DNP students welcomed to UCLA at annual welcome breakfast

At the recently renovated and scenic Mildred E. Mathias Botanical Garden, the annual Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) student, faculty, and alumni welcome breakfast marked the start of the new academic year. Incoming and continuing DNP students conversed and networked with Dean Lin Zhan, Assistant Dean Karen Grimley, who is also the Chief Nursing Executive of UCLA Health, DNP Program Directors and faculty, DNP alumni, and the staff. Several DNP program alumni attended, serving as mentors for students in the incoming cohort.

Assistant Dean Grimley opened the event by delivering a speech about nursing care being rolled into the daily room rates charged by healthcare institutions. Bundling nursing care into room rates is done to simplify administrative processes. As DNP students are advanced practice registered nurses (APRNs), Dr. Grimley discussed the vital importance of APRN’s to get reimbursed by third parties for their nursing services. Bundling nursing services in room rates displays an underappreciation of the major contributions of the nurse. It devalues recognition of nursing skills and education. For the APRN, reimbursement of services recognizes the vital role they play in patient care and outcomes.

Dean Zhan delivered a speech outlining the future of the DNP program at the School of Nursing and shared the school’s plans to launch new state-supported post BS to DNP program in Fall quarter 2025. Dean Zhan stressed the critical impact that DNP-prepared nurses have on health care, especially the need for advanced practice registered nurses to step into leadership roles to inform the direction of improved patient care and outcomes. Dean Zhan, on behalf of the School of Nursing, emphasized the incredible hard work put forth by faculty, staff, and alumni who ensure the continued success of the program.

Program Director, Dr. Nancy Jo Bush shared her excitement about the annual welcoming breakfast event. “It marks the new academic year by welcoming a new cohort of students who are motivated to heighten their professional development by becoming leaders in healthcare delivery and policy. The students work hard to learn system-level change, to become nursing scholars, and to give back to the nursing profession, patients, families, and communities.”

The DNP alumni and student mentorship program pairs incoming DNP students with continuing students or DNP alumni based on the incoming students’ clinical interests (focus of their DNP Scholarly Project), APRN clinical specialty, and/or the facility or organization where they work. The DNP alumni & student mentorship program exhibits DNP program alumni’s dedication to guiding and supporting fellow DNP students and their continued investment and support of the School of Nursing. 

“As a recent DNP graduate and mentor, I’m proud to support the next generation of DNPs and Nurse Leaders as they navigate their professional journeys,” shared DNP class of 2024 alumnus, Santino Luigi Estrera. “Alumni involvement is crucial in fostering a strong community that empowers students and ensures that they have the support and guidance they need to excel in school and the evolving healthcare landscape. Our engagement also plays a key role in strengthening our DNP program at UCLA as we strive to be one of the top DNP programs in the nation."

“One of the key lessons I learned in the DNP program is the importance and value of mentorship,” said Christina Craigo, DNP class of 2024 alumna. “Alumni involvement ensures the program’s continued success. The UCLA DNP breakfast offers a space for recent graduates to share their experiences and explore projects in their early stages. It was a pleasure to meet some of the new class!”

The School of Nursing and the DNP administration team thank all new, current, and past DNP students in taking the time to celebrate the upcoming academic year.