Rush DNP Program Launches Student’s Research Career
Kaye T. Sturz, BS, MSN, DNP, had many years of experience as a master’s-prepared nurse practitioner in oncology. When her medical director asked her to consider program development, “I felt I needed more tools to make this happen,” she said. “Rush’s DNP program in population health leadership was exactly what I was looking for.”
Sturz, who graduated recently, says the DNP program opened new doors for her. “I found the politics classes very interesting; I never thought of myself as a health care activist until we walked through the process of understanding legislation and targeting where nurse leaders can support and fight for causes we believe in. I didn’t think organizational finance would be that interesting, but I found the process of making a budget fascinating and very practical,” she said. “All classes were useful and helpful and contributed to my career development.”
In fact, the DNP helped Sturz expand her professional role. “I gained leadership skills to become an advanced practice provider (APP) lead for hematology/oncology APPs in northwest and southwest Wisconsin for my institution, the Mayo Clinic Health System,” she said.
Even more significantly, Rush’s DNP program helped Sturz launch her research career. Learning the population assessment process helped her recognize the disparities faced by her institution’s rural and older cancer survivors, who tend to have higher stages of cancer at diagnosis and poorer life expectancy.
“With the encouragement of my facilitator and medical director, I sought funding and converted my project to clinical research,” she said. Sturz applied for two grants and successfully obtained a research and innovations grant through her institution to form an academic partnership involving the University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire. She also secured funding to obtain the expertise of Maple Tree Cancer Alliance, cancer rehabilitation specialists, to provide 1:1 virtual exercise training for cancer survivors to improve patient outcomes.
Sturz is planning to stay involved in clinical research at her institution to expand survivorship services to cancer survivors.” She’s continuing to attract funding, most recently a competitive Mayo Clinic Health System Rural Health Grant for $100,000 to once again partner with Maple Tree Cancer Alliance and expand her physical activity program to include rural cancer survivors in Wisconsin and Minnesota.
“In addition to my wonderful research team, colleagues, medical director, academic and private partners, and patients, I credit Rush for giving me a thorough base and tested process to apply to my new study and roles within my institution,” she said.