Graduate School Launches Doctor of Nursing Practice Program

Bethel University is proud to announce the launch of a Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) degree program in fall 2018, the Graduate School’s third doctoral offering and one of the highest degrees in the field of nursing.

The latest in a string of additions to Bethel’s longstanding healthcare programs, the DNP will prepare advanced practice nurses for roles in administration, public policy, advocacy, and specialized care. It follows the launch of Bethel’s physician assistant program in 2015, and it joins four other nursing programs at the undergraduate, adult undergraduate, and graduate levels.

“The DNP degree is focused on leadership and transformation in the workplace,” says Jane Wrede, program director and associate professor of nursing. “Its purpose is to prepare advanced practice nurses to be leaders and change agents in their professional settings.”

The primarily online program puts students on the cutting edge of medical trends, with advanced study in biostatistics, epidemiology, informatics, and healthcare economics and policy. Students will learn to apply evidence-based research, think critically at the organizational level, and understand nursing from a business perspective—skills that position them well for roles in hospital management and academia.  

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, demand for nurse anesthetists, nurse midwives, nurse educators, and advanced practice nurses—all viable career paths for DNP graduates—is expected to grow by 31 percent in the next 10 years, much faster than the national average. With 2- and 3-year plans of study, Bethel’s program will prepare students for career advancement while intentionally keeping them active and engaged in the workplace.

“We challenge students to research and complete quality improvement projects that benefit their existing practice,” Wrede says. “They literally become leaders and change-makers in their job as they move through the program, which speaks to its immediate and long-term benefits.”

Since the launch of its flagship undergraduate nursing program in 1982, Bethel has continued to build on its reputation for excellence in healthcare with state-of-the-art training facilities, corporate partnerships, and—now—a terminal degree offering.

“The DNP completes our suite of nursing programs,” says Diane Dahl, chief nursing administrator and dean of health, medical, and social sciences. “Nursing at Bethel is unique in that we produce graduates who meet workforce demand and patient needs, and who are recognized by employers as different—highly ethical people who care for the whole person.”

Learn more about Bethel’s Doctor of Nursing Practice degree and nursing at Bethel.

The Doctor of Nursing Practice program at Bethel University is pursuing initial accreditation by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education. Applying for accreditation does not guarantee that accreditation will be granted. The program is also pending Higher Learning Commission approval.