2010 Third National DNP Conference, San Diego

Breakout session W2 Details, Wednesday, September 29, 2010, 4PM
Capri Room

Nancy A. O'Connor, PhD, ANP-BC & Patricia A. Rouen, PhD, FNP-BC
Madonna University and University of Detroit
From Competition to Collaboration: Demonstrating Nursing Educational Leadership
within an Academic DNP Program Consortium

Goal of Presentation:
This presentation describes the initiatives of two private competing universities that came together to develop a consortium model for DNP program delivery to enhance the quality of DNP education. This presentation will provide an overview of that process and provide a forum for discussion of consortium implementation.

Objectives:
1. Describe structural features of this innovative academic consortium preparing DNP students
2. Discuss evolution of faculty relationships within the consortium featuring engagement of both PhD and DNP prepared faculty
3. Use DNP role development exemplars of leadership and innovation to recruit new DNP students within the consortium.

Speaker’s Background:
Drs. O’Connor and Rouen co-direct a HRSA Advanced Nursing Education Grant (D09HP15003) that has supported consortium development and implementation. Both are experienced nurse educators and nurse practitioners who led Task Forces to develop DNP programs at their respective Universities

Karen Kesten, DNP, APRN, CCNS, CCRN
Georgetown University, Washington, DC
DNP Leadership to Impact Nursing Education: Teaching Nurses Skilled Communication

Goal of Presentation:
The purposes of this project were: 1) to determine if the type of skilled communication instruction (didactic vs. didactic plus role play) influences student nurses’ knowledge of skilled communication, and 2) to determine if the type of skilled communication instruction influences student nurses’ observed performance in simulated communication experiences. Skilled communication and respectful interaction among the healthcare team are critical to achieve optimization of quality patient care outcomes. Health care organizations world wide must now implement a standardized approach to hand off communications (Joint Commission, 2006). Communication between healthcare professionals has not been effectively taught in the past and if it was, it was not a consistent approach. Literature reveals minimal evidence regarding the best teaching methodology to affect behavior change in skilled communication education for nurses. Interactive strategies such as role play exercises were studied and found to be an effective teaching methodology to improve communication skills for nurses.

Objectives:
1. Critically appraise the evidence on teaching nurses effective interdisciplinary communication strategies for hand off communication.
2. Evaluate an innovative teaching methodology of role play instruction on communication knowledge and observed nurse communication behavior.
3. Propose recommendations for interdisciplinary communication strategies during emergent or urgent events.

Speaker’s Background:
Karen Swisher Kesten, DNP, APRN, PCCN, CCRN, CCNS, earned her DNP from the University of Maryland in May 2009, her MSN from The Catholic University of America and her BSN from Emory University. She is currently an Assistant Professor at Georgetown University.