Beyond the white coat: how Creighton’s DNP Program develops healthcare leaders
Image
Image
According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, employment of nurse practitioners and other advanced degree nurses will increase 31% from 2020 to 2030.
With increased attention on nurse practitioners, high quality patient care is needed now more than ever.
Creighton’s College of Nursing graduates of the Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) program are collaborative and adaptable healthcare providers, ready to answer the call. DNPs are advanced clinical nurses that healthcare needs, shaped by a program that educates and forms students to be as compassionate as they are skilled.
Imagine this: a young nurse, inspired by a deep-seated desire to do more, steps into Creighton’s DNP program. They already experienced the grit of patient care, but are hungry for something greater. Here, they find a community of mentors who teach and transform. Through this online program, our faculty are partners in their journey, available at every turn, whether through a scheduled advising session or a spontaneous drop-in during open office hours. This is the Creighton difference—a deeply personal, hands-on approach that ensures no student is ever just a number.
Doctor of nursing practice students learn remotely and travel to campus for educational sessions and health assessment checkoffs in our state-of-the-art simulation labs. Here, they live the scenarios that prepare them for the unpredictable nature of healthcare. And these aren’t ordinary checkoffs. They are intense, heart-pounding moments where students prove their tenacity, knowing that their next step could be on the front lines of patient care.
Catherine Ann Carrico, DNP, APRN-NP, FNP-BC, assistant nursing professor shares, “When meeting with preceptors, a common theme is how well prepared our DNP students are to come to the clinical setting, and well above other students from other schools and colleges.”
Each student has an individual plan of study, and meet frequently with academic advisors, thus meeting the Jesuit Value of cura personalis - care for the whole person.
— Catherine Ann Carrico, DNP, APRN-NP, FNP-BC
Image
There’s a certain confidence in Creighton graduates, a readiness that isn’t just learned—it’s lived. Cheila Ditzler, DNP, APRN-NP, PMHNP-BC, a recent program graduate now making waves at CHI Health Lakeside – Psychiatric Associates, shares “Creighton is uniquely suited to preparing DNPs due to their embrace of the Jesuit value cura personalis - care for the whole person.” Her story is one of transformation, from a nurse with a dream, to a DNP with “robust clinical experience”, to a practicing DNP who changes lives daily. She’s a testament to the power of Creighton’s approach—a blend of rigorous academic preparation and a deeply ingrained sense of purpose.
“I am immensely grateful for my time at Creighton and the mentorship of excellent faculty like Dr. Sara Banzhaf and Dr. Catherine Carrico.”
Creighton’s DNP program offers multiple tracks to meet nurses where they are and catapult them to future leadership positions in specific areas of focus. Tracks offered include:
- Adult-Gerontology Acute Care Nurse Practitioner
- Family Nurse Practitioner
- Neonatal Nurse Practitioner
- Pediatric Primary and Acute Care Nurse Practitioner (Dual Degree)
- Psychiatric Mental Health Across the Lifespan Nurse Practitioner
- Nursing Administration & Leadership
- Post-Graduate General Track
- Healthcare system collaboration is key to preparing our DNPs.
Creighton provides exceptional support and mentoring for DNP students. The robust clinical requirements also ensure graduates are well prepared to thrive in clinical practice.
— Cheila Ditzler, DNP, APRN-NP, PMHNP-BC
In the Psychiatric-Mental Health Nurse Practitioner (PMHNP) track, collaboration with various healthcare settings provides hands-on experience for students. College of Nursing associate professor, Sarah Elizabeth Banzhaf, DNP, APRN-NP, PMHNP-BC, shares how partnerships “facilitate a flexible and timely strategy to expand the workforce of psychiatric-mental health providers to meet the needs of individuals within our community that will access services.”
So, when you see a Creighton DNP graduate in action, know that you are witnessing something special. You’re seeing the result of a program that forms providers to be leaders who will shape the future of healthcare
Our Doctor of Nursing Practice program stands a cut above the rest, offering an unparalleled blend of clinical expertise, compassionate care and innovative training. At Creighton, we not only prepare our students to be exceptional healthcare providers but also leaders in shaping the future of patient care.
— Dean Clark, DNP, RN
