The Loyola University Chicago Marcella Niehoff School of Nursing received $279,571 from the Health Resources and Services Administration’s Advanced Education Nursing Program. This is the third year of funding from HRSA, which supports the Population-focused Infection Prevention & Environmental Safety track within the DNP program. According to a news release, this is the first clinical doctorate program in the nation that prepares nurses for leadership roles in infection prevention in a variety of healthcare organizations and populations.

"Advanced practice nurses must recognize and manage emerging patient-care issues beyond the individual or hospital in this increasingly complex healthcare environment," Vicki Keough, RN-BC, PhD, ACNP, dean, said in the release. "The program prepares nurses to enhance the quality of healthcare by preventing infections and threats to patient safety in institutions and the community."

Coursework is online. Students also have the opportunity to interact on campus through twice-a-year immersion seminars. They also maintain interdisciplinary learning through a partnership with Loyola’s public health master’s program.

"This track educates nurses on how to design, implement and evaluate evidence-based infection prevention and patient-safety practices in a rapidly changing healthcare environment," Diana Hackbarth, RN, PhD, FAAN, project director and professor, said in the release. "Graduates of the program are well-positioned for roles that require collaboration among disciplines, critical analysis of systems, application of research findings and the creation of innovations that improve healthcare outcomes."