Dear Potential Applicant:

The call has come. The request is clear. Health care needs DNPs.

The National Academy of Science frames the request as a need to advance healthcare delivery.

In 2005, a report from the National Academy of Sciences (NAS) called for nursing to develop a “non-research clinical doctorate.” The report stated, “Doctorally-prepared nurse clinicians are needed to fully implement the emerging science and practice innovations developed by nurse investigators.”

The Institute of Medicine says it is the need to solve problems.

In 2006, the Institute of Medicine reported that more than 1.5 million preventable adverse drug events occur annually at U.S. health care facilities resulting in compromised patient outcomes and $3.5 billion in annual health care spending. The co-author of the IOM’s “To Err is Human” report, said the latest evidence proves that “this country has not taken seriously the alarms we sounded in 1999”.

Health care is asking for our best and brightest advanced practice nurses to come forward, to expand their expertise and to prepare for leadership roles in solving problems and advancing healthcare delivery. With nurses being the largest healthcare provider, more than 3 million, the hope for health care lies in large part within nursing.

We at TCU are very excited to be offering the Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) degree. We are looking for applicants who are passionate about their practice and have a sincere desire to make a difference in health care.

If you are an advanced practice nurse – CRNA, CNS, NP or CNM – and our interested in learning more about our online, post-masters, Doctor of Nursing Practice program - e-mail me at kathy.baker@tcu.edu or call at 817.257.6726. I look forward to talking with you.

Sincerely,

Kathy A. Baker, PhD,RN,CNS,CGRN, APRN, BC

Director, DNP Program
Harris College of Nursing & Health Sciences
Texas Christian Unversity