Mar 18, 2024  
2021-2022 Graduate Catalog 
    
2021-2022 Graduate Catalog [ARCHIVED CATALOG]

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


72 credits

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 ; Family Nurse Practitioner ; Psychiatric-Mental Health 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 credits)


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 and 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 Doctor of Nursing Practice 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.

Graduate Electives (12 credits)


Choose 12 credits at 600/700-level Nursing.

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


Practice and Leadership Innovations: 1020 Clinical Hours