By DNP Program Coordinator, Anne Dabrow Woods, DNP, RN, CRNP, ANP-BC, AGACNP-BC, FAAN

When I became a nurse over 40 years ago, I never envisioned where healthcare and nursing would be now. Healthcare has become increasingly complex and every day you hear about people who lack access to equitable care, they can’t afford their medications, diagnostic tests, or treatments, or they just don’t know how to navigate the healthcare system.

The current healthcare system isn’t working. The nursing workforce is overworked, undervalued and looking to transition to non-caregiver roles. In nursing education, graduate nurses are faced with a reality they were not prepared for and often exit their jobs within the first year of employment. How do we navigate the complexities of healthcare? Do nurses today have the education and training they need to be true leaders at the bedside, in the classroom, and in the boardroom? The answer is no. That’s why the Doctor of Nursing Practice Degree is so vital to help us fix our current healthcare system.

The DNP degree educates and trains nurses to assess healthcare systems and their issues, use evidence in clinical decision making and quality improvement, have a better understanding of the business of healthcare and how to be more effective in educating our next generation of nurses for the reality of healthcare today and for the future.

The Neumann University DNP Program is structured for tomorrow’s nurse leader. It’s a flexible program that encourages innovation using change-management principles to position leaders for success in APRN practice, education and in executive/healthcare systems leadership. It embraces the vision that all nurses who want to be leaders should be provided with the opportunity to become leaders.

For those nurses who are looking to make a difference as a leader, this program is for you! Reach out to hear more about the Neumann DNP Program and how to become a Neumann Nursing Leader! I am looking forward to discussing your future at Neumann University.