Incoming class includes the school’s first Executive Leadership DNP students

From left, Jill Seys, Norine Watson and Jane Mericle are three of eight students in the inaugural Executive Leadership DNP class. Watson and Mericle are both in leadership with Nemours/AI duPont Hospital for Children. Seys is a transplant professional at St. Louis Children’s Hospital. Photo by Theresa Montgomery.

The School of Nursing welcomed nearly 500 new Master of Nursing Science, Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) and PhD students in the class entering in fall 2017. The new class included the school’s first cohort of eight executive leadership track DNP students.

The incoming MSN class included 187 students who hold Bachelor of Science in Nursing degrees and are beginning their master’s studies. These students concentrate on specific health care specialties such as adult-gerontology acute care, neonatal and women’s health. Also pursuing specific specialties are 32 students who have already earned MSNs, but wish to add further specialization with Post-Master’s Certificates.

An additional 171 students entered the MSN program with degrees in fields other than nursing; these PreSpecialty

students spend three semesters in intense, full-time foundational prelicensure studies before continuing to the three-semester specialty component and the completion of their MSN degrees. The incoming class also includes 12 students in the school’s ASN to MSN program for registered nurses who already have associate degrees in nursing.

The DNP program welcomed 65 new students, eight of whom are enrolled in VUSN’s new Executive Leadership DNP. The executive leadership track has recently been established for nurses in top organizational roles. Doctoral work includes studies in lean methodology, advanced health care economics and evidence-based management, as well as the development of a comprehensive DNP scholarly project.

The PhD in Nursing Science Program admitted seven first-year PhD students, bringing the number of PhD students at VUSN to 29.

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