Waynesburg U.’s nursing program hosts panel, debate
WAYNESBURG – Waynesburg University’s Doctorate of Nursing Practice program hosted a panel discussion and debate at the university’s Monroeville center Nov. 16.
In an effort to promote interprofessional opportunities, the DNP program invited six first-year medical students from the Lake Erie College of Osteopathic Medicine to participate in the debate about healthcare utilization.
“Most professions are seeking opportunities for interprofessional development,” said Dr. Kimberly Whiteman, assistant professor and co-director of the Graduate and Professional Studies Nursing Program and DNP Program at Waynesburg University. “We don’t have a medical school and they don’t have a nursing school; this program enabled both of us to have a collaborative experience.”
Waynesburg’s DNP program established this event in conjunction with the Institute of Medicine’s initiative to promote “interprofessional education for collaboration.”
“It was well received on both ends,” said Dr. Kimberly Stephens, assistant professor of nursing at Waynesburg and co-director of the DNP Program. “Both our students and theirs thought it was beneficial, and it encouraged us to continue to look for opportunities that are valuable.”
Amber Egyud, full-time chief nursing officer for Allegheny Health Network and a second-year DNP student at Waynesburg University, participated in the debate.
“The debate helped to develop networks that foster the exchange, synthesis and application of innovation to improve healthcare outcomes,” she said. “The benefit of interprofessional collaboration is the ability to share professional competence and experience to improve healthcare outcomes.”
Waynesburg University’s 36-credit Doctor of Nursing Practice program is accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education.
It is offered at the Monroeville Center and each course meets one weekend every other month in the 15-week semester, with learning activities and assignments to be completed between seminars.