The Doctor of Nursing (DN) degree program is designed to prepare nurses at the doctoral level for leadership roles in healthcare and/or educational organizations and systems, nationally and internationally. The DN degree program focuses on the implementation and dissemination of knowledge in diverse healthcare practice and education settings and addresses the identified need for nurses with strong leadership skills who are academically prepared to successfully assume (a) executive-level roles in dynamic, fast-paced, technologically advanced, and sophisticated health care environments and (b) leadership roles in nursing education.

Leaders in nursing require a strong understanding of the principles and mechanisms of policy development. This course focuses on learning and applying theories of policy development and implementation to the nursing practice and education. Students become familiar with the dynamic nature of policy development and examine the role of policy actors, advocacy groups and policy networks, and the use of policy concepts such as incrementalism, agenda setting, innovation, diffusion, policy windows, framing, and path dependence. Students critically evaluate the effect of policy shifts on nursing practice and education through class discussion of set case studies and in dialogue with content experts. Each student undertakes an in-depth analysis of one policy that is directly relevant to the nursing profession, nursing practice, education, or the patient experience.