MS in Passing

The MS in passing is awarded in August prior to the final year of the DNP program (NP tracks)

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and consists of 66 credits and 25 courses. Students are eligible to sit for their respective certification exams at that time. Students continue for their final year of the DNP program carrying out their DNP scholarly projects and completing their leadership practicums. At the completion of the MS portion of the DNP, graduates will be able to:

1. Synthesize and integrate knowledge from the biological, psychological, social, and nursing sciences

2. Analyze the effect of developmental, economic, cultural, epidemiological, social, political, ethical, legal, and spiritual factors influencing the care of patients with an emphasis on vulnerable diverse populations.

3. Assess, intervene, and evaluate patients’ and families’ responses to health/illness states by applying the competencies of advanced nursing practice.

4. Apply the standards of practice and evidence-based literature to make cost effective clinical judgments in the context of quality patient outcomes.

5. Manage care as a member of an interprofessional team providing preventive and populationbased health care in institutions and communities.

6. Provide clinical leadership within the context of social, economic, political, legal, cultural and ethical forces that affect health care delivery, health policy, and professional nursing practice.

7. Contribute to the scholarly advancement of the nursing profession through education, research, and clinical practice

8. Embrace life-long learning through participation and leadership in professional development

NOTE: The GEP to DNP & BSN to DNP cohorts entering the Tan Chingfen Graduate School of Nursing for Fall 2021 will be the last class to receive the Master’s in Passing. The DNP curriculum will no longer offer a Master’s degree in accordance with the current DNP

degree program requirements. Approved by Faculty Assembly 8/12/21

DNP Scholarly Project

DNP students are required to lead and complete a scholarly project that translates evidence into clinical practice. The scholarly project includes 3 courses for the development, implementation, and evaluation of the project. The student conducts the scholarly project under the mentorship of a faculty advisor. Each student is required to make a formal presentation of their project proposal and final project.

DNP Leadership Practicum

The focus of the DNP practicum is on the continued development and refinement of leadership skills through a mentored experience. Each student works with practicum faculty to select a practicum site and mentor. Mentors are individuals in a health care related agency,

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