Shawna Edwards DNP’24 agrees. "The program challenged me to think critically, embrace innovative approaches, and advocate for sustainable improvements in healthcare” she says. “This journey has been transformative, enriching my understanding of the profession and my role in shaping its future."
Cobbs and Edwards are among the very first cohort of students to graduate from the Doctor of Nursing Practice program in UHart’s School of Education, Nursing, and Health Professions. They and their fellow members of the inaugural DNP class were celebrated recently at the 1877 Club on campus.
The Doctor of Nursing Practice program prepares nurses to assume leadership roles in healthcare organizations or contribute to educating future practitioners. To that end, the 30-credit fully online program also features courses in management offered through the Barney School of Business, to give students broader knowledge of other factors, such as finance and operations.
"We are so excited to celebrate the first graduates of our Doctor of Nursing Practice program,” says ENHP Dean Cesarina Thompson. “We believe that our unique program empowers nurses to critically analyze practice from multiple perspectives, develop innovative strategies to optimize practice, and lead implementation efforts to improve patient care."
“We are immensely proud of the inaugural class of DNP graduates,” says University Provost Katherine Black. “These nursing leaders will use all they have learned at UHart to improve patient care and patient outcomes. I also want to recognize the faculty and staff who mentored these students. We are fortunate for the dedication and commitment they bring to the University and the nursing field.”
The DNP program includes at least 500 hours of practical experience, and all students need to complete a scholarly project to show how they will apply their knowledge and skills to the real world. The Fall 2024 DNP projects focused on initiatives such as patient fall prevention, nurse education, mentorship programs for new graduate nurses, behavioral response teams for people experiencing a stroke, and screening protocols for colon cancer.
“Every DNP student’s scholarship project has profoundly impacted the nursing profession, patient care, and outcomes,” says Edith Ouellet, executive director and chair of the Department of Nursing. “These nurse leaders make our University proud and will continue to drive positive change in healthcare.”
Katherine Black, University ProvostThese nursing leaders will use all they have learned at UHart to improve patient care and patient outcomes.