Having the authority, knowledge and skills to improve care for patients motivated two nurses to enroll in a new executive leadership-focused, dual degree program at the U of A. Both nurses want to help their employers expand the reach and quality of care they offer.

Hanna Baxendale, an Arkansas resident, and Wendi Kimbrell, a Texas resident, begin coursework this summer in the Doctor of Nursing Practice-Executive Master of Business Administration program offered jointly by the Eleanor Mann School of Nursing and the Sam M. Walton College of Business. The nursing school is part of the College of Education and Health Professions.

The coursework of the D.N.P.-Executive M.B.A. is delivered primarily online, with the business college requiring on-campus visits one Saturday each month. The nursing requirements include a minimum of 1,000 practice hours, of which a maximum of 505 hours can be applied from a master's degree.

The degree combines advanced nursing practice skills with executive leadership competencies. It is designed for master's prepared, licensed advanced practice nurses who want to take on executive leadership positions beyond the director level.

Baxendale, a pediatric nurse practitioner, takes care of children at a pediatric clinic in Bentonville. She earned a bachelor's degree in nursing from the U of A followed by a master's degree from Duke University.

"For as long as I can remember, I wanted to be a nurse," Baxendale said. "I knew I wanted to help kiddos. It has always been my goal to work in pediatrics."

Now, Baxendale is interested in becoming a partner in the small, physician-owned clinic where she works, to better focus on serving her patients and the community.

"I knew I wanted to pursue a D.N.P. at some point in my career, to expand my knowledge base and provide better care for patients, but the E.M.B.A. really made a big difference in my career path," Baxendale said.

Also a nurse practitioner, Kimbrell's story is different. She was enrolled in college searching for a major when she got a direct care staff position at the Centre for Neuro Skills in Irving, Texas. She has been employed by the company in various nursing roles since 2000.

"I was given the opportunity to explore different disciplines (physical therapy, occupational therapy, speech and nursing)," she said about the job she held during college. "Nursing is something I have grown to love. It has changed my life. Being able to help patients get better and to see optimal health outcomes is very rewarding for me. I have seen patients go from severe traumatic brain injury not being able to walk or talk or feed themselves to being able to walk out of there, return to work and drive again. I have seen many success stories.

"It's time for me to challenge myself," Kimbrell continued. "I feel like a lifelong learner. I decided to go back and do the D.N.P.-E.M.B.A. to prepare myself for an executive leadership role. The degree will advance my competencies in leadership and nursing practice."

The company she works with is expanding, Kimbrell said, growing from two facilities to seven in Texas and California and expects to continue growing throughout the U.S.

"I want to have the knowledge to help them grow," she said. "Having knowledge about the corporate business model on top of gaining my terminal degree is something I have always wanted to do."