SpectRUm – Explosive Growth, Empathy and Evolution: The Hallmarks of the Practice of Nursing
Featured in the Winter 2024 print edition of spectRUm magazine.
In response to the exceptional demand for Advanced Practice Registered Nurses (APRN) in the US, Roseman University’s College of Nursing, under the leadership of the Dean of the College, Dr. Brian Oxhorn, launched two Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) programs, Doctor of Nursing Practice—Family Nurse Practitioner (DNPFNP) and the Doctor of Nursing Practice in Nurse Anesthesia (DNPNA) in 2024. Nursing, like many healthcare professions, has over time raised the level of training and qualifications for nurses, with explosive growth, multiple pathways, increased areas of specialization, educational options and levels of licensure, offering more options than ever in the history of nursing practice.
Medicine and Nursing Co-Evolve Post-War
The practice of Nursing has evolved dramatically in the last 75 years and has been significantly influenced by the evolution of the practice of Medicine. World War II marked an extraordinary sea change for Medicine, as medical education advanced and physicians post-war increasingly chose medical specialties. In 1940, 24% of US Physicians were specialists, and trained by rotating “internships”. By 1960, nearly 38,000 doctors were in medical “residencies”, contributing to a shortage in primary care physicians as physicians increasingly specialized. In underserved and rural areas, primary care physicians relied on the vast expertise of registered nurses. According to the American Nursing Association (ANA), the introduction of the Social Security Amendments of 1965 increased the need for primary care throughout the United States, and nurses were the ones who stepped in to educate families about health promotion and prevention. Across the country, it was noted that nurses were exceptionally skilled in the healthcare needs of children and families. It was at this time that nurses’ roles paralleled the roles and responsibilities of a primary care physician, and the role of the Advanced Practice Registered Nurse, a registered nurse who has completed graduate-level education and training, was formalized.
APRN Nursing Education Formalizes
An extraordinary partnership formed that would revolutionize not only the practice of Nursing, but how nurses were trained and licensed to excel in their expanded role. In 1965, Loretta Ford, a nurse leader and Henry Silver, a physician, partnered to create the first training program at UC Colorado, which led to the establishment of the first nurse practitioner programs nationally. Throughout the 1970’s and 1980’s, nurse practitioners expanded their practice further and established themselves as a critical voice in their field through the start of the American Association of Nurse Practitioners. In 2008, the ANA endorsed the APRN Consensus model to: 1) promote uniformity in the regulation of APRN’s across the US, 2) provide guidance in areas of licensure, accreditation, certification, and education, and 3) advocate for legislation that supported APRN’s like inclusion in the Affordable Care Act. Nurse practitioners are one of several different types of APRN’s.
Critical Care Nurses wishing to specialize in anesthesiology as an entry-level Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetist (CRNA) were previously required to have a master’s degree, and by 2025, a doctoral degree (DNPNA) will be required for entry-level CRNA’s. Critical Care nurses with experience in the ICU with surgical, medical, cardiac, neuro, pediatric, neonatal or trauma patients who hold a license as a registered professional nurse and/or APRN are eligible to apply for Roseman’s DNPNA program.
Outlook for DNPFNP’s and DNPNA’s
Today, there are over 385,000 APRN’s, and according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the demand for NP jobs will grow by 35% by 2026. Salaries for FNP’s average $121,993 with top earners making $167,000 per year.
The demand for Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetists who earn DNPNA or a Doctor of Nurse Anesthesia Practice (DNAP) degrees is projected to increase by 40% by 2033, as CRNA’s evolve to become primary anesthesia providers. As our population ages, and chronic disease increases, the demand for surgery is expected to increase concurrently with the demand for CRNA’s to serve patients in the operating room. According to the BLS, mean average salary for CRNA’s in 2023 was $214,200, among the highest of any nursing specialty.
Roseman’s DNPFNP and DNPNA
Roseman’s 36-month, full-time, online Doctor of Nursing Practice— Family Nurse Practitioner program is designed for nurses with a Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) degree who wish to achieve the highest level of nursing practice and prepare for the national call to elevate the academic preparation of nurses to the doctoral level. The DNPFNP enables graduates to practice as Family Nurse Practitioners, lead in administrative roles within healthcare systems, teach in academia, conduct and translate evidence-based research, improve safety and quality, and advocate on behalf of their patients. The program allows students to earn their MSNFNP in just under two years, and to sit for licensure, while continuing on for another year to earn their DNP. This program will welcome its inaugural class in July 2025, with applications closing in June, 2025.
“We are very excited to offer the DNPFNP to nurses, as the demand for nurse practitioners is rapidly growing, with the BLS citing nurse practitioners as the third fastest growing occupation between 2022- 2033.For students wishing to achieve the highest level of training with a DNP, our graduates will be prepared to practice, lead, advocate, educate and make a difference in the world.” – Dr. Jason Major, DNP, MSN, FNPBC, APRN, Interim Director of Family Nurse Practitioner Program
The DNP prepares graduates for multiple roles including health policy development, leadership, administration, advanced clinical practice, and information technology in an environment of inter-professional collaboration. Educating the next generation of healthcare providers is a critical step for increasing access to quality healthcare and improving healthcare outcomes.
Roseman’s 36-month, full-time, year-round hybrid-online program Doctor of Nursing Practice in Nurse Anesthesia program is designed for aspiring nurses seeking to embark on a fulfilling journey toward becoming a Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetist (CRNA). Developed specifically for those holding a Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) degree or an equivalent baccalaureate qualification, approved by the Council on Accreditation of Nurse Anesthesia Educational Programs (COA), the program equips graduates with the knowledge, skills, and clinical expertise needed to excel in the dynamic field of nurse anesthesia. It is the only DNPNA program in Nevada. This program will welcome its second class of students in July 2025, with applications closing in February 2025.
“Roseman’s DNPNA students will learn how to administer anesthesia and deliver anesthesia-related services independently and as part of an interprofessional team.Students will learn through real-world scenarios using state-of-the-art simulation and training in collaboration with clinical partners in Southern Nevada.Further, students will have the opportunity to develop their leadership skills and systems-level thinking, while learning their important role in a healthcare team.” – Dr. Nathaniel Apatov, PhD, MHS, MSN, CRNA, LTC USA Retired, DNPNA Program Director
Both programs leverage Roseman’s unique teaching and learning model, the Six-Point Mastery Learning Model®, which ensures high levels of achievement for all students and fosters cooperation and collaboration in the learning process.
Roseman continues to respond to our community by creating healthcare education programs that equip our graduates to fulfill needed professional roles to serve the healthcare needs of our families, neighborhoods and communities at large.