Innovation in NP Education: A DNP Rural Health Track

The Rural Health Track (RHT) option within our university’s Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) Program focuses on improving rural healthcare delivery statewide. It is designed to prepare expert rural advanced practice nurse leaders needed to improve health and health care outcomes in rural communities. The purpose of this presentation is to demonstrate the essential components of the RHT curriculum.

Rural populations have an increased incidence of chronic disease, a higher percentage of elderly, and an increased need for primary care providers. The RHT option, in conjunction with the family (FNP) and psychiatric mental health (PMHNP) nurse practitioner curriculum, offers specific coursework and clinical experiences designed to develop clinicians to address the unique health needs of Oregon’s rural populations.

Three courses unique to the RHT were conceptualized and developed by faculty experienced in rural health care and populations: 1. Rural Health Care Delivery for Advanced Practice Nurses, 2. Urgent and Emergent Rural Primary Care Management for Nurse Practitioners, and 3. Rural Mental Health Care for the PMHNP. Subsequent to coursework, RHT students spend nine months in a rural-based Clinical Residency and complete a Clinical Inquiry Project addressing a health-related issue in a rural clinic or community.

Objectives in the courses engage students in understanding the implications of rurality on individual and population health and health care. The Clinical Residency provides the student with 9-months’ practice in rural clinical facilities enhanced by rural mentor/providers. The Clinical Inquiry Project (CIP) requires students to integrate didactic coursework with their Residency experiences to develop and carry-out a practice-based inquiry project that is applicable, meaningful, and vital to their rural community. The Residency and CIP are supervised by a faculty Chair.

Rural practice requires special training and emphasis in addition to the generalist NP curriculum. Understanding the needs of rural populations can be enhanced with a combination of didactic coursework, clinical experiences, and scholarly project development and implementation. Improved preparation for doctoral nurse practitioners entering rural practice has increased employment in rural communities and hopes to increase provider retention and positively influence rural health care.