[Congressional Record Volume 156, Number 132 (Tuesday, September 28, 2010)]
[Senate]
[Pages S7634-S7635]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]

      By Mr. INOUYE:
  S. 3859. A bill to express the sense of the Senate concerning the 
establishment of Doctor of Nursing Practice and doctor of Pharmacy dual 
degree programs; to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and 
Pensions.
  Mr. INOUYE. Mr. President, today I rise to recognize the need for a 
health care professional skilled in caring for the specific needs of a 
growing elderly population. In the next 30 years we will see a unique 
change in population demographics in this country. The geriatric 
population is increasing and by the year 2030, the over 65 age group 
will make up 20 percent of the population. More people will reach the 
100-year mark. My home State of Hawai`i is home to more 100-year olds 
per capita than any other State. The risk for developing disease and 
illness becomes greater as one ages. As we see an increase in the age 
of our population, those living with chronic illnesses such as 
cardiovascular disease, respiratory diseases, diabetes and cancer, will 
continue to rise in numbers as well. These are patient's who require 
care in the ambulatory, hospital, and home care settings. The 
chronically ill geriatric patients usually are living with multiple co-
morbidities and possess poly pharmacy challenges. We are living in a 
time when it is crucial to develop the skills and expertise to care for 
these patients and provide them with the quality health care they 
deserve in a cost effective manner.
  While the terms dual, joint, double or combined degrees are used 
interchangeably, the overall definition is students working for two 
different and distinct degrees in parallel, completing two degrees in 
less time than it would take to complete each separately. Under the 
leadership of Katharyn F. Daub, EdD, CTN, CNE, Director School of 
Nursing, John M. Pezzuto, Ph.D., Dean, College of Pharmacy, and Donald 
O. Straney, Ph.D., Chancellor, University of Hawai`i at Hilo, the 
University of Hawai`i at Hilo has created a model that would partner 
both their school of nursing and pharmacy to meet the needs of the 
changing health care field through the implementation of a dual-degree 
program that would combine a Doctor of Nursing Practice, DNP, with a 
Doctor of Pharmacy, PharmD.
  The overall purpose of this innovative cross cutting dual or joint 
degree nursing program is to prepare nurses to expand the traditional 
scope of nursing practice, with the goal of strengthening health care 
teams. The American Association of Colleges of Nursing, AACN, 2009 
survey of schools of nursing documents that there are over 100 nursing 
schools that offer dual degree programs: 74 MSN/MBA programs; 34 MSN/
MPH programs; 10 MSN/MHA programs; 5 MSN/MPA programs; 4 MSN/MDIV 
programs; and 3 MSN/JD programs. Currently there is no dual degree 
program that combines nursing and pharmacology.
  Through this dual collaborative role we would be able to meet the 
unique needs of rural communities across age continuums and in diverse 
settings. The nurse/pharmacist would enhance collaboration between DNPs 
and physicians regarding drug therapy. The program also would provide 
for the implementation of safer medication administration. It would 
broaden the scope of practice for pharmacists through education and 
training in diagnosis and management of common acute and chronic 
diseases, and create new employment opportunities for private physician 
or nurse managed clinics, walk-in clinics, school/college clinics, 
long-term facilities, veteran administration facilities, hospitals and 
hospital clinics, hospice centers, home health care agencies, 
pharmaceutical companies, emergency departments, urgent care sites, 
physician group practices, extended care facilities, and research 
centers.
  Additional research and evaluation would determine the extent of 
which graduates of this program improve primary health care, address 
disparities, diversify the workforce, and increase quality of service 
for underserved populations.
  I urge you to consider the benefits of the development of a joint 
degree in nursing and pharmacology.
  Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the text of the bill be 
printed in the Record.
  There being no objection, the text of the bill was ordered to be 
printed in the Record, as follows:

                                S. 3859

       Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of 
     the United States of America in Congress assembled, That:

     SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

       This Act may be cited as the ``Doctor of Nursing Practice 
     and Doctor of Pharmacy Dual Degree Program Act of 2010''.

     SEC. 2. FINDINGS.

       The Senate makes the following findings:
       (1) The terms dual, joint, double or combined degrees are 
     used interchangeably, the overall definition is students 
     working for two different and distinct degrees in parallel, 
     completing two degrees in less time than it would take to 
     complete each separately.
       (2) The overall purpose of the innovative cross cutting 
     dual or joint degree nursing programs is to prepare nurses to 
     expand the traditional scope of nursing practice, with the 
     goal of strengthening health care teams.
       (3) The American Association of Colleges of Nursing (AACN) 
     2009 survey of schools of nursing documents that there are 
     over 100 nursing schools that offer dual degree programs of 
     which 74 are MSN/MBA programs, 34 are MSN/MPH programs, 10 
     are MSN/MHA programs, 5 are MSN/MPA programs, 4 are MSN/MDIV 
     programs, and 3 are MSN/JD programs.
       (4) There is currently no dual degree program that combines 
     nursing and pharmacology.
       (5) Recently, the University of Hawai`i at Hilo has 
     explored the option of nursing and pharmacy partnering to 
     meet the needs of the changing health care field.

[[Page S7635]]

     SEC. 3. SENSE OF THE SENATE.

       It is the sense of the Senate that--
       (1) there should be established a Doctor of Nursing 
     Practice (DNP) and Doctor of Pharmacy (PharmD) dual degree 
     program;
       (2) the development of a joint degree in nursing and 
     pharmacology should combine a Doctor of Nursing Practice 
     (DNP) with a Doctor of Pharmacy (PharmD);
       (3) the significance of such a dual degree program would be 
     improving patient outcomes;
       (4) through such a dual collaborative role, health 
     providers will be better able to meet the unique needs of 
     rural communities across the age continuum and in diverse 
     settings;
       (5) such a dual degree program--
       (A) would enhance collaboration between Doctors of Nursing 
     Practice and physicians regarding drug therapy;
       (B) would provide for research concerning, and the 
     implementation of, safer medication administration;
       (C) would broaden the scope of practice for pharmacists 
     through education and training in diagnosis and management of 
     common acute and chronic diseases;
       (D) would provide new employment opportunities for private 
     physician or nurse managed clinics, walk-in clinics, school 
     or college clinics, long-term care facilities, Veteran 
     Administration facilities, hospitals and hospital clinics, 
     hospice centers, home health care agencies, pharmaceutical 
     companies, emergency departments, urgent care sites, 
     physician group practices, extended care facilities, and 
     research centers; and
       (E) would assist in filling the need for primary care 
     providers with an expertise in geriatrics and 
     pharmaceuticals; and
       (6) additional research and evaluation should be conducted 
     to determine the extent to which graduates of such a dual 
     degree program improve primary health care, address 
     disparities, diversify the workforce, and increase quality of 
     service for underserved populations.
                                 ______