PORTLAND, Maine (AP) — The University of Southern Maine says it will become the first school in northern New England to offer a doctor of nursing practice degree when it launches its new nursing doctorate program next fall.
The university says the degree is becoming increasingly sought-after nationwide and is expected to be a required credential for all advanced-practice nurses by 2015.
USM is now home to the state’s largest nursing program, with 441 undergraduate nursing students and 120 students in master’s programs.