June 5, 2025
Kristina James
Decision by Kristina James (DNP’24) Doctor of nurse practice (DNP) diploma Nursing college At Purdue University, Northwest (PNW) stems from a desire to expand your knowledge and have a greater impact in the field of nursing. With her DNP, she hopes to lead her team to more effective practices, a positive impact on patient results and lead to a significant change in health care.
“As a nursing professional, I think it is important to make sure that the entire interdisciplinary team shoots all cylinders,” explains James. “Our doctors and other suppliers have terminal diplomas, and it is important that nurses also take in the coming steps. This advanced knowledge leads to the best care for everyone. ”
After obtaining her MSN from a university in California and built his career in the same state, James got used to what she describes as the “Californian style” of nursing. When looking for DNP programs, she was looking for one that offered wider perspectives and ideas from the whole country.
“I chose PNW for my DNP because I thought it would give me the opportunity to learn alongside nurses with various horizons and experiences,” explains James. I really enjoyed this unique opportunity.
The faculty understood that many of us were working professionals. They supported us in the way we addressed our courses and our missions, which made a huge difference.
PNW’s DNP program focuses on translation science, the ability to take evidence and research results and apply them in clinical practice. The program prepares students to become experts in research, evaluation, synthesis, transfer and application of evidence, as well as the evaluation of its impact on results.
“What I really liked in the program is flexibility and the many opportunities to develop and improve my skills in translation science,” explains James. “The faculty understood that many of us were working professionals. They supported us in the way we addressed our courses and our missions, which made a huge difference. In addition, the courses have broken up each part of the process of translation science and in the past year, I had built a solid base to implement my practical investigation project with confidence. ”
Engage training based on evidence
As an assistant director at the University of California in San Diego Health, James used his practice investigation project to develop a training program based on evidence for UC San Diego Health Leaders. Inspired by the difficulties in which nurses are confronted during the pandemic and the data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) on suicides of nurses related to work stress, she saw a clear need for better support tools.
As a leader, she wanted to create a resource to help managers communicate more effectively with team members. His project, entitled “The implementation of training on suicide prevention for nurses leaders”, provides instructions to recognize team members in crisis or in danger of suicide and describes the resources available for the leaders themselves and the members of the team in danger. The program also includes role -playing exercises, offering a safe space to become comfortable with these discussions.
His project was integrated into the integration program for new UC San Diego Health Leaders.
James also co-wrote an article on the same subject entitled “Support of nurses leaders to recognize and intervene in the suicidality of team members” which will be published in the Journal of Nursing Bourse.
Kristina James receives her doctorate in nurse practice with a handful of congratulations from Chancellor Kenneth C. Holford.
Have a transformer impact for health care
The PNW DNP program provides a rigorous study path for advanced nursing professionals to improve their knowledge and health care leadership, as well as to raise their career opportunities. As an applied doctoral program, the results involve synthesizing practices based on evidence that can transform and advance the quality of health care provision in different contexts.
DNP PNW candidates learn in a hybrid format and often implement their research and practice project applied in their own workplace or nearby. The search for candidates helps to rely on the professional work experience they have acquired by offering practical learning opportunities with the rigor and sensitivity required to work with participants in human research, including those of vulnerable populations.
Our students come with clinical and graduate expertise with research skills, critical thinking skills and the approach based on evidence necessary to resolve the complex challenges of health care facing our communities.
Julia Rogers, coordinator of the PNW DNP program and Associate Professor of Nursing
The program graduates carry out increased qualification to increase the roles of impactful leadership not only in traditional clinical contexts, but also by advice and expertise on health care policy and as educators of future nurses.
“What excites me the most in our DNP program is attending the transformation of passionate nurses into innovative health leaders who do not only adapt to change – they create it,” said Julia RogersCoordinator of the DNP program of PNW and associate professor of nursing. “Our students come with clinical and graduate expertise with research skills, critical thinking skills and the approach based on evidence necessary to resolve the complex challenges of health care that our communities are confronted. They become the bridge between revolutionary research and care for real world patients, ensuring that science results in improved results for people who need it most. ”
To learn more about the PNW DNP program, visit pnw.edu/dnp. You can also find out more about the College of Nursing by visiting pnw.edu/nursing.