Board approves doctoral degree program for nursing students, new major

The Board of Trustees at Grand Valley approved resolutions at its July 18 meeting that would establish a clinical doctoral program for nursing students and create a Chinese Studies major.

The Doctor of Nursing Practice is designed for nurses seeking a terminal degree in nursing practice. Grand Valley’s program will be reviewed for approval in October by a committee from the North Central Association. If approved then, it will begin enrolling students for fall 2009.

Cynthia McCurren, dean of the Kirkhof College of Nursing, said Grand Valley will be the only university in the region to currently offer a DNP program. Oakland is the only other Michigan university that currently offers it.

“The DNP helps the Kirkhof College of Nursing remain a leader in nursing education in West Michigan,” McCurren said.

She added a clinical doctoral program will produce candidates who can hold joint appointments in clinical or academic settings, thus helping satisfy the need for nursing faculty members. “The DNP curriculum is consistent with the national agenda to transform American health care,” she said, referring to more interprofessional collaboration and health care policy advocacy.

Nursing students with bachelor’s or master’s degrees in nursing would be eligible to enroll. McCurren said the bachelor’s to DNP program (BSN to DNP) will involve approximately 90 credits hours and 1,000 additional clinical hours; for master’s degree students, enrolling in the MSN to DNP program will mean about 40 additional credits and 400 more clinical hours.

• The Chinese Studies major will be housed in the College of Interdisciplinary Studies. COIS Dean Wendy Wenner said adding the major grew from the popularity of the East Asian Studies program.

“The Chinese Studies major seeks to promote a better understanding of the culture of China and the complexity of China-U.S. relations,” she said.

The University of Michigan is the only other Michigan institution to offer a Chinese Study major.