Creating Healing Environments
Doctor of Nursing Practice

Corey Cowart, RN for Harris Health System’s Ben Taub Hospital and UST DNP student.Creating a healing environment is the prime directive of nursing. The UST Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) programs enables professional nurses to expand their abilities through the practice of nursing leadership. By translating research into practice, graduates are equipped to create organization-wide changes that spark transformations in patient care and well-being. They will become experts in creating healing environments.

UST’s Doctor of Nursing Practice program offers two tracks: a DNP degree in Transformational Leadership and a DNP in Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner (PMHNP).

PMHNP Graduates are prepared to provide individualized patient care and address population-based mental health needs across the lifespan. Skills developed for the certificate options include psychiatric assessment, differential diagnosis, symptom management, psychotherapeutic modalities- individual, group, and family therapy. The PMHNP core courses include advanced pathophysiology, advanced pharmacology, advanced health assessment, and the nurse practitioner role foundation course. Students will complete coursework in the neurobiology of addiction, telehealth-telepsych-telemedicine, and psychopharmacology.

The DNP program admits nurses who have earned either a bachelor’s or master’s degree in nursing. Those with a bachelor’s degree complete the program in three years of full-time study. Master’s graduates complete the program in less time based on an individual review of prior graduate work that will count toward the DNP degree. Courses are online with in-person seminars and opportunities each semester. Full-time and part-time options are available.
Flexible Schedule
Flexible Schedule
One On One Coaching
One On One Coaching
Focus On Specialized Populations
Focus On Specialized Populations
Creating Healing Environments

500X330_DNP_HEALINGDNP students focus their expanding capacity to create healing environments by selecting a patient population to work with throughout the program. This culminates in a formal, supervised DNP Project. Students work in collaboration with their chosen clinical site’s leadership and a clinical expert coach. The clinical expert coach works directly with the student throughout the program to maximize continuity and collaborative learning experiences with UST’s clinical partners.

The need and opportunity for transformational nurse leaders capable of creating healing environments is limitless. Our graduates of the DNP program have many career options, not limited to existing health care service agencies. Graduates may choose to be a transformational leader at a university, in a government agency, at a nonprofit organization, or in a role or organization not yet imagined.
PSON Administration & FacultyPSON Administration & Faculty

Claudine Dufrene, Ph.D., RN-BC, GNP-BC, CNE, Associate Professor; Interim Dean, Peavy School of Nursing; Professor; and Sr. Martina Casey Endowed Chair in Nursing; and Cullen Trust for Higher Education Endowed Chair in Nursing

Lucindra Campbell-Law, PhD, APRN, ANP, PMHNP, BC, Professor; Division Dean, Graduate Programs; and PMHNP Program Director; and Cullen Trust for Healthcare Endowed Chair in Nursing

Michael E. Sullivan, DBe, RN, FACHE, Associate Professor; Graduate Program Director; and Title V Project Director

Claudine Dufrene, Ph.D., RN-BC, GNP-BC, CNE, Associate Professor; Interim Dean, Peavy School of Nursing; Professor; and Sr. Martina Casey Endowed Chair in Nursing; and Cullen Trust for Higher Education Endowed Chair in Nursing

Lucindra Campbell-Law, PhD, APRN, ANP, PMHNP, BC, Professor; Division Dean, Graduate Programs; and PMHNP Program Director; and Cullen Trust for Healthcare Endowed Chair in Nursing

Kristina L. Leyden, Ph.D., MSN, FNP-BC, Associate Professor;
Director, BSN Program; Co-Director NIGP Grant; and Archbishop Joseph Fiorenza Endowed Chair in Nursing

Deborah Klesel, RN, PhD, Assistant Professor; Director, ABSN Program

Vanessa Arline, MSN/Ed, RN, MSRN-BC, Assistant Professor

Lauren Delumpa, MSN, RN, FNP-C, Assistant Professor

Jill Laughlin, DNP, PNP-BC, PMHS-BC, PMHNP-BC, Assistant Professor

Majmundar, Priya, RN, MSN, Assistant Professor

Karen O’Brien, Ph.D., RN, ACNP-BC,  Associate Professor

Mayra Paredes, MSN, RN, Assistant Professor

Katherine Simpson, MSN, APRN-C, CVRN-II, CNRN, LNC, Assistant Professor

Michael E. Sullivan, DBe, RN, FACHE, Associate Professor; Graduate Program Director; and Title V Project Director

Terese Verklan, PhD, CCNS, RNC, FAAN, Assistant Professor

Mary Anne Vincent, PhD, RN, Assistant Professor

Phyllis Waters, Ph.D., RN Professor; Carol and Peavy Endowed Chair in Nursing

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Graduate Nursing Success Center
Graduate Nursing Success Center
Graduate Success Center

The Graduate Nursing Success Center is a home away from home for the nursing students at the University of St. Thomas.

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Requirements Disclaimer:
This is an online program and international students cannot maintain or obtain F-1 student visa or status or I-20 form through this program.

CCNE Accreditation logoUniversity of St. Thomas is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges to award baccalaureate and doctorate degrees. Contact the Commission on Colleges at 1866 Southern Lane, Decatur, Georgia 30033-4097 or call 404-679-4500 for questions about the accreditation of University of St. Thomas.

The baccalaureate degree program in nursing, master's degree program in nursing, post-graduate APRN certificate program and Doctor of Nursing Practice program at the University of St. Thomas are accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (http://www.ccneaccreditation.org).