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

Assistant Director for Graduate Program: Constance Creech
Senior Administrative Assistant: Marcia Campbell
Program Faculty: Professor Margaret Andrews; Associate Professor Marilyn McFarland; Assistant Professors  
  Constance Creech, Hiba Wehbe-Alamah, Marsha Lesley; Clinical Assistant Professors Kristi George, Marilyn
  Filter, Christina Aplin-Kalisz; Lecturers John Thornburg, Diann Krywko, Jenny La Chance, Dianne Burgermeister,
  Charles Johnston, D. Kay Taylor; Clinical Instructors Diane Towers, ReeAnn Slagor
Emerita Faculty Associate Professor 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, and has been designed for the part-time distance learning student. Students come to campus 1-2 times per year for seminar, assessment and testing.

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) the 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.

Three concentrations are available in the DNP program:  Adult Nurse Practitioner, Family Nurse Practitioner, and Adult Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner. Additionally, an online part-time Masters to DNP program is available for those applicants with prior advance practice registered nurse (APRN) certification as a Nurse Practitioner or Certified Nurse Midwife.

Adult Nurse Practitioner (ANP)

The adult nurse practitioner is a provider of primary health care services. Within this role, the ANP synthesizes theoretical, scientific and contemporary clinical knowledge for the assessment and management of both health and illness states. The population in adult primary care practice includes adolescents and young, middle, and older adults. The particular expertise of the adult 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. Most adult nurse practitioners practice in primary care settings, which include general and specialty practices. The ANP provides consultation, collaboration, continuing education, certification, and evaluation. Upon entry into practice, the adult 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 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 and the 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 anticipating guidance and developmental assessments for pediatric points. Graduates are qualified to sit for the Family Nurse Practitioner certification examination.

Adult Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner (PMHNP)

The adult psychiatric mental health practitioner’s role is unique and on the cutting edge of mental health care. In Michigan, changes in the Michigan Mental Health Code have paved the way for new opportunities for adult psychiatric mental health nurse practitioners. The code specifically defines new responsibilities for advanced practice nurses employed in community mental health service programs. Adult 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 independently, they value and seek ongoing consultative relationships with the psychiatrist and other mental health team members. Full utilization of psychiatric mental health nurse practitioners has the potential of extending mental health services in a cost-effective manner. Graduates are qualified to sit for the Adult Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner certification examination, as well as the Adult Nurse Practitioner certification examination.

Program Mission and Assessment

The mission of the University of Michigan-Flint’s Doctor of Nursing Practice program is to prepare advanced practice nurses who will deliver high quality, evidence-based, cost-effective primary health care and become leaders within the healthcare industry. Graduates meet the health care needs of society in general and underserved populations specifically, through theory and evidence-based nursing practice and scholarly endeavors. The graduate program faculty promote the mission and vision of the University of Michigan-Flint and the University of Michigan-Flint Department of Nursing by supporting the further development of critical thinking, humanistic and scientific inquiry, and understanding of human and cultural diversity. The mission is enhanced by faculty maintaining clinical expertise, academic excellence, and a sensitivity to partners in the diverse communities which served. The program participates in the University-wide effort to assess its academic programs. Information on assessment plans including goals, methods and outcomes is available at http://assessment.umflint.edu.