Review of Successful Educational Programs in the Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) in Mental Health

Abstract

Introduction: The Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) is an effective strategy for preparing nurses for the advanced level of nursing practice. The United States, as a pioneer in implementing this program, plays an effective role in developing it in other countries. This study was conducted with the aim of introducing successful educational programs in the DNP in psychiatric–mental health nursing.

Method: This descriptive-comparative study was conducted in 2025 using Beredy's four-stage model. A search was performed on the websites of reputable and pioneering universities offering this program, including Johns Hopkins University, Rush University, University of Washington, and University of San Francisco in the USA. Then, the components and important indicators of the curricula were analyzed based on the stages of description, interpretation, proximity, and comparison.

Results: The curricula of these four schools emphasize fundamental values such as respect, honesty, responsibility, and excellence. These programs, with a focus on evidence-based practice, train nurses who have the ability to diagnose and manage acute and chronic mental disorders and provide effective care and educational services to patients, families, and communities within specialized interdisciplinary teams.

Conclusion: The DNP program in these four schools is implemented with the aim of training specialized nurses to provide psychiatric nursing care to patients and their families. Given the growth of the nursing profession and its specialization, utilizing the educational experiences of these schools can serve as a model for implementing this program in Iran and other countries.