Back to Annual Meeting Page		American Public Health Association 133rd Annual Meeting & Exposition December 10-14, 2005 Philadelphia, PA

Abstract #98176

R. Craig Stotts, RN, DrPH, College of Nursing, University of Tennessee Health Science Center, Memphis, 817 Cobblestone Cir, North Little Rock, AR 72116, 501-753-7098, cstotts@utmem.edu

The practice doctorate in nursing is now becoming more widely accepted, thanks largely to the AACN document issued in 2004. In 2001, the University of Tennessee Health Science Center initiated a Public Health Nursing option in its DNSc program. The DNSc at UT was established in 1998 as a practice doctorate, requiring a master's degree in nursing prior to admission. The focus of the DNSc program is not research but does include some research content. The main focus is to prepare leaders in the field and within the PHN option, to prepare PHNs for the highest level of leadership and expertise.

The DNSc program has been web-based since its inception. Students are required to spend four weeks each year on campus, at the beginning and end of each semester. The PHN option has students living in parts of the country ranging from California to Virginia, and Wisconsin to Mobile. Their practice sites are often in their hometowns or states. As of January 2005, UT has graduated five PHN doctoral students; another three will graduate in May 2005. This presentation covers the practicum experiences and dissertation topics of these graduates, as well as the curriculum. Topics have ranged from local ones, such as options for the homeless in Memphis, to international ones, an evaluation of the measles initiative in Kenya. Descriptions of current positions held by graduates will also be provided.

Plans for the future will be discussed in light of the College's decision to convert the DNSc program to a DNP program. The major change is the substitution of a “residency project” for the dissertation. This project will be a community-based program, comprehensive plan, or evaluation that will meet the highest standards for rigor, relevance, and applicability to current public health problems or issues. Students will also be required to develop portfolios that reflect their attainment of the Core Competencies in Public Health Nursing. Within the 2.5-year curriculum, students are in practicum settings for a full 2 years, providing ample opportunity to gain the experience and expertise they need for leadership positions.

Learning Objectives: At the conclusion of this session, the participant will be able to

• Identify the key elements of the curriculum of the first post-master’s practice doctorate in public health nursing
• describe the practice settings used in the PHN doctoral program
• describe the dissertation topics and findings of the first graduates of the PHN doctoral program
• identify the changes planned for converting the DNSc program to a DNP

Keywords: Education,

Related Web page: www.utmem.edu/nursing/dnp/index.php

Presenting author's disclosure statement:

I wish to disclose that I have NO financial interests or other relationship with the manufactures of commercial products, suppliers of commercial services or commercial supporters.

Recorded presentation