University of Michigan - Flint

University of Michigan-Flint

Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP)

DNP Program Nearing Final Approval

In the Fall of 2009, there will be a significant change to the Nurse Practioner program at the University of Michigan-Flint. A new, online Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) degree will be offered, and the previous  Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) will no longer be offered. The DNP is expected to receive final approval in mid-October, 2008. At that time comprehensive printed materials will become available. In the meantime, you may find most necessary information within this site.

 

Program Description

The University of Michigan-Flint’s School of Health Professions and Studies offers the Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP), which provides the skills necessary for advanced nursing practice in primary health care. This four year, part-time program is taught in a distance-learning (online) format with clinical courses arranged in your local area. Three concentrations are available in the DNP program: Adult Nurse Practitioner, Family Nurse Practitioner, and Adult Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner.

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 practioner 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.

 

The Nurse Practitioner

The nurse practitioner is a unique licensed independent practitioner within the constellation of advanced practice nurses. Nurse practitioners assess and manage both medical and nursing problems in a variety of specialty areas such as family, adult, pediatric, gerontologic, women’s health, school health, occupational health, mental health, emergency, and acute care. Their practice emphasizes health promotion and maintenance, disease prevention and diagnosis, and management of acute and chronic illness. Nurse practitioners serve as primary care providers and consultants for individuals, families, and communities in a variety of ambulatory and inpatient settings. Responsibilities of nurse practitioners include: taking histories; conducting physical examinations; ordering, performing, and interpreting appropriate diagnostic and laboratory tests; prescribing pharmacological agents, treatments, and non-pharmacological therapies for the management of the conditions they diagnose. Teaching and counseling are major components of a nurse practitioner’s role. They also conduct clinical research.

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