Nursing Leadership - Practice and Leadership Innovations (PLI) - DNP

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72 S.H.

A Plan of Study is available on the Doctor of Nursing Practice website.

Description of Program (DNP)

Grounded in an environment of scholarship, the mission of the WSU Department of Nursing is to educate knowledgeable caring, ethical, creative, and accountable nurse leaders who provide person- and relationship-centered care for individuals, families, groups, communities and populations in a diverse society. This mission is based on the beliefs that:

a caring, diverse, and respectful community provides the best environment for students to learn how to care for themselves and others
optimal learning to care for self and others occurs in a caring, diverse and respectful community
faculty and students are accountable for maintaining and modeling professional standards of moral, ethical, and legal conduct
recognizing and valuing human diversity is essential to person- and relationship-centered care
individuals have different ways of knowing and learning about the world
creativity and innovation contribute to continuous quality improvement and sustainability
an enriched learning environment is the responsibility of faculty, staff, and students
effective nurse leaders engage in continuous professional development and lifelong learning

Graduates of the DNP programs are prepared for a variety of advanced nursing roles (e.g. nurse leaders, nurse practitioners, clinical nurse specialists). These graduates also have the foundation for continued graduate studies (i.e. PhD). Graduates of the DNP program are prepared for the highest level of clinical nursing practice.

Nursing science core courses, taken by all graduate students, build on students’ baccalaureate nursing knowledge to integrate scientific underpinnings for practice, understand nursing information management and decision making, and advocate for health promotion. Students develop evidence-based knowledge and skills to enhance the quality and safety of health care while demonstrating leadership and professionalism. Courses within the selected programs of Adult-Gerontology Acute Care Nurse Practitioner, Adult-Gerontology Clinical Nurse Specialist, Adult-Gerontology Primary Care Nurse Practitioner, Family Nurse Practitioner, Nursing Leadership: Nursing and Organizational Leadership or Nursing Leadership: Practice and Leadership Innovations provide specialized knowledge and practice opportunities in each advanced nursing role. A unique feature of this program is the targeted emphasis on the nurse’s use of advanced knowledge and skills of health promotion with individuals, families, and systems in diverse populations to address health care needs within complex environments.

Practice and Leadership Innovations (72 S.H.)

Students who elect the Practice and Leadership Innovations (PLI) emphasis are prepared to develop innovations in practice and leadership. In addition to core courses, content focuses on leadership in practice, organizational leadership, and the development, implementation, and evaluation of innovations. Students will be allowed to tailor their program with electives that advance their knowledge of practice, innovations, and/or leadership. Students will be prepared to lead innovations, advance practice, and improve healthcare outcomes. Clinical practicums in advanced nursing for the Practice leadership Innovations emphasis enable students to develop and lead a practice and/or leadership innovation project with attention to the impact on the organization and human/financial implications. The Clinical Scholarship Project is completed with guidance of a clinical mentor by all DNP students and involves demonstration of knowledge and skills to enhance the quality and safety of health care in a variety of settings and for a variety of populations. The Nursing Leadership Practicums offer the students the opportunity to apply nursing practice, leadership, and innovation principles under the guidance of a qualified preceptor.

Nursing Science Core Courses (DNP) (39 S.H.)

STAT 601 - Statistical Methods for Health Care Research (3 S.H.)
NURS 600 - Scientific and Ethical Foundations (4 S.H.)
NURS 604 - Health Policy and Quality Health Care Delivery (3 S.H.)
NURS 606 - Nursing Information Management & Decision Making (3 S.H.)
NURS 608 - Organizational and Systems Leadership (3 S.H.)
NURS 612 - Advanced Health Promotion for Families (3 S.H.)
NURS 613 - Advanced Health Promotion for Families Clinical (1 S.H.)
NURS 614 - Evidence-Based Practice (3 S.H.)
NURS 701 - Applied Biostatistics (4 S.H.)
NURS 703 - Epidemiological Approaches to Population Health (3 S.H.)
NURS 775 - Clinical Scholarship (3-6 S.H.) (minimum 9 S.H.)

Practice and Leadership Innovations (21 S.H.)

NURS 651 - Information & Project Management (3 S.H.)
NURS 655 - Nursing Leadership Practicum I (2-3 S.H.)
NURS 657 - Nursing Leadership Practicum II (2-3 S.H.)
NURS 669 - Nursing Education: Theory and Research (1-3 S.H.)
NURS 705 - Practice Innovations Seminar (3 S.H.)
NURS 738 - Contemporary Topics in Leadership (3 S.H.)
NURS 756 - Innovations in Practice & Leadership Practicum (3 S.H.)

Graduate Electives (12 S.H.)

Choose 12 S.H. at 600/700-level Nursing.

Suggested Electives

NURS 616 - Molecular, Genetic and Immune Mechanisms in Disease (3 S.H.)
NURS 618 - Advanced Pathophysiology (2 S.H.)
NURS 652 - Financial Resource Management in Nursing Service (1-3 S.H.)
NURS 653 - Human Resource Management (3 S.H.)

Clinical hours: (1 clinical credit = 60 hours of contact time)

Practice and Leadership Innovations: 1020 Clinical Hours