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Beginning in the Fall of 2006, YSN will be offering a PhD program in Nursing and will be phasing out its Doctor of Nursing Science (DNSc) program.
The information in the DNSc section is for reference by students remaining in that program; those considering doctoral work at YSN should
refer to the PhD section.
Program of Study
The Doctor of Nursing Science curriculum is designed to prepare expert nurse scholars. Particular emphasis is placed on knowledge development that contributes to increasing healthy life spans, reducing health disparities, and improving health policy. Course work is organized in three areas: Conceptual Basis of Nursing Practice includes course work in theory development and nursing concepts. Methods of Inquiry includes research design and methods, measurement, and statistics. Health Service Delivery and Policy includes content and methods for health services research and policy analysis and development. Cognates may be taken in nursing, or any area related to the student's research, including appropriate methodology and statistics courses. Cognates may include one or more independent studies (904a/b/c) with doctoral program faculty. A dissertation is required with a minimum of ten credit hours of advisement.
The program has two focus areas (Management of Health and Illness; Health Services Delivery and Policy) and students focus their studies in one of these two area. Core courses required of all students as well as those required of students in two focus areas are listed below.
Core Courses
901a Methods for Nursing Research
903a Measurement of Clinical Variables
905b Creating Method: Issues in Nursing Research
907a/b Dissertation Seminar
913a Conceptual Basis for Nursing Science
917b Advanced Statistics for Clinical Nursing Research
961a Contemporary Issues in Health Policy and Politics
991a/b/c Dissertation Advisement
One additional advanced analytical course appropriate to the dissertation
Required in Management of Health and Illness Focus
943a Conceptual Basis for Self and Family Management
943b Methodological Issues in the Study of Management of Health and Illness
Required in Health Services Delivery and Policy Focus
941b Methods for Health Services Research and Policy
The following is a sample plan of study for the full-time program, but varies by focus area.
Conceptual Basis of Nursing Practice
This sequence includes one required course for all students and one additional course for students enrolled in the Management of Health and Illness focus.
A study of the nature and evolution of science is essential to understand the impact of scientific inquiry on the development of knowledge in a discipline. Knowledge in any discipline develops as a result of the systematic examination of the phenomena of concern. The systematic study is guided by a view of science as a process of inquiry that recognizes a number of equally legitimate approaches to the study of the phenomena of concern.
Students are introduced to theories
and understanding of health care delivery. Students have an opportunity to explore the state of knowledge with regard to health-related concepts and frameworks.
Course work focuses on the exploration and analysis of nursing and health-related concepts.
Methods of Inquiry
This sequence consists of five required courses. To examine the full range and scope of nursing practice and outcomes of care, students are exposed to a variety of research techniques.
Because current methodologies may not always be sufficient for the study of nursing practice and policy analysis, alternative methodological approaches emerge with the development of nursing knowledge.
Students evaluate research designs and instruments with which questions relevant to nursing science can be examined. They review the processes by which designs and instruments are applied in specific clinical investigations, and the processes by which established techniques may be adapted to specific questions and circumstances.
The creation of instruments for clinical research is addressed.
Research issues related to the study of nursing care and health care systems are explored with an emphasis on questions concerning individual
differences, adaptation, and long-term outcomes of care, with particular focus on the methodological implications of questions posed.
Policy
This sequence contains one required course. Nurses prepared at the doctoral level for professional leadership increasingly need to see clinical issues in the context of policy. The ways in which the values of an organized society are expressed and mediated through institutions, law, legislation, regulation, professional associations, historical factors, and future alternatives and innovations form the basis for analysis of policy as it affects nursing's practice and the health care delivery system. To educate the next generation of advanced practice nurses, nurse educators and clinical scholars need to understand the planning, structure, regulation, financing, and management of health care.
Focus Areas
Students select one focus area.
Management of Health and Illness
This focus is on in-depth study of the human experience of health and illness, developmental issues, health promotion, trajectory of illness, demands of illness, family response and environments for care.
Conceptual and methodological issues related to self- and family management of illness are addressed. Graduates of this focus are prepared to assume positions in academia and health care systems and to undertake programs of research related to self- and family management of health and illness.
Health Services Delivery and Policy
As the health care delivery systems develop increasingly complex relations within and across all settings, the need for nurses prepared to influence these systems effectively becomes more important. This focus area prepares nurses for leadership positions in these new settings.
Graduates of this focus are expected to be mentors and leaders for their colleagues and students, and to collaborate closely with members of other disciplines involved in health services delivery and policy. They are prepared to assume positions in academia, government, health delivery systems, professional organizations, think tanks, and other entities involved in health delivery and policy.
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