Nursing and Health Policy Collaborative at UNM

The Robert Wood Johnson Foundation Nursing and Health Policy Collaborative is preparing a new generation of doctoral degree nurses prepared to meet our nation’s health policy challenges. The Collaborative’s faculty and fellows engage in policy research to address the health care needs of America’s most vulnerable populations.

The core of the Collaborative is a doctoral-level health policy concentration within the Ph.D. in Nursing program. The preparation includes a rigorous, full-time academic course of study grounded in real-world clinical experience and relevant research that creates a deep understanding of the factors shaping and influencing policy decisions. In turn, students receive a generous package of financial support.

Based at the University of New Mexico in Albuquerque’s College of Nursing, the Collaborative is a partnership with the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation that will build the capacity of nurse leaders to engage as full partners in research, analysis, development and advocacy of national health policy. The Collaborative is strongly committed to increasing diversity in the ranks of nurse leadership and health policy, especially for Black, Latino, American Indian, and other racial and ethnic communities underrepresented in the field.

The Collaborative offers a unique interdisciplinary focus, bringing together scholars and experts from both the clinical and the social sciences, and engaging in partnerships with other health professionals, researchers, community leaders and policy-makers. We work together in partnership with our colleagues at the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation Center for Health Policy, also located at the University of New Mexico, providing us both the opportunity to learn from our experiences as social scientists or health professionals.

The program does not simply represent an intersection between nursing and health policy; it presents a true collaboration—in which each discipline and perspective informs and strengthens the other.

Nursing Leadership and Health Policy

Our nation faces exciting opportunities and real challenges as it seeks to reform our health care system, within an environment of fiscal constraints:

• An aging population will require an increasing level of care and greater coordination of that care.
• The growing ethnic and racial diversity of our nation requires health professionals willing to be inclusive in addressing racial and ethnic health disparities.
• Millions of newly-insured Americans will require primary and preventative care.
• All of these challenges are heightened in rural populations with fewer health care providers, and among those poorer communities that have long been underserved.
• Many children grow up in poverty, with poor diets, lack of exercise, high rates of obesity, psycho-social stress, mental and behavioral challenges, and unsafe schools. They live in environments that aren’t conducive to healthy development.
• Solutions to health care and health policy problems require innovative interdisciplinary and transdisciplinary approaches that are not mired in individual, discipline, or departmental silos.

In order for our nation’s health policies to meet these needs and to be relevant to those it serves, particularly the most vulnerable populations, we need nurse leaders willing and able to engage in creating and executing those  policies – nurses who have the background, preparation and ability to create innovative solutions to these urgent problems.

 

The RWJF Nursing and Health Policy Collaborative offers a unique interdisciplinary focus, bringing together scholars and experts from both the clinical and the social sciences, and engaging other health professionals, researchers, community leaders,  and policymakers in partnership.

The program reaches beyond the academic community to participate with the communities we serve, and with policy makers and government at every level.  It is focused on relevance: those policies that will make a difference in the health care of our nation, and on research: how to build an evidence-based case for change.

The program does not simply represent an intersection between nursing and health policy, it presents a true collaboration – in which each discipline and perspective informs and strengthens the other.

If your organization is interested in joining our innovative work, please contact us to learn more about partnership opportunities.

Our Partners

The Robert Wood Johnson Foundation

The Robert Wood Johnson Foundation focuses on the pressing health and health care issues facing the country. As the nation’s largest philanthropy devoted exclusively to health and health care, the Foundation works with a diverse group of organizations and individuals to identify solutions and achieve comprehensive, measureable and timely change. As a leading, diverse institution with a medical school, colleges of nursing and pharmacy, public health programs and doctoral-level programs in economics, political science and sociology, the University of New Mexico is uniquely positioned to assist RWJF in continuing its mission of improving the health and health care of all Americans.

The University of New Mexico College of Nursing

The College of Nursing is a fully accredited component of the University of New Mexico Health Sciences Center. For more than 50 years, the College of Nursing has been a vital resource for New Mexico, providing traditional nursing programs as well as thoughtfully designed programs to meet the needs of a diverse population and make nursing education available to all citizens of the state.

The RWJF Center for Health Policy at UNM

The Robert Wood Johnson Foundation Center for Health Policy at the University of New Mexico is the only health policy center dedicated to increasing the number of leaders from Latino and American Indian communities who will help shape the future of our nation’s health care and health policy. A collaboration between the University of New Mexico and the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, the RWJF Center for Health Policy focuses on inserting the perspectives of Latino, American Indian and other underrepresented groups into the most pressing health policy debates.

The University of New Mexico Health Sciences Center

Established in 1994, the University of New Mexico Health Sciences Center is the largest academic health complex in the state. Located on the University of New Mexico campus in Albuquerque, New Mexico, the Health Sciences Center combines its four mission areas – education, research, patient care and community outreach – to provide New Mexicans with the highest level of health care.

The UNM Health Sciences Center is made up of six academic and clinical entities, including College of Nursing, College of Pharmacy, School of Medicine. Health Sciences Library and Informatics Center, UNM Hospitals and UNM Cancer Research and Treatment Center.

University of New Mexico Cancer Center

The UNM Cancer Center is the Official Cancer Center of New Mexico and the only National Cancer Institute (NCI)-designated cancer center in the state. One of just 66 NCI-designated cancer centers nationwide, the UNM Cancer Center is recognized for its scientific excellence, contributions to cancer research and delivery of medical advances to patients and their families. It is home to 85 board-certified oncology physicians representing every cancer specialty and 127 research scientists hailing from prestigious institutions such as MD Anderson, Johns Hopkins and the Mayo Clinic. The UNM Cancer Center treats more than 65 percent of the adults and virtually all of the children in New Mexico affected by cancer, from every county in the state.

New Mexico Center for Nursing Excellence

The New Mexico Center for Nursing Excellence (NMCNE) is a 501(c) 3, non-profit organization established in July, 2002. Its strength lies in the diversity of its Board of Directors, which consists of nurse executives, nurse educators, nursing associations and other stakeholders representing all of New Mexico. In the seven years since its inception, the center’s mission has developed  a more global approach to a strong nursing workforce that will meet the healthcare needs of New Mexico.

The New Mexico Action Coalition

The New Mexico Action Coalition was created in 2010 following the Institute of Medicine’s (IOM) landmark report, The Future of Nursing: Leading Change, Advancing Health. The Action Coalition is part of the national The Future of Nursing: Campaign for Action, charged with implementing many of the report’s recommendation.   The University of New Mexico’s College of Nursing is working closely with the state’s Action Coalition to build and implement strategic plans for advancing IOM recommendations for nursing. Developed as a partnership between the New Mexico Center for Nursing Excellence and the New Mexico Business Weekly, the New Mexico Action Coalition is working to solve challenges to nursing education, residencies, data and practice, and has interwoven leadership, diversity and interdisciplinary collaboration into its efforts.

The setting for the RWJF Nursing and Health Policy Collaborative at the University of New Mexico is one of its strengths. New Mexico is breathtaking in its beauty and cultural richness, shaped by Hispanic and Native American history and traditions.

The state’s challenges, including widespread poverty and lack of access to health care, are not unique to New Mexico; and its pronounced ethnic and racial diversity are echoed in many other communities nationwide. While our program’s focus is national, we are able to draw upon New Mexico’s challenges as presenting immediate, tangible opportunities for relevant research and collaboration.

New Mexico Resources

New Mexico:

• About New Mexico
• New Mexico Tourism Department
• New Mexico Attractions

Albuquerque, NM:

• About Albuquerque, NM
• Greater Albuquerque Chamber of Commerce

New Mexico Health:

• New Mexico Department of Health
• Kaiser State Health Facts – New Mexico

New Mexico Culture:

• New Mexico Department of Cultural Affairs
• State of New Mexico Office of African American Affairs
• Hispanic Cultural History in New Mexico
• American Indian History and Culture in New Mexico

Q: Who is eligible to receive the RWJF fellowship?

A: To apply for the RWJF Nursing and Health Policy Collaborative Fellowship, candidates must first be accepted into the College of Nursing’s PhD program. Doctoral candidates must hold an MSN degree from an accredited nursing program with a minimum GPA of 3.0. Applicants must also meet the requirements set forth by the University of New Mexico College of Nursing. Upon admittance, individuals will be considered for the fellowship program.

Strong preference is given to nurses with experience in health policy who have demonstrated capacity for leadership in their field of work. Individuals interested in applying should have a foundation in research and evidence of scholarly ability, such as a published paper. Though not required, completion of a graduate level statistics course is desired.

Q: What characteristics do those accepted into the program share?

A: The fellowship attracts nurse leaders invested in championing and transforming public policy. Past fellows have leveraged their clinical experience with rural and ethnically diverse communities, and with communities impacted by health disparities – broadening that experience with research that has implications for health policy.

Fellows must also demonstrate a strong commitment to developing their leadership skills and for seeking opportunities to exercise leadership in the future at both the local and national level.

Q: If accepted into the fellowship program, what kind of financial assistance is included?

A: Fellows of the Collaborative receive a generous benefit package, including full tuition and fee coverage for the University of New Mexico’s PhD in Nursing with a Health Policy Concentration. In addition to full tuition, the Collaborative covers fees for required text books, travel to national health policy conferences, and provides fellows with a monthly stipend. Accepted candidates will also receive student health insurance during their tenure. Fellows are expected to complete their program and dissertation within three years.

Q: What is the health policy field placement and what types of placements are required?

A: Recognizing in the importance of putting research into practice, the healthy policy concentration requires fellows to participate in a field placement. These placements allow students to work in partnership with an outside government, nonprofit, or private sector organization to develop health policy expertise.

Fellows work closely with faculty to identify and select field opportunities within their focus area(s). Field placements must center on health policy and can be completed in a variety of settings, including national organizations, think tanks, federal and local government agencies and non-profits. While pre-approval from a faculty member is required, field placements do not have to be completed within the state of New Mexico.

Q: What academic courses are required for fellows?

A: The Collaborative fellowship is a unique, fulltime program that allows students to further their existing work and discover new, interdisciplinary approaches and perspectives to that work. Fellows participate in an intense online curriculum that explores research methods, economics and statistics, data analysis and health policy in preparation for a final dissertation.

In addition to the health policy field placement (see above), fellows are required to participate in two on-campus health policy electives. These elective courses are meant to mirror students’ individual interests and can be taken at any department within the University of New Mexico (e.g., government, theory, social sciences and cultural anthropology). Some fellows use their electives to conduct independent studies.

Q: Does the fellowship have any residential requirements?

A: Applicants to the 2012 fellowship are now required to reside in the greater Albuquerque, NM area. As a part of this fellowship, individuals will have access to health policy lectures and programs offered only at campus facilities. Residing in the area permits fellows to be available for additional on-site educational opportunities, including research projects with UNM faculty. While fellows are expected to participate in these on-campus events, the PhD concentration course work will continue to be conducted online.

Q: What can fellows expect to achieve after their programs?

A: With a new wealth of knowledge and experience, our fellows will be able to put their policy concentration into action. Our fellows will continue to carve their own path in health care, from research in a post-doctoral setting, to a leadership position at a health organization, from a teaching position in an academic setting to working in health policy for a state or federal government. No matter the path they choose, fellows can expect to integrate their policy expertise with their desired field of interest.  Also, as distinguished fellows of the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, individuals can also explore new opportunities and programs within the Foundation’s portfolios.

Q: How is the Collaborative working to increase diversity in nurse leaders and health policy?

A: Diversity is a core value of the RWJF Nursing and Health Policy Collaborative, which is committed to addressing the health care issues of Latino/Hispanic, American Indian and other underrepresented racial and ethnic populations, as well as health concerns facing rural communities.

As part of this commitment, we especially seek participants who are themselves a member of a racial or ethnic minority, as well as other nurse leaders with experience in, and commitment to, working with these populations.

We believe that attracting and preparing individuals from diverse backgrounds as leaders in nursing and health policy is an important step toward eliminating health disparities. By developing nurse leaders from different ethnic, racial, gender and economic backgrounds, our work seeks to improve the nation’s health and health care quality.

Q: What is the relationship between the RWJF Nursing and Health Policy Collaborative and the RWJF Center for Health Policy at the University of New Mexico?                 

A: The RWJF Center for Health Policy and the RWJF Nursing and Health Policy Collaborative are two distinct entities at the University of New Mexico. While both programs prepare doctoral leaders in health policy, the Center is a free-standing program focused on social sciences while the Collaborative is an academic program of the UNM College of Nursing.

Though different in structure, each program incorporates interdisciplinary opportunities. Fellows from the RWJF Nursing and Health Policy Collaborative often participate in the RWJF Center for Health Policy’s leadership lecture series which includes a variety of social science and health professional perspectives.

 

The RWJF Nursing and Health Policy Collaborative at UNM is convening a National Advisory Committee (NAC) to further support its program’s objectives and vision. Members of the NAC will include leaders from national organizations and institutions committed to preparing nurses that can meet our nation’s health policy challenges. The NAC will meet regularly to advance the goals of the Collaborative and build momentum towards a more effective health care system.

The core of the RWJF Nursing and Health Policy Collaborative is a doctoral-level Health Policy Concentration within the PhD in Nursing program. This unique interdisciplinary focus brings together scholars and experts from both the clinical and social sciences, and engages other health professionals, research, community leaders and policymakers in partnership. The program reaches beyond the academic setting to participate with communities we serve, and with policymakers at every level. It is focused on relevance: what policies will make a difference in the health care of our nation, and research: how to build an evidence-based case for change.

The Experience

The Collaborative fellowship program engages nurse leaders who are passionate about a desire to transform health care itself to better meet the needs of all patients and communities, especially those at greatest risk, and with the least access to care.

The preparation we offer includes a rigorous academic course of study, grounded in real-world clinical experience and relevant research – creating a deep understanding of the factors that shape and influence policy decisions.

Our program also provides our fellows with the guidance and support of experienced mentors, tangible leadership and communications training to prepare themselves for advocacy roles, and exposure to – and engagement with – national health care policy leaders.

The leadership preparation that is integral to the program requires that our fellows be willing to engage in personal growth and exploration as they assume new roles. This includes being willing to take risks – participating in discussions that challenge long-held beliefs and being open to feedback on personal skills and work product. It also includes a strong sense of inquisitiveness – to question and pursue new solutions to long-standing problems.

We expect our fellows to commit to full engagement with the University of New Mexico community in academic studies, research, and leadership activities on the Health Sciences Campus, within the RWJF Center for Health Policy, and in other University departments. We also require they be able to work independently, with faculty support, but not micromanagement, as they develop their research and scholarship portfolio.

Passion into Action

Our program allows students to research the health issues and concerns that they find most interesting – from rural health to disease prevention and health promotion. Past fellows have explored how national policy affects access to mental health programs, cost-effective models of maternity care, and smoking cessation in public spaces.

PhD students may also pursue an individualized plan of study or concentration in Health Policy (if accepted to the concentration). A program advisor will guide students in selecting coursework to help meet personal, professional, and scholarship needs.

Core Competencies

Graduates of the program will demonstrate the following competencies:

• Assume the role of the PhD prepared nurse in teaching, scholarship, leadership, and service.
• Accept the responsibility for self-directed scholarly development in an ongoing research program focused on patient care improvement especially for women, children, and families.
• Conduct independent formal inquiry pertaining to health care, reflective caring practice, critical synthesis of existing knowledge, and generation of new knowledge and theory.
• Practice nursing reflectively, guided by theory based on best evidence and integrating creative and critical thinking.
• Cultivate research expertise relative to a particular population setting or human response to health or illness.
• Evaluate and critique social policy relevant to the organization and delivery of health care.

Fellows of the Collaborative participate in a full-time course of study at the University of New Mexico, with a generous package of financial support that includes full tuition and fees, travel to conferences, and for research, as well as a monthly stipend to help cover living expenses. Our program requires that students live near, or regularly travel to, our Albuquerque campus. This proximity allows ongoing access to faculty, ease of engagement in research projects, and greater participation in the Collaborative’s leadership and mentorship activities.

In addition to the requirements set forth by UNM, the College of Nursing specifies the following requirements for its doctoral program:

• M.S.N. from an accredited nursing program
• GPA of at least 3.0 on a 4.0 scale (preference is given to students with a GPA of 3.5 or higher)
• Graduate-level statistics course completed within three years is desirable although not required
• Computer literacy skills in word processing, e-mail communications, and Web searching
• Evidence of scholarly ability, such as a scholarly paper
• One-page statement reflecting experiences in the nursing discipline
• Letter of intent addressing professional and personal goals
• Resume
• Three letters of recommendation
• Valid RN license
• Ability to meet health requirements

A detailed listing of eligibility requirements can be found here.

Plan of Study

Students will participate in advanced doctoral courses focused on research and health policy. Below is a sample plan of study; additional information about this plan can be found here.

Course Name	Credits
Required Core Courses – 24 credits
NURS 600. Philosophy of Science in Nursing	3
NURS 601. Theory 1: Nursing Knowledge Development	3
NURS 602. Theory II: Substantive Nursing Knowledge	3
NURS 606. Quantitative Methods in Nursing Research	3
NURS 607. Qualitative Methods in Nursing Research	3
NURS 620. Advanced Health Care Statistics I	3
NURS 621. Advanced Health Care Statistics II	3
NURS 690. PhD Seminar (three 1-credit seminars)	3
Methods Courses – 6 credits
NURS 612. Clinical Nursing Therapeutics and Outcomes	3
NURS 613. Mixed Methods Research	3
NURS 614. Instrumentation	3
NURS 615. Critical Ethnography & CBPR in Health Care Research	3
NURS 624. Behavioral Observation Methods	3
NURS 627. Qualitative Data Analysis	3
Health Policy Concentration Required Courses – 13 credits
NURS 640. Evidence, Health Policy, and Politics	3
NURS 641. Health Disparities and Policy	3
NURS 642. Applied Health Economics	3
NURS 648. Introduction to Health Policy Field Placement	1
NURS 649. Health Policy Field Placement	3
Substantive Area – 3 credits (1 course)
NURS 608. Environments of Human Health	3
NURS 609. Family Nursing: Concepts, Issues, and Outcomes	3
NURS 611. Rural and Cultural Health	3
Electives – 6 credits (2 approved Health Policy courses)
Health Policy Elective I	3
Health Policy Elective II	3
Total Coursework	52
Total NURS 699 Dissertation	18
Total Credits	70

 

To be considered for the RWJF Nursing and Health Policy Collaborative Fellowship, candidates must first apply to the University of New Mexico (UNM) College of Nursing’s PhD program. Upon applying for the College of Nursing PhD Program, you will be prompted to complete an essay and discuss your interest in the Health Policy Concentration and the RWJF Nursing and Health Policy Fellowship. Once submitted and after the deadline for applications, your application will then be reviewed first by the UNM CON PhD Program review committee and a second review will then be done by the health policy faculty  to determine fellowship recipients. Final decisions for the PhD Program and the RWJF Nursing and Health Policy fellowships are made after both reviews are complete.