Program Overview

Orthopedics Specialty Program

The Duke University School of Nursing’s orthopedics specialty program is designed to provide nurse practitioners with a strong foundation in musculoskeletal care. Led by internationally recognized, board-certified orthopedic nurse practitioner faculty, the program caters to both NP students and licensed NPs seeking to enhance their skills.

Program Overview

The orthopedic nursing program equips students to deliver expert care to patients with musculoskeletal conditions in various settings, including urgent care, military medicine, emergency care, occupational health, and physical medicine. The program offers a flexible format, combining online lectures with intensive, hands-on labs on campus. Under the guidance of experienced faculty, students master advanced orthopedic techniques like joint injections, casting, and suturing, preparing them for a successful career as an orthopedic nurse practitioner.

Program Highlights

• Renowned faculty: Learn from internationally recognized, board-certified orthopedic nurse practitioner faculty with extensive clinical experience and a deep understanding of the current orthopedic landscape.
• Comprehensive coursework: The program features a carefully crafted blend of didactic and clinical training, covering a wide range of topics from musculoskeletal anatomy and physical exam techniques to advanced orthopedic skills like injections, casting, and splinting.
• Hands-on learning: Hone skills as an orthopedic nurse practitioner through mostly online study complemented by in-person learning experiences, including two intensive, face-to-face skills labs on campus and a 168-hour clinical rotation for those new to orthopedics.
• Flexible format: The convenient, distance-based lecture format lets students fit their studies into their busy schedules, providing a well-rounded educational experience.

Orthopedics Specialty Courses

The program encompasses essential topics, including injections, casting, splinting, and fracture management, to provide students with a solid foundation in musculoskeletal care. The three courses include:

• NUR 821: Advanced Practice Nursing: Musculoskeletal Specialty I (Spring only)
• NUR 823: Advanced Practice Nursing: Musculoskeletal Specialty II (Summer only)
• NUR 825: Advanced Practice Nursing: Musculoskeletal Specialty Synthesis (Fall only)

Enrollment Options

Current students interested in adding this specialty to their academic plan must complete the Specialty Add or Delete form. Nurse practitioners with an MSN degree or higher from a regionally accredited institution and nurse practitioner students from other regionally accredited colleges or universities interested in earning a certificate in this specialty should follow the instructions for the Specialty Certificate application. Enrollment decisions are made by the lead faculty of the specialty based on space availability.

Specialty Director

Michael Zychowicz, DNP, ANP, ONP, FAAN, FAANP, FNAON, is a Clinical Professor of Nursing and leads the graduate level Veterans Healthcare Specialty and the Orthopedic NP Specialty Program.

Q&A With Lead Faculty Michael Zychowicz

• What attracts you to orthopedics? Dr. Zychowicz fell in love with orthopedic practice due to its mechanical nature and pathophysiology, which make sense to him, and the emerging biological and surgical technologies within the world of orthopedics.
• What makes the orthopedics specialty unique? Duke’s orthopedic nurse practitioner specialty is the only educational program of its kind at any university in the U.S.
• Who should consider Duke’s orthopedics specialty certificate? The program is open to nurse practitioner students at Duke or any other college, Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) students, and nurse practitioners already licensed and practicing.
• Describe an excellent candidate for the orthopedics specialty. An excellent candidate is anyone interested in learning about musculoskeletal care.
• How can the orthopedics specialty enhance a nurse’s career? The education obtained during this course of study will benefit the nurse practitioner student by giving them foundational knowledge for managing patients with musculoskeletal conditions in any practice setting, providing a competitive advantage when competing for a new position and a significant patient care advantage when they start their new practice.