Addressing the changing health care system and the increasing need for nurses prepared at the baccalaureate and graduate levels, Tennessee Tech\u2019s Whitson-Hester School of Nursing and the College of Nursing at East Tennessee State University have established a joint program to provide an opportunity for nurses to earn a doctor of nursing practice degree.<\/p>\n
Admitting students at both campuses beginning fall 2017, the program aims to prepare graduates to meet the health care needs of Tennesseans.<\/p>\n
\u201cI am so grateful that TTU Whitson-Hester School of Nursing is partnering with ETSU to provide this innovative program to educate future advanced practice nurses to serve the residents of the Upper Cumberland region and beyond,\u201d said Huey-Ming Tzeng, dean of Tech\u2019s Whitson-Hester School of Nursing.<\/p>\n
This joint doctor of nursing practice program consists of six concentrations: family nurse practitioner, psychiatric\/mental health nurse practitioner, executive leadership, adult-gerontology acute care nurse practitioner, pediatric nurse practitioner-primary care and women\u2019s health care nurse practitioner.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe ETSU College of Nursing has long valued its clinical programs that have graduated advanced practice nurses ready to serve their communities,\u201d said Wendy Nehring, dean of ETSU\u2019s College of Nursing. \u201cWe are thrilled that, through this partnership with TTU, we\u2019ll now have a way to offer the concentrations of women\u2019s health care nurse practitioner, pediatric nurse practitioner-primary care and adult-gerontology acute care nurse practitioner.\u201d<\/p>\n
For Tech, this DNP program provides the Whitson-Hester School of Nursing\u2019s first doctoral program and the opportunity to graduate advanced practice nurses specializing as a family nurse practitioner, executive leader or a psychiatric\/mental health nurse practitioner, areas of expertise for ETSU.<\/p>\n
The joint program will utilize an online and blended delivery format including on-campus work at the beginning of each semester and online learning throughout the remainder of the semester. At least once a year, all enrolled students will meet together. The program is designed to allow working professional nurses and students the opportunity to complete clinical requirements in or near their home city.<\/p>\n
This collaborative will provide opportunity for study and concentration not currently available in northeast and mid-upper Tennessee, addressing a shortage of primary healthcare services that advanced practice nurses with DNP degrees can help meet. These graduates would also be capable of filling a shortage of nursing faculty in Tennessee.<\/p>\n
Students may enroll for any concentration at the institution of their choice. For more information on the program, contact Myra Clark, ETSU\u2019s associate dean of Graduate Programs, at CLARKML2@etsu.edu or 423-439-5626, or Bedelia Russell, assistant professor in Tech\u2019s Whitson-Hester School of Nursing, at BHRussell@tntech.edu or 931-372-6006.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
Addressing the changing health care system and the increasing need for nurses prepared at the baccalaureate and graduate levels, Tennessee Tech\u2019s Whitson-Hester School of Nursing and the College of Nursing at East Tennessee State University have established a joint program … Continue reading