UNA’s Anderson College of Nursing and Health Professions Launches Doctor of Nursing Practice Degree and Mental Health Nurse Practitioner Track
Mar. 14, 2023
Michelle R. Eubanks , UNA, at meubanks@una.edu, 256.765.4392
The University of North Alabama has launched this spring its third doctoral degree, a Doctor of Nursing Practice, in the Anderson College of Nursing and Health Professions. Simultaneous to the launch of the DNP is the launch of the Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner track.
Both programs are essential to promoting widespread quality and innovation in healthcare as well as enhancing UNA’s ongoing role as Alabama’s Workforce Development University.
“Both of these innovative programs address an acute demand in the healthcare sector and are important additions to UNA’s robust and growing portfolio of workforce-focused graduate programs,” said Dr. Ross Alexander, Provost and Executive Vice President for Academic Affairs.
In addition to the programs themselves, they were developed with learners of all ages in mind as well as the needs of the healthcare industry locally, regionally, and nationally.
“The development of these programs was a direct response to the needs expressed by our clinical partners,” said Dr. Tera Kirkman, Dean of the Anderson College. “This is an example of our commitment to transforming health care and to meeting health care needs within our community.”
The DNP Program will be offered online with three on-campus intensives throughout the course: Advanced Practice, Educational Leadership and Simulation, and Population Health and Simulation. It will take approximately 30 months from start-to-finish for full-time students and 48 months for those who are enrolled part-time.
“The Anderson College of Nursing and Health Professionals has a long history of producing exceptional nurses through our baccalaureate and master’s programs,” said Dr. Laura Williams, Assistant Vice Provost and the Director of the DNP Program. “The Doctor of Nursing Practice Program will allow those master’s prepared nurses to become doctorally prepared nurse leaders, promoting change and innovation in the quality of healthcare in their communities.”
Along with the DNP program, the Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner track has also launched this spring. Students enrolled in this program will receive the education they need to provide mental health care. This track will be offered with two on-campus intensives and will take 24 months for full time students to complete and 30 months for those enrolled part-time.
“The PMHNP track at UNA is fully accredited, affordable, online, and asynchronous to allow for a great deal of flexibility while in the program,” said Dr. Helen Coronel, Associate Professor and PMHNP Certified Nurse Practitioner. “Today’s adult learners require a student-centered program which allows for obligations at work and home. Opportunities as a PMHNP can also provide a great deal of flexibility due to the nature of the practice. Our program is well suited to meet the needs of our students and the job market.”About The University of North Alabama
The University of North Alabama is an accredited, comprehensive regional state university offering credential, certificate, baccalaureate, master’s, and doctoral programs in the colleges of Arts, Sciences, and Engineering; Business and Technology; Education and Human Sciences; and the Anderson College of Nursing and Health Professions. The first-choice University for more than 10,000 on-campus and online students, UNA is on a bucolic campus in Florence, Alabama, part of the historic and vibrant Shoals region. Lions Athletics, a renowned collegiate athletics program with seven (7) Division II National Championships, is now a proud member of the NCAA Division I’s ASUN Conference. The University of North Alabama is an equal opportunity institution and does not discriminate in the admission policy on the basis of race, color, sex, religion, disability, age, or national origin. For more: www.una.edu and www.una.edu/unaworks/