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Marquee ProgramThe Post-Master’s Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) program, the only program in Connecticut and just the second in New England, is designed to serve nurse practitioners, clinical nurse specialists, midwives, nurse anesthetists, and administrators who prefer an alternative to doctoral programs focused on research. The program prepares practitioners at the professional doctoral level with courses focused on adding the highest 
degree of professional expertise in eight essential areas specified by the American Association of Colleges of Nurses (AACN). Students have the opportunity to specialize in an individual area. AACN has called for implementation of the DNP program as entry into advanced practice nursing in schools of nursing throughout the U.S. by 2015.“The program was developed in direct response to the national need for doctorally prepared leaders 
in practice,” said Anne Bavier, dean of the School of Nursing. “The program emphasizes the scientific basis of knowledge, evidence-based practice, and development of leadership expertise within advanced practice nursing.”
The UConn program was approved from the state Board of Governors of Higher Education in April and the School's first class now has 16 enrolled and has enormous growth potential. The program is headed by Associate Dean Regina Cusson, a professor of nursing who is also a registered nurse and neonatal nurse practitioner. Cusson coordinates the neonatal nurse practitioner faculty special interest group of the National Association of Neonatal Nurses. “She is well versed in issues facing advanced practice educators in the United States,” says Bavier.
You’ve determined that you want to be a nurse, and are ready to consider nursing school. But how to begin? We’re here to help.
Nursing is the highest demand career in health care today. The Bureau of Labor Statistics anticipates continued skyrocketing growth in the nursing field in the next decade. 
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Here you'll find information about each level of nursing—from LPN (Licensed Practical Nursing) to RN (Registered Nursing) all the way to the Nursing PhD. You'll learn about new trends in nursing care like consumerism and alternative medicine. You can read inspirational profiles of nurses from many nursing specialties. You can take a peek at your prospective salary range as a nurse, and discover unique nursing careers such as being a traveling nurse, a nurse educator, or a legal nurse consultant.
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Accele
rated Programs: The Fast-Track to Careers in Nursing 
Accelerated BSN and MSN Nursing Programs [PDF]Accelerated Baccalaureate to Doctoral Nursing Programs [PDF]
With the Bureau of Labor Statistics projecting the need for more than a million new and replacement registered nurses by the year 2016, nursing schools around the country are exploring creative ways to increase student capacity and reach out to new student populations. The challenge inherent in these efforts is to quickly produce competent nurses while maintaining the integrity and quality of the nursing education provided.
One innovative approach to nursing education that is gaining momentum nationwide is the accelerated degree program for non-nursing graduates. Offered at both the baccalaureate and master's degree levels, these programs build on previous learning experiences and transition individuals with undergraduate degrees in other disciplines into nursing.
Shifts in the economy and the desire of many adults to make a post-September 11 difference in their work has increased interest in the nursing profession among "second-degree" students. For those with a prior degree, accelerated baccalaureate programs offer the quickest route to becoming a registered nurse with programs generally running 12-18 months long. Generic master's degrees, also accelerated in nature and geared to non-nursing graduates, generally take three years to finish. Students in these programs usually complete baccalaureate-level nursing courses in the first year followed by two years of graduate study.
Though not new to nursing education, accelerated programs have proliferated over the past fifteen years. In 1990, 31 accelerated baccalaureate programs (BSN) and 12 generic master's programs (MSN) were offered around the country. Today, 205 accelerated BSN programs are operating and the number of generic master's programs has increased to 56. According to AACN's database on enrollment and graduations which is based on responses from 645 of 751 institutions (85.9%), 37 new accelerated BSN programs are now in the planning stages. This number far outpaces all other types of entry-level nursing programs currently being considered at four-year nursing schools. Thirteen new generic master's programs are also taking shape.
Graduates of accelerated programs are prized by nurse employers who value the many layers of skill and education these graduates bring to the workplace. Employers report that these graduates are more mature, possess strong clinical skills, and are quick studies on the job. Many practice settings are partnering with schools and offering tuition repayment to graduates as a mechanism to recruit highly qualified nurses.
Changing Gears: Second-Degree Students
The typical second-degree nursing student is motivated, older, and has higher academic expectations than high school-entry baccalaureate students. Accelerated students excel in class and are eager to gain clinical experiences. Faculty find them to be excellent learners who are not afraid to challenge their instructors.
"Our accelerated students are a remarkable group," said Nancy DeBasio, PhD, RN, Dean of the Research College of Nursing in Kansas City. "Their mean GPA is 3.3, they come from a wide array of backgrounds, and the experiences they bring with them enrich their nursing." The compressed program format is a key motivator for this group of students. "Our exit surveys indicate that the one-year program completion time is a primary reason for enrollment in our program," Dr. Debasio explained.
Marquee ProgramThe Post-Master’s Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) program, the only program in Connecticut and just the second in New England, is designed to serve nurse practitioners, clinical nurse specialists, midwives, nurse anesthetists, and administrators who prefer an alternative to doctoral programs focused on research. The program prepares practitioners at the professional doctoral level with courses focused on adding the highest 
degree of professional expertise in eight essential areas specified by the American Association of Colleges of Nurses (AACN). Students have the opportunity to specialize in an individual area. AACN has called for implementation of the DNP program as entry into advanced practice nursing in schools of nursing throughout the U.S. by 2015.“The program was developed in direct response to the national need for doctorally prepared leaders 
in practice,” said Anne Bavier, dean of the School of Nursing. “The program emphasizes the scientific basis of knowledge, evidence-based practice, and development of leadership expertise within advanced practice nursing.”
