Six family nurse practitioners recently became the inaugural Doctor of Nursing Practice class at the Cora S. Balmat School of Nursing at Alcorn State University in Mississippi. All six of the graduates had earlier received a master’s degree in nursing from the university.
Kayana Bradley, one of the six graduates, stated that “earning a doctorate from Alcorn’s School of Nursing is honorific. Alcorn State University is a renowned HBCU. The recognition for excellence in nursing is nationwide. It speaks volumes to graduate in the first class of doctorates from Alcorn. We are trendsetters.”
Graduate Leondrea Collins added that “my experience was rewarding. I gained so much knowledge during the program that has allowed me to become an expert in my field of nursing practice. Every task assigned was essential to my advancement as a well-prepared nurse practitioner.”
Another graduate Erika Martin said that “the program required self-discipline and dedication. The greatest challenge for me was balancing the demands of school, work, and personal life and establishing time and commitment priorities. I spent many late nights completing coursework and lost many hours of sleep, but it was all worth it in the end. I am privileged to be part of the University’s history. Obtaining a doctorate enables me to become an innovative practitioner skilled at undertaking healthcare’s complex challenges.”