Nursing (Doctor of Nursing Practice)

Department of Nursing

2180 William S. White Building
(810) 762-3420
Fax: 810-766-6851
http://www.umflint.edu/nursing

Associate Director for Graduate Programs: Constance Creech
Business Administrator Intermediate: Denise Shourd
Graduate Program Manager: Marcia Campbell
Clinical Coordinator: Linda Scott

Academic Advisors: Joy O’Brien
Senior Administrative Assistant: Carol Hall
Simulation Lab Technician: James McTiernan
Senior Secretary: Laura Martin

Professors Margaret Andrews, Marilyn McFarland; Associate Professors Constance Creech, Hiba Wehbe-Alamah; Assistant Professors Marilyn Filter, Judy Haefner, Barbara Hollie, Megan Keiser, Barbara Kupferschmid, Marsha Lesley, Margie Murray-Wright, Helene Vossos; Lecturer III Christina Aplin-Kalisz; Lecturer II Kathleen Fisher, Patricia Hanson, Mary Killeen, Daniel Streetman Lecturer I Mary Jo Boyle, Marilyn Eipperle, Youvalanda Frencher, Diane Gutchak, Mary Keane, Avni Shah, Denise Will; Intermittent Lecturer Charles Johnston, Jenny LaChance, John Thornburg; Adjunct Clinical Lecturer Beth Ammerman, Youvalanda Frencher, Diane Gutchak, Gerri Hagadon-Szakal, Ree Ann Slagor, Diane Towers; Associate Professor Emerita Janet Barnfather

The University of Michigan-Flint’s School of Health Professions and Studies offers the Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP), which provides the knowledge and skills necessary for advanced nursing practice in primary health care. The program is taught in a distance-learning (online) format with minimal campus visits, approximately once per semester (less for MSN to DNP students). In addition, practicum courses require clinical site visits that are determined by the clinical instructor.

The development of the Doctor of Nursing Practice is based on strong national and state trends in the health care environment to provide entry-level nurse practitioner education at the doctoral level. The DNP degree allows students to focus on in-depth professional and clinical studies to meet the ever-increasing practice challenges of providing the highest quality health care in the 21st century.

As Advanced Practice Registered Nurses (APRNs) graduates: (1) make independent and collaborative health care decisions; (2) engage in clinical practice as expert clinicians who use theory and evidence-based practice to perform history and physical exams, interpret laboratory and diagnostic tests, treat common illnesses and injuries, prescribe medications (in accordance with state practice laws) and evaluate outcomes; (3) demonstrate leadership as consultants, educators, researchers and administrators, and (4) participate in legislative and professional activities to promote professional advancement and health related social policies.

Career opportunities for APRNs are continually expanding and include positions in hospitals, outpatient clinics, home health care agencies, schools, universities, industry, nursing homes, wellness centers, employee health programs, physicians’ office practices, community mental health agencies, public health agencies, acute care facilities and private practice.

Four concentrations are available in the DNP program: Adult-Gerontology Acute Care Nurse Practitioner, Adult-Gerontology Primary Care Nurse Practitioner, Family Nurse Practitioner, and Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner. Licensed nurse practitioners seeking to certify as a Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner can apply to the Post-Graduate Certificate program.The Department of Nursing will make an effort to offer all four concentration areas each year. However, the Graduate Nursing program reserves the right to delay the offering of specialty clinical courses until minimum enrollment levels are met. Additionally, an online part-time Masters to DNP program is available for those applicants with prior certification as a Nurse Practitioner, Nurse Midwife, Nurse Anesthetist, or Clinical Nurse Specialist.

Adult-Gerontology Acute Care Nurse Practitioner (ACNP)

The adult-gerontology acute care nurse practitioner is designed to educate nurses who want to manage and improve outcomes for culturally diverse populations of acutely ill patients with complex and often chronic illnesses across the adult life span. With the passage of the national health care reform, the demand for qualified nurse practitioner graduates has dramatically increased. The ACNP will provide coordination and continuity of care for acute and chronic illness and guide transition back to the community and primary care providers. Graduates are qualified to sit for the Adult-Gerontology Acute Care Nurse Practitioner certification examination.

Adult-Gerontology Primary Care Nurse Practitioner (AGNP)

The adult-gerontology primary care nurse practitioner is a provider of primary health care services. Within this role, the AGNP synthesizes theoretical, scientific and contemporary clinical knowledge for the assessment and management of both health and illness states. The population in adult-gerontology primary care practice includes adolescents and young, middle, and older adults. The particular expertise of the adult-gerontology primary care nurse practitioner emphasizes disease prevention, health promotion, and the management of patients with acute and chronic multi-system health problems. Delivering patient care with respect to cultural and spiritual beliefs and making health care resources available to patients from diverse cultures is an important role component. The AGNP provides consultation, collaboration, continuing education, certification, and evaluation. Upon entry into practice, the adult-gerontology primary care nurse practitioner demonstrates competence to be qualified in the categories of health promotion, health protection, disease prevention, diverse management and diagnostics. Graduates are qualified to sit for the Adult-Gerontology Primary Care Nurse Practitioner certification examination.

Family Nurse Practitioner (FNP)

Family nurse practitioners are primary health care providers. As advanced practice registered nurses (APRNs), they provide nursing and medical services to individuals, families and groups, emphasizing health promotion and disease prevention across the life span. The FNP synthesizes theoretical, scientific and contemporary clinical knowledge in the management of acute and chronic diseases or treatment and wellness promotion of minor injuries. Services include, but are not limited to, history and physical examinations, ordering of appropriate diagnostic and laboratory tests, prescription of pharmacologic agents and treatments, and nonpharmacologic therapies. Teaching and counseling individuals, families and groups are major parts of a nurse practitioner’s activities. Family nurse practitioners work autonomously, as well as in collaboration with a variety of individuals, to diagnose and manage clients’ health care problems as well as to provide anticipatory guidance and developmental assessments for pediatric patients. Graduates are qualified to sit for the Family Nurse Practitioner certification examination.

Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner (PMHNP)

The psychiatric mental health practitioner’s role is unique and on the cutting edge of mental health care. Psychiatric mental health nurse practitioners synthesize theoretical, scientific and contemporary clinical knowledge and are capable of medical, pharmacological and psychotherapeutic intervention in acute, crisis and chronic persistent situations, as well as being skilled in disease prevention and health maintenance planning. Credentialed to practice in a collaborative relationship with the psychiatrist and other mental health team members and treat patients across the life span. Full utilization of psychiatric mental health nurse practitioners has the potential of extending mental health services in a cost-effective manner. Nurse practitioners with this credential are highly valued and frequently sought out. Graduates are qualified to sit for the Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner certification examination.

Post-Graduate Certificate

Admission to the Post-Graduate Certification program is available to certified licensed nurse practitioners, seeking licensure as a Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner. The certificate program is designed to educate nurse practitioners in an additional specialty to manage and improve outcomes for culturally diverse populations of patients with psychiatric conditions across the life span. This is a 20 credit part-time program which can be completed in four semesters. Courses are delivered in a distance learning (online) format. Students arrange their clinical placement. In addition, clinical courses may require site visits that are determined by their clinical instructor. Nursing Certificate Program Curriculum.

Mission

The department of nursing is committed to providing quality education to diverse students in pursuit of excellence in nursing practice, leadership and scholarship. A student centered approach and a focus on evidence based and culturally competent care are the foundation for theoretical and clinical learning experiences. Interprofessional, local and global partnerships influence our commitment to health and wellbeing for all people.

The Department of Nursing participates in the University-wide effort to assess its academic programs. Information on assessment plans, including goals, methods and outcomes is available at http://www.umflint.edu/assessment.

Graduate Program Values Statement

The graduate program faculty promote the mission and vision of the University of Michigan-Flint and Department of Nursing by supporting the further development of the knowledge and skills to find, critically appraise, and use the best evidence in teaching, scholarship, practice, and service within the context of understanding human and cultural diversity. The mission is carried out in part by faculty maintaining clinical expertise, academic excellence, and sensitivity to our partners in the diverse communities we serve.

The Graduate Program Mission Statement is consistent with the University of Michigan-Flint Mission Statement and the School of Health Professions and Studies Mission Statement, and the Department of Nursing Mission Statement. The curriculum supports the further development of critical thinking, humanistic and scientific inquiry, and understanding human and cultural diversity. There is a focus on the health problems and issues in local, state, national, and international areas. The design of the program provides for asynchronous and synchronous online learning and individual attention to students through electronic, phone, and face-to-face communication and the use of local clinical preceptors. The graduate program strengthens university collaboration with many health care institutions and providers in local, regional, national, and international areas. It will also strengthen the current face-to-face BSN and online RN-BSN programs by providing an atmosphere of advanced practice nursing, clinical implementation research, and scholarly inquiry. Additionally, we strongly encourage our undergraduate students to participate, when possible, in clinical research projects in the graduate program as well as to apply for graduate study. We believe that the undergraduate programs will also be strengthened by the willingness of its faculty to utilize their expertise in both the graduate and undergraduate programs.

Admission Requirements

Admission applications must be completed by March 1. Students are admitted for the Fall semester only. Applicants must meet the following requirements to apply for admission:

1.     Bachelor of Science in Nursing* or Master of Science in Nursing (with certification) from an accredited
        college or university with an overall undergraduate GPA of 3.2 on a 4.0 scale, 3.5 for graduate work.
2.     Current unencumbered RN license in the United States.
3.     College-level chemistry with grade of C (2.0) or better.
4.     College-level statistics with grade of C (2.0) or better.
5.     Completion of an application for Graduate Admission, to include:

Official transcripts from all colleges and universities attended
Curriculum vitae or resume
Copy of current RN license
Copy of certification in the applicant’s advanced practice nursing specialty (for the applicant with a MSN)
Professional goal statement
Three complete recommendation forms

6. International students must submit additional documentation, and an interview with a faculty member either by phone or in person to delineate clear clinical interests that are compatible
with the mentoring capacity of the Department of Nursing faculty.

*Admission is also possible for Registered Nurses with bachelor degrees in non-nursing fields. In addition to the requirements above, those RNs not holding a BSN must complete the following courses or their equivalents: ENG 112 ; NUR 204 ; NSC 209, NSC 210, NSC 235, NUR 300, NUR 316 , NUR 412

Applicants from states other than Michigan are responsible for checking with the State Board of Nursing in the state they wish to become licensed, to ensure that the program meets any individual state licensing requirements as a nurse practitioner.

Program Accreditation

The baccalaureate, master’s, and DNP programs at University of Michigan-Flint are accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (http://www.aacn.nche.edu/ccne-accreditation).