Doctor of Nursing Practice
- Mission Statement
The mission of the Annie Taylor Dee School of Nursing is to prepare exceptional nursing professionals with the ability to care and advocate for the evolving needs of individuals, families, and society. We collaborate with our partners to provide an education that values one another and community-centered health promotion.
- Student Learning Outcomes
- Graduate Certificate (Not Applicable)
- Associate Degree (Not Applicable)
- Doctorate Degree
WSU Annie Taylor Dee School of Nursing Outcomes,
DNP End of Program Student Learning Outcomes, & DNP Role-Specific Competencies
DNP
End of Program Student Learning Outcomes
Post-Master's to DNP
Executive Leadership
Role-Specific Competencies
Post-BSN to DNP Family Nurse Practitioner
Role-Specific Competencies
Person-Centered Care Create systems-level health promotion, risk reduction, and illness prevention strategies based on the holistic needs of individuals, families, and various populations. Formulate systems-level strategies to optimize care based on the holistic needs of individuals, families, and various populations. Manage comprehensive, person-centered care within the regulatory and educational scope of advanced practice nursing based on the holistic needs of individuals, families, and various populations. Quality & Safety Transform healthcare policy and practice using principles of safety and improvement science to enhance quality and minimize the risk of harm to patients and the healthcare team. Lead team-based change initiatives to improve the quality of care and safety for various populations using translational and improvement science principles. Design care management strategies using translational and improvement science methodologies to improve safety and the quality of care for various populations. Evidence-Based Practice Critically evaluate established and evolving nursing evidence to enhance clinical judgment and innovation in nursing practice. Synthesize scholarly evidence from nursing and other disciplines to inform education, practice, and research. Integrate evolving scientific knowledge from various sources as the basis for ethical clinical judgment, innovation, and diagnostic reasoning. Social Determinants of Health Integrate strategies to address social determinants of health to mitigate health disparities for individuals, populations, and communities. Implement evidence-based practices to address social determinants of health to improve individual and societal health outcomes. Implement clinical strategies across the lifespan to address social determinants of health. Information Literacy Develop information literacy utilizing information communication technologies and informatics processes to provide care, gather data, inform decision-making, and support care teams. Manage information and communication technologies and informatics processes to deliver safe care for populations in various settings. Employ electronic health, mobile health, and telehealth systems to deliver safe, high-quality, and efficient patient care effectively. Teamwork & Collaboration Collaborate with care team members, patients, families, communities, and stakeholders to optimize health outcomes across the continuum of care for various populations. Evaluate the effectiveness of interprofessional communication tools and techniques to support and improve the efficacy of team-based interactions. Collaborate with interprofessional teams to provide care through meaningful communication and active participation in person-centered and population-centered care. Professionalism Exhibit a professional identity reflecting accountability, civility, ethical comportment, and integrity. Exemplify a professional identity integral to leadership roles, reflecting accountability, civility, ethical comportment, and integrity. Exemplify a professional identity inherent to the nurse practitioner role, reflecting accountability, civility, ethical comportment, and integrity.
- Graduate Certificate (Not Applicable)
- Curriculum Grid
- Program and Contact Information
The Weber State University (WSU) Annie Taylor Dee School of Nursing (ATDSON) Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) degree program is designed to prepare nurses for an advanced level of nursing science, leadership, and practice. The DNP is a translational, practice-focused doctoral degree that prepares students to evaluate research science to inform nursing practice and transform healthcare organizations. By developing a translational practice, graduates develop the skills to determine the credibility of the sources presented, use research findings to inform practice, improve patient safety, and initiate quality improvement process improvements; and use existing and developing databases to guide quality improvement decisions for patients and populations at the systems level.
The Post Masters to DNP Executive Leadership degree prepares graduates for the highest level of nursing practice to improve health and healthcare outcomes. The DNP Executive Leadership program emphasis focuses on the translation of new science, its application, and evaluation across various healthcare settings.
The Post BSN to DNP Family Nurse Practitioner degree prepares the graduate to provide direct and indirect patient care at the highest level of nursing practice. Family Nurse Practitioners improve individual and population health and healthcare outcomes as well as analyze, translate, apply, and evaluate evidence for clinical settings.
Contact Information
Rieneke Holman, PhD, RN
Department Chair, Annie Taylor Dee School of Nursing
reinekeholman@weber.edu
Carrie Watkins Jeffrey, PhD, RN
DNP Program Director, Annie Taylor Dee School of Nursing
carriejeffrey@weber.eduAnnie Taylor Dee School of Nursing
3875 Stadium Way Dept. 3903
Ogden, UT 84408-3903
School of Nursing Webpage: https://www.weber.edu/nursing
- Assessment Plan
Overall Assessment Strategy
The ATDSON’s DNP program evaluates student achievement through multiple measures: end-of-program student learning outcomes (EPSLOs), student satisfaction with learning, completion rates, employment rates, and APRN certification exam pass rates (FNP students only). These metrics are assessed each semester and/or annually with each cohort and compiled into the Systematic Plan of Evaluation. Program-level reviews of courses occur at least every three years, and course reviews by the ATDSON curriculum committee occur at least every three to five years. Faculty-driven committees, including the Curriculum Committee and Evaluation Committee, review all compiled data and report at faculty meetings and the ATDSON Advisory Board meetings to ensure transparency and continuous improvement.The DNP program was initially accredited by the Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing (ACEN) in July 2020. The most recent accreditation self-study and site visit occurred in September 2021. The next ACEN site visit is scheduled for Fall 2026, after which the program will undergo review every seven years.
Assessment Plan Details
Program Learning Outcomes & Signature Assignments (EPSLOs):
The DNP program uses seven EPSLOs to measure student learning, following changes in national professional guidelines in Fall 2024. These outcomes are assessed in designated courses through Signature Assignments during the final three semesters of the program. Faculty use standardized grading rubrics to assess student performance, with the goal that 90% of students achieve a passing score (90% or higher). Students also complete an end-of-program survey to self-assess their ability to meet each EPSLO.Employment Data & Program Completion Rates:
Beyond EPSLOs, employment data and program completion rates are essential components of the assessment plan. Employment rates are gathered through alumni surveys sent 10-12 months after graduation to evaluate employment outcomes and job satisfaction. Program completion rates are reviewed at the end of each semester to monitor student progress and retention and identify areas for support.Timeline
The following assessments occur regularly at these intervals:- Student Learning (EPSLOs): Collected and assessed each semester through Signature Assignments in core courses during the last three semesters for each cohort.
- End-of-Program Survey: Collected and reviewed at the end of the fall and spring semesters for graduating cohorts.
- Program Completion Rates: Collected and reviewed at the end of the fall and spring semesters for graduating cohorts.
- APRN Certification Exam Pass Rates: Monitored within the first few weeks after graduation for each cohort based on student reports, certification exam results, and/or state licensure verification.
- Employment Data (Alumni Survey): Collected annually, 10-12 months after graduation, to assess employment rates and job placement and satisfaction with program preparation for professional roles.
Data Collection & Review
Signature Assignments (EPSLOs):
For courses with Signature Assignments, faculty teaching the courses meet at the semester’s end to review student data and analyze performance trends. These assignments are graded using standardized rubrics, and faculty document their findings in an end-of-semester report. Data is also compiled in the annual DNP Systematic Plan of Evaluation to fulfill the requirements for ACEN accreditation.End-of-Program & Alumni Survey Data:
End-of-program surveys assess student perceptions of learning, while alumni surveys collect employment data. These are reviewed by faculty annually to ensure that the program remains relevant to student needs and job market demands.Faculty Engagement
Courses are taught by multiple faculty members who use standardized rubrics for grading to ensure consistency. Faculty course teams review Signature Assignment data each semester, and all faculty meet every semester to evaluate the cumulative data from EPSLOs, program completion rates, and certification exam pass rates. These data inform decisions about future course improvements and curriculum updates. The Curriculum Committee, composed of faculty, regularly reviews courses to ensure that SAs align with EPSLOs and other program assessment measures, including employment and completion rates.
- Assessment Report Submissions
- Program Review
This information is part of the cyclical program review process. Details such as mission statements, learning outcomes, etc., are updated as part of the biennial assessment reporting process, an integral component of program review.