About Us!
Our Story DNPs of Color (DOCs) concept came to me during my first year of my Doctorate in Nursing Practice (DNP) program. Pursuing my doctorate and being the first in my family, placed an onus on me to succeed. I looked for faculty and mentors that I could identify with, but there weren’t any DNPs of Color at my institution. As a result, I decided to create the space on social media. Within a month, there was an overwhelming response of individuals that sought out DNPs of Color. The countless stories of being the “first” in their family to pursue a doctorate, others experiencing lack of support from faculty, varying levels of discrimination, and little support from family and friends, confirmed the need for this community of support. Despite only being a social media group, these DOCs found our presence very uplifting and encouraging. Having the space to find support and share their journeys to find some sense of commonality helped propel a lot of individuals through some of their toughest moments whether they were in school or in their professional career. DNPs of Color was created to provide a community that can support students, newly “minted" DOCs, and ultimately help increase diversity in doctoral studies. We seek to inspire, empower and transform the landscape of nursing practice, academia, and healthcare outcomes in our communities.
In gratitude,
Dr. Danielle K. McCamey Founder, CEO & President
Mission To serve DNPs of Color through networking, mentorship and advocacy to increase diversity in doctoral studies, clinical practice and leadership.
Vision To inspire, empower and transform the landscape of nursing by increasing diversity in the doctor of nursing practice degree.
Objectives
❖ To create opportunities for engagement in academia, research and clinical practice. ❖ To advocate for educational support for DNPs of Color. ❖ To serve as mentors and guide nurses of color to pursue doctor of nursing practice studies.
Why is DNPs of Color Important? Statistically, doctorally prepared nurses of color are vastly underrepresented in clinical practice, academia and leadership. Communities of Color can’t afford to lose out due to under representation because the literature shows that implicit bias amongst providers not belonging to communities of color negatively impacts patient care and outcomes. With DOCs we intend to create supportive environments that will help inspire, empower and transform the landscape of nursing to include more diversity in nursing practice. Our objectives as a group are to advance diversity within doctor of nursing practice (DNP) studies by providing online communities for nurses of color who have obtained or working towards their DNP. DOC activities will include community outreach, organizing celebrations, speaker events, conferences and collaborative partnerships with nursing schools, but the core activity is peer networking and mentoring.
Board of Directors
DANIELLE MCCAMEY, DNP, APRN, ACNP-BC, FCCP Founder, President and CEO Chief Advanced Practice Provider of the Preanesthesia Testing Department and Senior Advanced Practice Provider in the Surgical Intensive Care Unit ETHLYN MCQUEEN-GIBSON, DNP, MSN, RN-BC Vice President Associate professor at Hampton University’s School of Nursing in Hampton, VA LADONNA BROWN DNP, CRNA, MNA Treasurer Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetist for North American Partners in Anesthesia TONI MURRAY, DNP, CENP, NPD-BC, CMSRN Secretary Director of Nursing Professional Development at MedStar Health DAISY MEDINA-KREPPEIN, DNP, FNP-BC Family Nurse Practitioner at Grace Family Medicine JENNA BENYOUNES, DNP, CNM, WHNP, NMCP Certified Nurse Midwife and Women’s Health Nurse Practitioner Sexuality Counselor and owner of Transcend Healthcare BIMBOLA AKINTADE PHD, MBA, MHA, CCRN, ACNP-BC, NEA-BC, FAANP Assistant Professor and Associate Dean of the Master’s Specialties at the University of Maryland School of Nursing
Contact Us
DNPs of Color (DOCs), is a 501c3 nonprofit nursing organization, whose mission is to increase diversity in doctoral studies, clinical practice, and leadership for nurses. DNP, short for Doctor of Nursing Practice, is the highest level of education a nurse can attain which focuses on clinical practice. DNPs influence healthcare outcomes through healthcare policy, organizational leadership, and translating nursing research into evidenced-based practice.
Follow us on IG/Twitter: @docdnps Find Us on Facebook & LinkedIN Website: www.docdnps.org Email: docdnps@gmail.com
Ways to Support Us
We are a 501c3 nonprofit organization. Your donations are tax deductible but also will contribute to helping us fulfilling our ultimate vision of increasing diversity in nursing doctoral studies, clinical practice, research and leadership.