BSN Entry to DNP Prelude – June 12-14
The UCSF School of Nursing has established a new academic pathway that will prepare the next generation of nurse leaders at the highest clinical level to advance health care innovations and health equity.
In June, the school launched a new pathway within its Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) program: the BSN Entry to DNP — Advanced Nursing Focus. This pathway enables individuals with a bachelor’s degree in nursing to become advanced practitioners in a nursing specialty and also attain leadership expertise to transform patient care and health policy. They will graduate with the DNP degree, the highest clinical degree in the profession.
“With their unique perspectives and insights, nurses need to be fully engaged at the decision-making table in improving the quality of care,” said Mary Lynch, DNP, MPH, FAAN, associate dean for education programs. “By expanding the pathways in our DNP program, we will equip more nurses with the knowledge and skills to innovate and lead positive change in our health systems.”
The school welcomed its inaugural cohort of 58 students to the Mission Bay campus from June 12-14 for its opening “Prelude” course. The learners, who have diversity in culture and lived experiences, come from across California and beyond, received an overview of the program, met faculty and staff, and engaged in interactive sessions to build a sense of community and belonging. In addition, the school introduced the learners to the myriad university resources available to support them through the next three years of their studies.
Brian Cairns has worked as an emergency room nurse for six years during which he witnessed patients with serious mental health issues languish because they were not receiving the care they need. The desire to change that is what motivated Cairns to enroll in UCSF’s BSN Entry to DNP pathway in the Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner specialty.
“My experience in nursing has revealed a deep lack of resources for certain vulnerable segments of the population,” Cairns said. “UCSF is a leader in advancing effective practices in care and treatment. I chose to pursue my DNP at UCSF because I am certain the high-quality education offered will transform me into a leader and an agent for change in the field.”
Julie Arca earned her bachelor’s degree in nursing in 2008 and has served in multiple roles throughout her 16-year career including as an ER nurse, assistant nurse manager and now as a nursing professional development specialist at Stanford Health. A self-described lifelong learner, she enrolled in UCSF’s BSN Entry to DNP pathway and said she is excited to be part of the first cohort.
“I’m most excited to become a leader and to have my leadership foundation built from the teachings I find at UCSF,” Arca said. “Nursing has given me so much. I feel it’s my turn to give back and inspire the next generation.”
Answering the National Call for More Nurse Leaders
The nation’s complex health systems and underserved communities are calling for the highest levels of scientific knowledge and clinical expertise to deliver the best in patient care. In 2011, the Institute of Medicine of the National Academies issued a landmark report that recommended doubling the number of doctorally prepared nurses.
The school’s expansion of its doctoral programming meets this demand for more nurse leaders who reflect the diversity of our communities and who will transform health for the diverse communities in which they work.
The new BSN Entry to DNP pathway replaces the school’s Master of Science program, which will sunset after the current students graduate in June 2025.
This is the second pathway to earn the DNP degree that the school offers. Since 2018, the school has prepared nurses who hold a master’s degree with the skills to innovate improvements and lead teams in developing new approaches to care through its Post-Master’s Entry to DNP — Leadership Focus pathway.
The School of Nursing also continues to offer a PhD in Nursing program, a PhD in Sociology program and a Master’s in Healthcare Administration and Interprofessional Leadership.