The University of Houston will begin offering a Doctor of Nursing Practice program after the Texas higher Education Coordinating Board voted unanimously to approve the educational program, according to a UH press release. The new program will offer a practice doctorate that the university hopes will prepare family nurse practitioners and nurse executives to address a shortage of primary care providers.

“The University of Houston College of Nursing is positioning itself to continue the critical work of educating nurses to meet state and national needs for nurses in the workforce,” said Kathryn Tart, founding dean and professor, UH College of Nursing.

The DNP is established for nurses who want the highest degree available in nursing practice. The associated classes build on master’s degree programs by providing training in evidence-based practice for direct patient care and leadership, quality improvement and systems leadership, the release said. It is designed as a part-time program for working nurses with classes offered face-to-face and online. Face-to-face education is a required component due to the need for hands-on work such as in a clinical setting and will require 37-42 credit hours beyond a master’s degree.

While the program will not be offered directly through UH’s Katy campus, Katy-area students will be able to take part in the program through virtual programs and only rare visits to UH’s main campus said UH Director of Communication Marisa Ramirez.

“Instruction for the new DNP will happen online, though twice a semester, students will be required to attend face-to-face classes,” Ramirez said. “Those classes will be held at the main campus at the Health Building 2.”

Instructors for the program operate out of the main campus as well as the Katy and Sugar Land campuses, Ramirez said.

UH’s statement indicated that the program offers a high first-time pass rate for certification testing for nurses associated with the program.

The American Association of Critical-Care Nurses adopted a position statement stating that the DNP is the degree appropriate for advanced practice registered nurses – or APRNs – to enter, practice and is supporting requiring a DNP as the entry-level degree for APRNs.

“In offering the DNP, we support the national movement toward making it the necessary degree for advanced nursing practice, especially now as the American Association of Colleges of Nursing (AACN) Essentials for baccalaureate and graduate nursing education is aligning toward a competency-based model,” Tart said.

Those interested in applyin for the program may do so here.