Preparing the clinicians of tomorrow: Weaving integrated care across doctor of nursing practice education

Jennifer S Graber; Beatrice Gaynor; Lorraine Phillips; Carolyn Haines; Cynthia Diefenbeck

doi:10.1016/j.apnu.2020.07.004

Preparing the clinicians of tomorrow: Weaving integrated care across doctor of nursing practice education

Arch Psychiatr Nurs. 2020 Oct;34(5):325-329. doi: 10.1016/j.apnu.2020.07.004. Epub 2020 Jul 6.

Authors

Jennifer S Graber¹, Beatrice Gaynor², Lorraine Phillips³, Carolyn Haines⁴, Cynthia Diefenbeck⁵

Affiliations

¹ University of Delaware, 307 McDowell Hall, 25 N. College Ave., Newark, DE 19716, USA. Electronic address: jgraber@udel.edu.
² University of Delaware, 100 Discovery Blvd., Newark, DE 19713, USA. Electronic address: bgaynor@udel.edu.
³ University of Delaware, 100 Discovery Blvd., Newark, DE 19713, USA. Electronic address: ljphil@udel.edu.
⁴ University of Delaware, 100 Discovery Blvd., Newark, DE 19713, USA. Electronic address: chaines@udel.edu.
⁵ University of Delaware, 209 Laurel Hall, Newark, DE 19716, USA. Electronic address: cynthia@udel.edu.

PMID: 33032753
DOI: 10.1016/j.apnu.2020.07.004

Abstract

In today's changing landscape of health care, integrated health care is essential for best patient outcomes. The number of people with psychiatric conditions in the United States today is staggering, but only half of these people will receive treatment for their condition. By effectively integrating psychiatric and primary health care patients can be connected to appropriate and necessary services that meet the Triple Aim of enhancing patient experience of care while achieving population health goals in a cost-effective manner. Incorporating integrated health care experiences in a DNP program can position future practice leaders to take on these challenges. Guided by DNP essentials and the National Organization of Nurse Practitioner Faculty competencies, integrated health care concepts were weaved across the DNP curriculum. Including robust academic experiences treating mental health conditions in primary care and integrated settings can increase the confidence and effectiveness of clinicians who identify, manage, and refer patients with mental health concerns. Increasing the number of doctorally prepared nurses who are educated in integrated health care helps improve clinical outcomes while transforming the health care landscape.

Keywords: Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) Education; Integrated care; Integrated teaching modalities.

MeSH terms

Curriculum*
Delivery of Health Care, Integrated*
Education, Nursing, Graduate*
Health Services Accessibility
Humans
Nurse Practitioners / education*
Primary Care Nursing*
Psychiatric Nursing*
United States