News Releases

New Electives for Nurse Executives Added to Doctor of Nursing Practice Program

July 11, 2012

Courses to emphasize ethnic diversity and cultural competency.

Baltimore, Md. – Beginning in the fall 2012 semester, four new electives, designed specifically for nurse executives and chief nurse officers, will be added to the Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) curriculum at the University of Maryland School of Nursing (UMSON). Funded by a $1.13 million training grant from the Health Resources and Services Administration, the project calls not only for the new electives, but also for an increased emphasis on recruiting and retaining ethnically diverse students from rural or medically underserved areas or with plans to practice in those areas. The goal of the project is to reduce disparities in health care by improving access to quality care and providing a pool of diverse and culturally competent DNP graduates.

“This project will have high relevance in advancing leadership and quality outcomes in areas that comprise an underserved and vulnerable population,” says Robin Newhouse, PhD, RN, NEA-BC, FAAN, professor and program director on the grant. “Raising the number of well-prepared and ethnically diverse DNP graduates for teaching, clinical practice, and leadership positions will help increase the quality and safety of health care by supporting evidence-based practice and strengthening health care systems.”

Nurse executives play an essential role in assuring high quality health care, making sure that services are available and delivered in a way that improves health to the people they serve. Increasing the cultural relevance of high quality doctoral education will prepare nurse executives for innovative leadership in diverse settings, benefiting Maryland citizens.

For more information on UMSON’s DNP program and the new nurse executive electives, visit:http://nursing.umaryland.edu/academic-programs/grad/doctoral-degree/dnp or call 410-706-7522.

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The University of Maryland School of Nursing, founded in 1889, is one of the oldest and largestnursing schools, and is ranked eleventh nationally. Enrolling more than 1,600 students in its baccalaureate, master’s, and doctoral programs, the School develops leaders who shape the profession of nursing and impact the health care environment