Joshua Ernst is impacting nursing through innovative leadership
by Rebecca Jamieson
Joshua Ernst ’14, DNP’24, had a breakthrough moment in his nursing journey when he became involved with shared governance at UW Health. “When you see challenges, you can complain, or you can do something about it, and I saw the opportunity to do something,” says Ernst. This experience opened his eyes to the impact nurses can have beyond the bedside, which led him to pursue a doctor of nursing practice (DNP) degree at UW–Madison’s School of Nursing. “I wanted to be part of the world that affects nursing at a broader level and has an exponential impact on the field,” says Ernst.
Originally from Greenville, WI, Ernst got his BSN from UW–Madison in 2014 and now lives in Sun Prairie with his wife and two kids. Both his parents are UW alumni, and he grew up going to Madison often. “I’ve been coming to campus since I was a little kid, and I think of Madison as my hometown,” he says.
“This program is nothing short of remarkable.”
Ernst had just started a new role as a stroke coordinator with the telestroke program at UW Health when he was accepted into the DNP program in the Systems Leadership and Innovation (SLI) track. He was drawn to the program because of the breadth and depth of experience he’d get, all grounded in translating research into practice. “The level of knowledge and the way staff strive to connect with students is something that drew me to the program, and I knew it was going to be a good fit,” he says.
SLI was a new program, which made Ernst a bit nervous, but his fears evaporated once he began. “It was amazing how the staff are willing to work with you and go out of their way to advocate for your professional trajectory. There was a nice personal touch that I’m not sure other DNP programs have.”
The networking opportunities were also huge for Ernst, and the program opened his eyes to the broader reach that nursing has within the nation and the world. “There are so many different organizations striving to elevate nursing in the world of health care and recognize their importance within our system.”
Other experiences that stood out for Ernst were his practicums at the Obesity Action Coalition, the Wisconsin Center for Nursing, and the Wisconsin Nurses Association. “They helped me see the influence nurses can have, whether that’s a legislative brief, marketing campaigns, or going to Washington, DC, and connecting with legislators on what needs to happen and how we can do it,” he reflects.
“I’d be shocked if there is a better DNP leadership program than this one in terms of the support, guidance, and resources available to you.”
Ernst also appreciated seeing the important behind–the–scenes work that happens within health policy and legislation and says he’s thankful for the comprehensive view of nursing leadership he received during his practicums in the DNP program.
As part of his final project in the program, Ernst created a sustainability plan for the Nursing Shared Governance Manager Toolkit at UW Health. “We have shared governance in some areas, but there was an opportunity to move the needle,” he says. Ernst interviewed nurses and nurse leaders at UW Health and asked questions about their needs, ideas, potential opportunities, and barriers. He saw the toolkit as an opportunity to educate nurse leaders on shared governance, control over nursing practice, and shared decision-making. “The influence nurse leaders have on their direct reports is huge. Nurse leaders want to provide the space for these things to be understood and enhanced, but they’re often just pulled in other directions.” Ernst also wanted to bring more nurses to the table. “Nurses are the largest workforce in the organization and their input is vital,” he says. The toolkit was a way of creating space for education and empowerment.
Although Ernst loved the DNP program, juggling work and school was sometimes challenging. “It was a lot of caffeine and late nights,” he laughs. “But I have a wonderful wife, and the faculty understands that we’re working adults, not full–time academics.” The leadership at UW Health was also supportive. “I was fortunate to have a great leader who fully supported my academic studies and understood the influence it would have on the organization and my current role.”
“It’s easy to get complacent in nursing, so really try to find what you want to do, but also be bold, extend yourself, and take risks. Be comfortable with being uncomfortable.”
In the future, Ernst sees himself moving toward nurse management. “The SLI program provided me a unique opportunity to get that experience without being a nurse manager,” he says. “One of the biggest things I learned was that staff really want you to support them, be their advocate, and work through challenges together.”
Ernst’s advice for recent alumni is to take time to reflect on what they want to do with their nursing degree. “Nursing has so many different avenues,” he says. “It’s easy to get complacent in nursing, so really try to find what you want to do, but also be bold, extend yourself, and take risks. Be comfortable with being uncomfortable.”
For those considering the DNP program, Ernst says, there’s never a perfect time to go back to school, but he encourages prospective students to take the leap. “This program is nothing short of remarkable. It’s such a personal experience. You have a small cohort and everybody’s going through the same stuff. You can bounce ideas off each other and know where everyone is at in life.” Ernst also underlines how supportive the faculty are. “I’d be shocked if there is a better DNP leadership program than this one in terms of the support, guidance, and resources available to you.”
Support students by donating to the School of Nursing’s Transform the Future fund. Your gift provides need-based financial support to the next generation of Badger nurse leaders. Please consider a contribution to help us meet or exceed our goal of $100,000 by the end of our centennial year—December 31, 2024. You now have the chance to double your impact through a 1:1 match (up to 100,000) offered by an anonymous donor.