RMUoHP Welcomes a New Doctor of Nursing Practice Program Director
Rocky Mountain University of Health Professions is pleased to welcome Stephanie Richardson, PhD, RN as the Program Director for the Doctor of Nursing Practice Program. Dr. Richardson has a background as a clinical specialist in adult critical care, including intensive care, emergency nursing and flight nursing. Dr. Richardson comes to us most recently from the University of Utah, where she carried significant teaching and administrative responsibilities and was heavily involved in both regional and specialty accreditations.
Dr. Richardson is an accomplished scholar with more than 50 peer-reviewed published articles, white papers, abstracts and chapters and has conducted more than 110 peer-reviewed professional and conference presentations. In the last 20 years, Dr. Richardson was involved as an investigator or consultant with teams receiving over $14.5M in grants to support health care and health education related research. Dr. Richardson has been the chair, member, or content expert for dozens of graduate student dissertation or final project committees, in nursing and other disciplines, and is a reviewer for both the Advances in Nursing Science journal and the Journal of Professional Nursing. She enjoys cooking, camping, and most of all reading.
We had the great pleasure of asking Dr. Richardson a few questions about her impressions of RMUoHP and her vision for her new position.
Q&A With new DNP Program Director Dr. Stephanie Richardson
What were your first impressions of the university? Of the program? Of the students?
My first impressions came from video interviews of DNP graduates on the RMUoHP website. The alumni in the video are candid about the program and are clearly pleased with the quality of their education and they emphasize the program’s focus on becoming an agent for change and a leader in improving healthcare. I found that so refreshing! It is important that graduate professional students have – to use my own words – “mad clinical skills.” Yet, the fact that they plainly understood that the advanced practice nurse role is to combine impeccable skills with leadership and advocacy on a state and national level was, honestly, the best possible first impression I could have gotten. It confirmed that Rocky Mountain University is actually delivering its mission, and also highlighted for me the purpose of the Doctor of Nursing Practice degree.
What is your vision of leadership?
I like to compare my evolving vision of leadership to software versions and hope that each version is an actual upgrade. I’m currently on version 5.0. In this version, I try to focus on three key principles. The first is working with people’s strengths, which has been by far the most successful leadership strategy I have ever employed. I do my best to make sure no single person on the team is saddled with a job, task or environment that is working against their strengths. This also functions as a programmatic strategy; it’s much more productive to work with the strengths of the company, or program, instead of focusing on polishing or developing weaknesses.
A second principle of leadership that works well for me is what I call consistent, mutual positive regard. I learned this the long, hard way, and it means that all people in an organization are an asset to be treated with warmth, respect and politeness at all times, no exceptions. My lived experience as a female nurse employee who was not at the top of the heap in some of the most hierarchical organizations on the planet (hospitals and universities), helped me understand every day the power of this principle in keeping people invested and feeling valued.
My third principle is definitely a personal value: It is that life is not fair, yet the workplace (and the classroom) must be. While I’m not a big fan of massive policy and procedure manuals, I respect guidelines and concise policies that promote fairness and equity. Not only does this satisfy my own personal value, these types of policies also tend to reduce error and improve efficiencies, which is good for the whole organization.
What are the greatest areas of potential growth and development you see for the DNP Program?
Our outstanding faculty and staff are directly responsible for some pretty exciting program growth that we are anticipating. Before I arrived, they created and implemented one of the very best graduate nursing programs in the western states. It is not particularly easy to gain CCNE accreditation, yet because of their fine efforts, we expect accreditation to lead to increasing enrollments over the next two years. We are in the happy position of pondering how we might best mentor all the new faculty members that we will need to add! What a great “problem” to have!
Q&A with retiring DNP Program Director Dr. Marie-Eileen Onieal
Dr. Marie-Eileen Onieal began her tenure at RMUoHP by giving a lecture over the phone on health policy! Quickly, she became a regular nursing program faculty member and moved on to the Graduate Program Director position, which she has held for many years. “I have witnessed the amazing growth and progress of the University.” Dr. Onieal said, “I am especially proud of being awarded CCNE accreditation on our first attempt! It is hard to conceive of all we have accomplished in DNP program in only 10 years.” Dr. Onieal will officially retire from her position at RMUoHP after the August 2016 commencement exercises, but her influence within the University will remain for many years to come. Here are a few parting words from our beloved Dr. Onieal:
What are your plans for after you retire?
I plan to catch up on my leisure reading and play more golf. Another hobby may be in my future, but haven’t decided which yet, though I have had several suggestions. I will continue as the NP Editor-in-Chief of Clinician Reviews.
How DNP students and alumni can stay in touch with you?
All the students (and alumni) have my cell phone number, and can connect with me that way. I have maintained a roster of students since first joining RMU in 2006, and have kept in contact with many alum over the years.
What advice would you give to future DNP students (and RMUoHP students in general)?
Stay focused and keep things in perspective. Advanced degrees in any profession are challenging and require dedication. Obtaining a doctoral degree is not easy, if it were, everyone would have one! Remember, you EARN a degree, it is not a gift.
What has been your favorite thing about being the program director for the DNP Program at RMUoHP?
The ability to give back to my profession by sharing the lessons I learned from my professors, mentors and co-workers is the most rewarding. The privilege of meeting and working with professionals who are making a difference in the lives of our patients, our patient’s families was great. But my most favorite thing is hooding the graduates at commencement.
