University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB) School of Nursing Professor Linda Roussel, PhD, RN, and Assistant Professor Shea Polancich, PhD, RN, recently presented to the American Association of Colleges of Nursing (AACN) Doctoral Education Conference lessons learned as part of the revision of the School’s joint Doctor of Nursing Practice curriculum, spearheaded by Roussel in 2014.
Polancich and Roussel presented the poster “Strengthening Translational Science in a DNP program” January 19, during the AACN’s evening reception. The presentation focused on the advantages of learning from the DNP curriculum revision at the UAB School of Nursing.
The study detailed faculty and student feedback and outcomes following the curriculum revision, which focused on improvement, translation/implementation and safety sciences. Roussel and Polancich specifically looked at how the new curriculum compared to the former and how the new curriculum affected student knowledge and satisfaction.
“Through the story we have found that students reported positive learning experiences and early IDEA evaluation scores have been promising,” Roussel said. “However, until an entire cohort has completed all of the revised courses we will not have a comprehensive account of the entire revised program. What we do know is that the role and function of the DNP will continue to evolve as heath care advances and changes, and as such, educators need to remain vigilant that their DNP programs continue to evolve to meet the needs of the student and the health care industry, ” said Roussel.
“We are reaping the benefits of a revised curriculum, through presentation, manuscript and dissemination,” added Polancich. “It is exciting to share our success and hard work with others.”
The UAB School of Nursing, the University of Alabama in Huntsville College of Nursing and the Capstone College of Nursing at the University of Alabama designed the first joint collaborative DNP program in the country, operating it on all three campuses since 2008, with UAB as the coordinating school.
The American Association of Colleges of Nursing (AACN) is the national voice for baccalaureate and graduate nursing education. AACN works to establish quality standards for nursing education; assists schools in implementing those standards; influences the nursing profession to improve health care; and promotes public support for professional nursing education, research, and practice.
