STUDENT SELECTION FOR AN INTERNATIONAL MULTIDISCIPLINARY ONLINE POST GRADUATE DOCTOR OF NURSING PRACTICE PROGRAM

Viewed as a leader in online and graduate nursing education, the School of Nursing at Loyola University New Orleans responded to a global need and began an online, post-graduate Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) program designed to serve the educational needs of national and international graduate nurses. A formal needs assessment using a national focus group selected by the DNP committee was performed. Results indicated that an online DNP program was needed for Nurse Practitioners (NPs) and Nursing Leaders to fill the education gap between masters level and doctoral level preparation. Because of the tremendous interest in this program and limited enrollment, a formal student selection process was developed that would ensure the selection and admission of the highest quality students, who were committed to completing the program, from those who applied. Applicants were required to submit a goal statement addressing three areas: 1) a description of goals for doctoral study, 2) a research translation area of interest, and 3) career goals. This goal statement was scored using a formal quantitative tool. One faculty was assigned to review these goals statements to eliminate inter-rater reliability issues. Applicants were required to participate in a live interview either by traveling to the Loyola campus in New Orleans or through teleconference. Interviews were scored using a formal quantitative tool that focused on pairing an applicant’s goals with the goals of the DNP program, and assessing the applicant’s commitment to completing the DNP program. Interviews were scored by two faculty to improve the reliability of this score. Grade point average (GPA), references, and work experience were also rated using a formal quantitative tool. The score of each of these tools was weighted according to a predetermined percentage set by the DNP planning committee to determine a total applicant score. Applicants were admitted to the program based on this total score. These DNP students will be tracked as they progress through completion of the program to determine which of these indicators is the best indicator of student success in an international, multidisciplinary, online DNP program. Students who do not complete the program will be interviewed, and this analysis will be compared to the student's application score. It is anticipated that retention rates will be high using this admission protocol. As educators, it is critical to ensure that student selection criteria in interdisciplinary studies is quantified for quality student enrollment. Using a formal process to admit DNP students can ensure quality and commitment on a national and international basis.