Brandman University Receives Accreditation for Doctor of Nursing Practice Degree

IRVINE, Calif., July 14 /PRNewswire/ --  Brandman University, a nonprofit, fully accredited adult university within the Chapman University System, today announced its Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) degree has received accreditation from the Western Association of Schools and Colleges (WASC).  Brandman's DNP degree is offered through the university's School of Nursing and Health Professions, and is the first doctoral degree offered by the 58-year-old adult education institution.

Brandman University has introduced its DNP program at a critical time for the U.S. health care system.  The nation's growing nursing shortage has become especially acute among specialties requiring advanced practice designation, such as adult critical care, pediatric and neonatal acute care and psychiatric care.  Against this backdrop, the American Association of Colleges of Nursing has changed the level of preparation necessary for advanced nursing practice, from a master's degree to a clinical doctorate beginning in 2015. Today, less than 1 percent of the three million nurses in the United States have a doctoral degree, according to the Division of Nursing of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.

"The American Association of Colleges of Nursing has recognized that patient care will benefit from advanced practice nurses being prepared with a doctoral degree," said Dr. Renee McLeod, dean of the School of Nursing and Health Professions at Brandman University.  "The Brandman DNP curriculum was developed to help nurses provide care in an environment that has dramatically changed in recent years, with technology now driving how health care professionals find and track data and communicate with one another.  Brandman's curriculum also is unique in its focus on critical thinking and analysis as key success factors, and we are pleased that WASC has recognized Brandman's leadership in developing these skills among advanced practice nurses.  Nurses with DNP degrees are also able to teach; which will help address the nationwide shortage of nursing instructors."

Brandman's DNP degree includes three entry options; one for advanced practice nurses who have master's degrees and are ready to complete their clinical doctoral degree.  The second option is designed for nurses who have a bachelor's degree and wish to move into advanced practice in one of five specialties: adult acute care nurse practitioner; pediatric acute care nurse practitioner; neonatal nurse practitioner; family psychiatric & mental health nurse practitioner and gerontological nurse practitioner.  A third option is for registered nurses who have a Master of Science Degree in Nursing and are currently not advanced practice nurses, but want to move into advanced practice in one of the five specialties.  This option is also available for advanced practice nurses who want to add one of the five specialties offered by Brandman.    

All entry options are designed for the registered or advanced practice nurse who is ready to take on a leadership role in the professional clinical practice of nursing.  Brandman's curriculum is based on an innovative, technology-enriched approach to create advanced practice clinical nursing experts who base decisions on the best evidence available to provide patient-centered, culturally appropriate care.  Emphasis will be placed on the use of technology, improving outcomes, innovative leadership and using evidence to base practice.  

Specifically, coursework blends three instructional strategies to produce an engaged learning curriculum; immersion, practical experience and self-directed study. During three immersion sessions, students will spend up to four days at Brandman's Irvine campus to work as teams with peers and mentors, participate in demonstrations, exercises, assessments or evaluations, complete hands-on skills training in a simulation center using standardized patients, computer-managed manikins, or three-dimensional gaming, or present their work on capstone projects to peers, faculty, and community members. To receive practical experience, students will complete internships or supervised clinical practice residencies conducted in the workplace.  Finally, all students will be required to complete self-directed study, including online lectures, discussions, social networking, demonstrations, tutorials, readings, or other homework.

Classes will begin in August 2010 for RNs with a master's degree, and in January 2011 for RNs with a bachelor's degree.   In addition to the DNP degree, Brandman's School of Nursing and Health Professions offers an RN to Bachelor of Science in Nursing, a Master of Health Administration and a Master of Science in Health Risk and Crisis Communication.  

For more information or to apply to the School of Nursing and Health Professions, prospective students should visit www.brandman.edu/nursing.    

About Brandman University

Brandman University, formerly Chapman University College, is a non-profit adult education university accredited by the Western Association of Schools and Colleges.  The University focuses on meeting the unique needs of more than 10,000 working students served online and through 25 campuses in California and Washington.  Brandman is part of the Chapman University system and provides more than 200 degrees, credentials, certificates and professional development programs.   For more information, visit www.brandman.edu.

About Chapman University

Founded in 1861, Chapman University (www.chapman.edu) is one of California's oldest, most prestigious private universities and is home to more than 4,000 undergraduate students and 1,500 graduate students at its home campus in Orange, California.

SOURCE Brandman University