Indigenous enrollment in DNP program continues to lead the nation

With seven new students joining the University of Minnesota School of Nursing Doctoral Education Pathway for American Indian/Alaska Native Nurses, the school now has 19 students in the program.

“I think these numbers are outstanding,” says Misty Wilkie, PhD, RN, FAAN, Turtle Mountain Band of Chippewa/Métis, who serves as director of the Doctoral Education Pathway for AI/AN Nurses. “We’ve accomplished so much in such a short period of time.”

With 19 American Indian/Alaska Native students, the Indigenous enrollment in the DNP program leads the nation.

“We’re breaking our own record and my goal is to continue to do so,” says Wilkie. “It’s a testament to the commitment the School of Nursing and the University of Minnesota has to Native students. This program and the number of students that we have and the support that we receive from the University really shows the commitment we have to these students.”

The School of Nursing was awarded a three-year Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) Nursing Workforce Diversity (NWD) grant to support American Indian/Alaska Native doctoral nursing students. Students receive financial support, mentoring from Indigenous faculty and peer support.

The school is the only HRSA NWD-funded program focusing on American Indian/Alaska Native doctoral nursing students in the nation. It’s also the only school of nursing to have three American Indian, PhD-prepared faculty.

As director of the program, Wilkie strives to cultivate a community for students to lean on when they need help. Recently a student who was considering leaving the program reached out to other students sharing her doubts. “She instantly got replies saying she needed to stay,” says Wilkie. “That’s what I wanted for these students. There are so many times in Native students’ lives where they want to quit and there is nobody there to encourage them. I’m so thankful they have this kinship so that they can support each other.”