By NICK BUDD
Hays Post

During the November meeting of the Kansas Board of Regents, regents will discuss a proposed new doctorate of nursing program at Fort Hays State University. The regents recently approved a similar program at Pittsburg State University.

According to agenda materials, the program is “designed to serve as a professional doctorate that will better prepare RNs for roles in an increasingly complex health care environment.”

The program is being proposed in response to a national study by the Institute of Medicine that states doctoral nursing graduates should double in order to meet demands in rural areas. Another recent study by the Kansas Department of Health and Environment states that 44 counties west of U.S. 281 qualify as “health care professional shortage area.” The American Association of Colleges of Nursing also has recommended all nursing schools transition from a master’s program to a doctorate program by 2015.

The new program is expected to cost approximately $250,000 per year. New costs include two new doctoral faculty line and, over time, two additional faculty members to meet demand. A new tuition strategy that directs tuition-generated funds into the program will help offset some of the costs.

Over the past five years, enrollment in FHSU’s graduate nursing program has increased almost 50 percent to a current total of 120 graduate students.

The creation of a doctoral program requires a two-step process. First, regional universities must submit a statement of intent to create a new doctoral program, which FHSU has completed for the nursing program. If the Board of Regents approves the statement, FHSU will begin to develop a program proposal, which must go through several committees prior to being brought to the board for full action.