Texas Wesleyan University is adding a Doctor of Nursing Practice – Family Nurse Practitioner program, which the university says will help fill the gap in the shortage of healthcare professionals in Texas and develop nurses with a renewed focus on patient care centered on the whole person.
“CEOs from hospitals in North Texas tell us that family nurse practitioners are going to continue to play an even more critical role in primary care delivery over the next 10 years,” Allen Henderson, provost and senior vice president, said in a news release. “The demand for healthcare professionals is not slowing down. Not only will we help fill this gap, our program will develop nurses on the cutting-edge of relational care.”
TWU began accepting applications for the Doctor of Nursing Practice program Oct. 1. The university said that the program can be completed in as little as three years or as long as seven with online classes and hands-on clinicals. Classes will begin in the Spring of 2018.
The news release said Texas Wesleyan’s Family Nurse Practitioner program is “focused on developing family nurse practitioners who provide relationship-centered, whole-person healthcare to individuals and families.”
“We’re adding a strong coaching approach to help patients make the kinds of lifestyle changes necessary to improve their health. We’re also teaching students strategies for self-care to prevent future burnout and stress in this demanding field,” said Heidi Taylor, Ph.D., RN, dean of the School of Health Professions.
The new program complements Texas Wesleyan’s nurse anesthesia program, which is the largest in the U.S. with more than 21 clinical sites in nine states, and its growing counseling program, with more than 120 students serving more than 1,500 clients from Tarrant County each year.
This is the second new graduate program Texas Wesleyan has launched this year. The new online MBA, which is 100-percent online and can be completed in as little as a year, is built for working adults who want to jumpstart their career.
“Texas Wesleyan is developing new academic programming to meet the demands of the workforce,” President Frederick G. Slabach said in the news release. “There is a growing need for family nurse practitioners in Texas and this program will help meet that demand.”
For admissions requirements and to apply, visit: goo.gl/g8iQuw