The Nurse Will See You Now

Presenting WSU’s First Doctoral Program, the Doctor of Nursing Practice

Weber State’s new Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) degree meets a community need, while training students for the highest level of nursing practice.

Beginning in fall 2019, the DNP will help combat issues stemming from a physician shortage by preparing nurses to care for patients as physicians would.

“Our Doctor of Nursing Practice allows the graduate to become completely independent in the state of Utah and practice at a level where they can give diagnoses, order labs and take care of their patients in every way,” said Susan Thornock, Annie Taylor Dee School of Nursing chair.

“The DNP is the first doctoral-level degree in the allied health program at WSU,” said Bryan Maynard, a flight nurse for Intermountain Life Flight who enters the program this fall. “I thought it would be exciting to be part of history at the university and in the community.”

The DNP offers two educational pathways: The Leadership program prepares nurses for executive roles, and the Family Nurse Practitioner program trains nurses as leaders in clinical practice.

“Once I obtain this degree, there are so many different opportunities I can go toward,” Maynard said. “I really have no idea which path I will pursue, but having options is a good problem to have.”

Visit the Doctor of Nursing Practice website for more information.