Nursing Leadership - Practice and Leadership Innovations (PLI) - Post-Master’s DNP

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31 S.H.

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

Post-Master’s Doctor of Nursing Practice Programs

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

The Doctor of Nursing Practice Programs offer programs for nurses interested in post-nursing masters DNP education. Post-Master’s DNP Programs are in the areas of: Adult-Gerontology Clinical Nurse Specialist; Family Nurse Practitioner, Adult-Gerontology Primary Care Nurse Practitioner; Adult-Gerontology Acute Care Nurse Practitioner; Nursing Leadership: Nursing and Organizational Leadership; or Nursing Leadership: Practice and Leadership Innovations.

Practice and Leadership Innovations (31 S.H.)

This option provides nurses who already have Master’s degree preparation the opportunity to acquire DNP education preparation and to develop innovations in practice and leadership. 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 Nursing Leadership Practicums offer the students the opportunity to apply nursing practice, leadership, and innovation principles under the guidance of a qualified preceptor. 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.

A total of 1000 clinical/practicum hours are required for all graduates of a DNP program. This program provides 600 hours. The remaining 400 clinical/practicum hours may come from a previous master’s degree (appropriateness will be determined by faculty). Additional clinical/practicum courses may be necessary to achieve this requirement of 400 hours.

*Clinical/practicum hour ratio is 1 credit hour to 60 clinical/practice hours.