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Nearly 15 years ago, Dr. Jeanne Cartier was instrumental in developing and implementing one of the first accredited Doctor of Nursing Practice programs in the U.S.

After 30 plus years of experience as an advanced practice nurse and nearly 20 years as a nurse educator, the Massachusetts native joined the ŷ������Ƭ in 2014 and says, “it was a perfect match.”

Starting in the early 1990s, Dr. Cartier began frequenting Louisiana, drawn to the music, the food, and the people.

“I kept coming back and kept coming back, and at some point, most of my vacation time was spent in Louisiana,” she says.

She began exploring a move from her post at MGH Institute of Health Professions in Boston to the Bayou State, informally visiting various campuses to get a feel for their culture.

She had already done a preliminary tour through UL Lafayette when she encountered a colleague from the ŷ������Ƭ through the National Organization of Nurse Practitioner Faculties (NONPF), who helped arrange an informational interview with the ŷ������Ƭ’s administration.

“That really cemented it, listening to faculty and administrators talk about what the school stands for — their high academic rigor, and their supportiveness of students, as well," she says. 

“We’re very supportive, but we hold the bar high.”

The fact that there’s a renowned cultural festival within walking distance of campus every year — Festivals Acadiens et Creoles — was just lagniappe.

“It just happened to be geographically where I’d prefer to be... The fact that there was a school that aligned with my values and was held in such strong esteem, and in Louisiana, it was a perfect match.”

Dr. Cartier recently sat down with Online Programs to share her perspective on the nationally ranked DNP program, online learning, and the future of NP practice.

Q: What course(s) do you teach within the DNP program?

A: It does change a little bit, but I teach in the three residency courses and in population health or care of vulnerable populations, which aligns with my doctorate in health promotion and prevention.

Q: You began teaching online in 2002. What do you like about the online learning environment?

A: I think it’s a great way to learn… If they’re going to be successful, students have to participate in the course. They have to respond to postings, they have to engage in discussion boards, which is all different from a traditional classroom where someone can sit in the back and choose not to participate, if they so wish.

Q: Why should advanced practice registered nurses consider pursuing a DNP?

A: As the health environment has become more complex, as our patients become more complex, the education that is needed to be a leader and a good provider of care, goes beyond the diagnostic and treatment aspect. Future practitioners need to have a strong understanding of systems-level organization and of policy because advanced practice nurses, such as nurse practitioners, are going to be the primary care workforce of the future, as more and more physicians do not stay in primary care and go into specialties, especially in rural and underserved areas. Those competencies are expanded at a doctoral level.

I’m a board member of NONPF (National Organization of Nurse Practitioner Faculties). We have set the position that education for all entry-level NPs should be educated at the doctoral level by 2025. I’m very involved with one of the four subgroups that are working with representatives from between 20 and 30 national organizations related to licensure, accreditation, and certification of nursing to make that happen.

Q: The DNP program features an intensive orientation. What do you convey over the course of that two-day program?

A: First, we clarify what the program entails. We tell them: It’s a rigorous program. We will support you and walk with you — or behind you and push you — every step of the way, but you need to be the leader.

We are friendly and flexible because you can go online and do your coursework at any hour of the day or night, any day of the week. It doesn’t mean you don’t have to do work.

We also spend a day working with our students on developing academic writing skills. For many of our students, it has been a while since they have written formal papers.

Q: What is unique about UL Lafayette’s online DNP program?

A: The level of support that students get from our faculty exists in only a very few places. We’ve had students transfer in from other programs into our DNP program.  They say they cannot believe how supportive faculty are, how quick they are to respond, and how easily available they are. We also provide stipends for qualified students.

Q: Do you have advice for students considering how to incorporate school into their schedules?

A: It’s extremely challenging. Think of your week as a plate. Is there any place on that plate that is empty? Probably not. The general rule is to consider 3-4 hours of work per week for each credit.  If you are taking two, three-credit courses — 6 credits — that’s at least 24 additional hours a week to fit into your life. Something has to move on your plate or you’re going to be overwhelmed. You have to plan for that.

Q: How to do foresee this program evolving in the future?

A: As our program grows, it will provide us with the opportunities to look at different areas of specialization at the doctoral level.

And there may be many opportunities, depending on what the market demands and what society demands from us. 

Ready to prepare for the future of advanced practice nursing? Request information today about earning your DNP degree.