The Bossy Nurse Podcast
The Bossy Nurse Podcast is a show about nurse creators, innovators, risk-takers, and the ideas that shape their success. Hosted by Marsha Battee, Founder of TheBossyNurse.com.
The Bossy Nurse Podcast
1. The DNP Rebrand with Dr. Danielle McCamey
In this episode of The Bossy Nurse Podcast, Marsha Battee speaks with Dr. Danielle McCamey, DNP, APRN, ACNP-BC, FCCP, Founder, President, and CEO of DNPs of Color.
They unpack rebranding the DNP and have a candid conversation on identity, impact, and organizing power in nursing.
Find the all the resources mentioned in the show and full details on Dr. McCamey at this link.
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I feel like we have a branding problem. No one knows exactly what we do, which translates to people not understanding the value we contribute, you know, or us not being able to leverage our collective numbers, sheer numbers of almost five million nurses to be able to lobby on policies that advance access to healthcare and also full scope practice authority for nurse practitioners. So we have a branding issue. And then when you hear DMPs, people are like, okay, what does DMP stand for? And what do you mean you translate the evidence or the science? Like, what does that even mean?
SPEAKER_00:Welcome to the Bossy Nurse Podcast, a show about nurse creators, innovators, risk takers, and the ideas that shape their success. I'm Marcia Batti, and on the show today, how Dr. Danielle McCamey turned a missing sense of community in her graduate program into D ⁇ Ps of color, a national organization advancing diversity in D ⁇ P education, leadership, and clinical practice. The Doctor of Nursing Practice is the newest kid on the block. In 1979, Case Western Reserve launched the first practice-focused doctorate, or ND. By 2004, the American Association of Colleges of Nurses declared the D ⁇ P the terminal practice degree and urged a shift from a master's to a doctorate for advanced practice nurses. Since then, growth has been steady, about 43,000 students in 2024 and more than 12,000 graduates in 2023. Meanwhile, one learner felt the gap between aspiration and belonging. In her DP program, Danielle McCamey was the only black woman and questioned her fit. In response, she started a Facebook group for DPs of Color that reached about 200 members within the first months. From there, that seed became DPs of Color, a nonprofit in 2018 with an official launch in 2020. She led the brand, mission, and the structure. But before all of that, her pull towards care began at home. Her mother was a home health nurse, and young Danielle watched patients suddenly feeling better as soon as her mother worked her magic. When a counselor said college was out of reach, a track coach said otherwise. As a result, Danielle applied to more than 20 schools and was accepted to each one. But before she began that nursing career, Dr. McCamey explored another option.
SPEAKER_01:Until I actually did a uh, it was called Minority Medical Education Program, and it was like a summer program catered to underrepresented minorities that were interested in medicine. And so we did a summer on campus experience at the University of Virginia. And I counted up the amount of years it would take for me to actually start practicing. And I was like, yeah, I don't think that medicine is going to be my jam. And I had my mom in my ear because she did home health nursing, like, why don't you pursue nursing? And so when I was a kid, she used to take me on her nursing home health things. And I was incredibly inspired by the way she was able to navigate, just rolling up in people's houses and checking their blood pressure and making sure that they're getting their meds and whatever else needed to be done. So that's how I got the interest in just care of people. And then of course, growing up, watching like the Cosby show and stuff, it's like you want to be a physician, blah, blah, blah. But circle back around to nursing because the time frame was shorter, but also just recounting my mom and her role modeling, the ability to be able to be in people's spaces and make connections, and by the end of their visits, them feeling human again or confident and competent to be able to take care of themselves no matter what was going on. So shortly thereafter, decided to apply to nursing school. And I actually applied to a lot of schools because when I was thinking about college, my guidance counselor had basically told me because I grew up in a single parent household that I wouldn't be able to be accepted to college. So I applied to like over 20 schools to make sure I got in.
SPEAKER_00:And I know that you actually got into all of those schools.
SPEAKER_01:I did. And I made sure the guidance counselor was aware of my admissions to all those schools as well.
SPEAKER_00:And I'm I'm so amazed that I hear these stories of people who had teachers or guidance counselors who always dampened their light about going to college. And I hear that story so much. And I couldn't imagine telling a child that, you know what, because of your circumstances, you might not get as far as you want to go. And how old were you when that happened? I was a senior in high school. Now, did you believe her?
SPEAKER_01:I did, because in my mind, you know, she's the guidance counselor. She knows these things, and no one else in my family went to college. So I had no frame of reference. And it wasn't until my track coach, you know, because I was so she literally ripped like the dream and my parade was rained on, like everything. I literally took my breath away in that moment and I had a track coach that basically was like, Don't don't believe that. Like you have so many other qualities about you that colleges look for. And you know, because you have a lower socioeconomic status, the game secret is you can get grants and you can get fee waivers on these application fees. Like it just was like, oh word, I can use this to my advantage. And like when he told me that game secret, I was like unstoppable, which is why I ended up applying to like 20 schools. Because I was like, if I gotta pay no fee waivers, like we're gonna make these applications win, you know, rain. So and that's what I did. One, because I still had her in the back of my mind, like, you're not gonna get into any schools. And then two, it was like, I don't have anything to lose because I'm not gonna be having to tap my mom to be like, Can I get like$10 for that? It was like, let me just cast a wide net. And I'm so glad for my track coach because she extinguished my fire and he lit it back up and it's been like a raging fire ever since.
SPEAKER_00:Good for you for um well, good that you had someone in your corner. I do want to go back a little bit. I've also heard that when you were going to your mom's appointments with seeing her clients that she would like put you in the corner and make sure that you would be quiet. I know we didn't have iPads back then, but yeah, but probably gave you the equivalent and you know, colors and things like that. And I just look at that picture in my mind and it looks like it's such a fascinating thing because how many kids get to go to work with their parents? How was that like watching your mom take care of people and help them heal as a little girl? How was that for you?
SPEAKER_01:I thought she was magical. I was like, my mom is a magician. We go into people's houses, and they are not, you know, they're sick when she gets there and then they're better when she leaves. I was just like, she is magical. So it was fascinating because I didn't, you know, I when you're a kid, like your imagination just goes to different places. And I was like, I want to be magical. And so I would see like her stethoscope, and she would have like her nurse bag and stuff. And I thought the stethoscope was like the magic wand. And I was like, I need that magical wand because she's like putting it on them and then they feel better. So it was just a magical experience to witness. And I feel like being in nursing is magical because you have to have that ability to connect with people in their most vulnerable moments and build up that trust that they're gonna be okay or that you're going to be able to take care of them in the ways that they need. And I think nursing is magical.
SPEAKER_00:Yeah, I agree. Now, when you went into college, did you know right away that yes, I grew up around a mom who takes care of patients? Did you know already that I'm going into nursing? This is my calling. I saw my mom do it.
SPEAKER_01:I know you mentioned med school at first, but I knew I knew there was a call in my life to be of service to people. And I've always had a passion of taking care of people because that was a lot of what was role modeled for me as a young person. And the program that I went to University of Virginia, it was traditional BSN. So you applied to the nursing school and you started from nursing school from day one. So I knew I was going to finish being in RN.
SPEAKER_00:Yeah.
unknown:Okay.
SPEAKER_00:Awesome. So when you finished school, where did you go into your first nursing job? Now we're both in the same area. I'm in Washington, DC. And I do know that you went to Georgetown. I'm curious that when you were in nursing school, did you sort of figure out at that time like which particular area you wanted to go into and how did you make those decisions? Or was it just, you know what, I need a job? Because I know a lot of nurses, you hear a lot of nurses going to this profession because they know it's something stable. Not only is it, of course, helping people, but you know, we do hear sometimes it's because it's a stable career to get into. And there's so many things that you can do in nursing. And I still believe it's the best profession to go into, even though I'm no longer at the bedside. But um, did you know right away while you were moving into graduation, which floor was that you wanted to work on?
SPEAKER_01:Or oh yeah. I knew that I did not want to do OB pediatrics, psych, public health, community health. I'm an adrenaline junkie. I ride a motorcycle, I love roller coasters. So ICU was aligned with what my interests were and my personality. And so I started off in post-anesthesia care because they weren't really hiring new grads in the ICU. So I started off in the recovery room, and it wasn't traditional to have to have new grads in the recovery room either. But I went to Georgetown for my first, it was my first job. But the there was a cohort, I think it was like seven of us, and we were like top of our class. We were just very on top of it. And so we broke the mold of having new grads in the PACU. And I'm still friends with a lot of those nurses to this day. Like we were just, we were very supportive of each other and was really committed to honing in on our specialization. So we got all the certifications and hosted conferences and mentored and precepted others. And so from PACU days, I transitioned to the medical ICU because I wanted just a different change and to really get deeper into critical care and what better places the medical ICU. You get multi-system organ failure, you get it all. And was fortunate enough to have another great crew of nurses that were just the best of the best, that were very nurturing and supportive. So had a really, really wonderful experience during my medical ICU time. And then was like my great uncle, who was like a father figure to me, was like, you need to go back and get your nurse practitioner degree. Because he was a former Capitol police officer. He was always on the hill listening to all the things popping. And he was like, Healthcare is changing. They're going to need more nurse practitioners. Like, you need to go back and be a nurse practitioner.
SPEAKER_00:I was like, And he was an officer, a police officer.
SPEAKER_01:Yeah, he's a police officer. But history buff, politics, politician, politic buff. So always kept a pulse on culture, politics, trends, anything. So he was like, You need to go back. And he was like, This is not, this is not up for negotiation.
SPEAKER_00:How long were you working before as a nurse before you decided to go back? Or he started to bring that up? Was it right away?
SPEAKER_01:Or no, it wasn't right away. It I was about five years into my nursing career. Okay. Which I was starting to get antsy, like, you know, I feel like I'm at a good space where I've become like a resource nurse. I've precepted, I've presented, I've, you know, I've done collaborative projects and on shared governance. I was feeling like, mm, you know, what's next? And so that came up and I was skeptical at first. But then I was like, you know what? At the time, Georgetown offered this scholarship that if you got in, they would pay 80% of you.
SPEAKER_00:Oh, I got the same scholarship.
SPEAKER_01:Best deal ever. Yeah. And if you stayed two more years, you would get the 20% back. And I was just, you know, so it was, I was like, well, who am I to deny you to pay for my schooling? I was taking absolutely. And it was the best decision ever. And then from medical ICU, I ended up transitioning to surgical critical care. And I've been there ever since.
SPEAKER_00:So being that you decided, you know, after about five years you were getting the ANSI bug and trying to figure out what you should do and hearing your great uncle in your ear talking about the opportunities, what made you decide to, or how did you make that decision on what school to apply to? Did you have any doubts about getting into school at that time?
SPEAKER_01:You know, I just kind of um, I just threw my hat in the ring because I wasn't, you know, I didn't, I wasn't hard pressed. I was like, if I get in grade, if I don't, you know, I'll do travel nursing because I was on the table as well. So then I ended up getting in. I was like, okay, well, this is the path that we're moving forward with. So, you know, um, pursued that for two years and then ended up transitioning. I stayed within the same health system. I'm still within the same health system and on the same surface. And felt like it was a good fit and just kind of rolled with it, you know.
SPEAKER_00:Yeah. So with rolling with it, it takes, I know, a special person with a special talent to form a community and form a full organization and get started. And I know from just what I've read and heard about your story that DNPs of color. And before we get fully into that story, of course, there may be nursing students or nurses to be who are listening to this podcast who want to know the difference between a DNP, PhD, all that good stuff. So after that explainer, can you tell us about the story of how DNPs of color came to be? I know that it started during the pandemic, and I don't know if that was just because of circumstances that were going on at that time period, or just your story of the challenges you were having and seeing people like you in school. So I just want to hear a little bit about that story.
SPEAKER_01:Yeah. So future bossy nurses and current bossy nurses. So DMP and PhD, it's two pathways of terminal degrees that we have within nursing. PhD has been branded as the nursing scientists. So the ones that generate the new knowledge that informs the evidence and that informs practice. And DMP, Doctor of Nursing Practice degree, is a clinical terminal degree where it's been branded as the ones that implement the nursing science that's generated by the PhD prepared nurses. And I'm on a mission to rebrand that or expand that definition because of just the sheer volumes of DP prepared nurses in practice.
SPEAKER_00:I'm curious about when you say expand it, what do you mean by expansion of that?
SPEAKER_01:Yeah, well, one of the things about nursing, I feel like we have a branding problem. No one knows exactly what we do, which translates to us or people not understanding the value we contribute. And so that manifests in things like, for example, the recent law that was passed in California. In California, yeah, I was gonna ask. And it's like, or us not being able to leverage our collective numbers, sheer numbers of almost 5 million nurses to be able to lobby on policies that advance access to healthcare and also full scope practice authority for nurse practitioners. So we have a branding issue. Some things we brand well, like PhD. When people hear PhDs in nursing, they automatically like, they're the nursing scientists, they generate the new knowledge, this, that, and a third. And then when you hear DMPs, people are like, okay, what does DMP stand for? And what do you mean you translate the evidence or the science? Like, what is what does that even mean? And now there's so many different subspecialties associated with the DMP because it originally was founded for the advanced practice nurses to have that terminal degree, similar to like physicians, the MD is their terminal degree in their current clinical practice. And so, but what's happened is since the I guess the blessing of the DMP degree by AACN back in 2004, it's blown up significantly. There's over 73,000 DMP prepared nurses currently in the profession to a little over 15,000 PhD prepared nurses. And so for me, I see that as an opportunity to start creating a new generation of DMP prepared nurses that actually generate new knowledge, that we expand our lens from focusing on the translation of the science to generating the science or generating the QI or PI or EBP stuff in the moment, because that's what we do. We find issues in our clinical practice or in the system, and we pull resources and leverage relationships and funding and policies and procedures to create change right there in the moment. And to be honest, given the AI and all the advancements technologically in healthcare, we need change in the moment. And then also thinking about the science that's been generated, it takes on average, from once a nurse scientist or scientist in general gets the knowledge, it takes anywhere from seven to 14 years to even be translated into evidence to be disseminated in practice. And you think about that lag in that time frame, and you think about the way we've been debunking all the racist, race-based, you know, practices that have tremendously contributed to the health inequities we're experiencing now. And I'm like, okay, so we're going to use evidence that was seven years old on today's time where we have AI that can calculate, do lit searches, come up with algorithms to help us calculate what medications and dosages or whatever we need right now, to some of the complexities that we're seeing patients and families come in with navigating various social determinants of health, like for real. I am committed to finding ways that we can work together to help advance some of the nursing science to help stay current with some of the demands that practice is calling for us. And also ways to focus on things that eliminate these health inequities that have perpetuated because of racism, the structures that continue to uphold various things that are arbitrary or because it was always done, or this is what the science says, and it's 14 years old.
unknown:Yeah. Yeah.
SPEAKER_00:And we need that work. We need that work to advance all of what you're saying. And what else was the motivation behind starting DMPs of color? And what made you think starting, you know, a movement, an organization that has grown so fast in such a short period of time?
SPEAKER_01:My vision has evolved from the first vision when I first founded it because I was in DMP school and I was the only black woman and I didn't feel like I belonged, or I had that guidance counselor in the back of my mind that was, you know, feeding the insecurities or the being conscientious of like maybe I don't deserve to be here type narratives. And I knew that quitting wasn't an option. And I knew that I the best way to get through was to build a community that has been there and done that, and that can offer the opportunities to share those game secrets, like how my coach did for me. So I just was like, there's no other organization that specifically focused on nurses of color that have their DMP degree, and that's what I was hard pressed on. And I even tried to pitch it to already established organizations, and they were just like, no, girl, that's not part of our mission. So I was just like, okay, well, I need something because I need to get through this program. And so I put together the Facebook group just out of the just, I don't want to say desperation, but just out of the need of having a community. And that group blew up to like 200 people within months of just casually posting about, hey, like if you're a DMP, like be part of this Facebook group, trying to figure out some things. I'm in DMP school, would love some insight. And as people began to share their stories, there was just like the common thread that connected us, like feeling excluded. We basically fought tooth and nail to even get to doctoral studies. A lot of us were first generation doctoral level students. Some of us were like working full-time and also going to school full-time. And so we had this commonality in our lived experience that bonded us and also helped to motivate us to support each other for our success. And as the community has grown, I've been able to be to gain more clarity on the power that this group has. I mean, when you think about nursing, it places a lot of social capital on those that have advanced degrees, certifications, credentials. So it's like, okay, the group has doctorate degrees. And with the doctorate degrees, we get opportunities to be at tables where decisions are being made, policies are being shaped, you know, dollars are being tossed, businesses are being created, innovations are being established, and influence is permeating throughout the whole group. And so I was like, wow, like, and then also recognizing we're the only membership-based association, specifically focused on DMPs and nurses of color. And so it's like we need to start harnessing this and figuring out how we can, in my mind, rebrand the DMP degree to sh to help show the tremendous value that this degree has for the profession and advancing the profession and helping to eliminate health inequities.
SPEAKER_00:Now, you wouldn't necessarily change, want to change the name or have a movement around changing the actual licensure or the title of it. You just want to rebrand it in a marketing sense of how DMPs are projected into you.
SPEAKER_01:Yeah, it wouldn't, it wouldn't change the curriculum or anything. It's just once you have your DND DMP degree now what.
SPEAKER_00:Yeah.
SPEAKER_01:And so with DMPs of color, we show you what the now what is, like helping you get published, giving you speaking opportunities, scholarships, helping you navigate how to start your own practice, how to land your first job in academia, how to survive academia, you know, how to be a bossy nurse. You know, so I feel like my experience with those that have DMP degrees, they've had to be innovative to create space once they got their DMP degree, because a lot of institutions don't understand the skill set that we get with this higher education, the value we bring, and the contributions with the knowledge and skill set from the Doctorate of Nursing Practice Education.
unknown:Yeah.
SPEAKER_00:And there are a lot of things that you were just mentioning, things like publication. And I know you have programs within DMPs of color that help future DMPs or DMPs already, and probably nursing students as well, get their foot in the door of doing amazing work. So I know you're helping DMPs and students publish.
SPEAKER_01:Yes, the My DMP manuscript mentorship program.
unknown:Yeah.
SPEAKER_01:Yes. This program came about because when we surveyed our members, 60% of people said that they had not published their DMP project within two years of graduation. And when we looked at people's abstracts, people were coming up with like new healthcare delivery models. They were focusing on community-based programs that help focus in on eliminating various health inequities. It was coming up with different innovations around technology. And I'm like, this stuff needs to be published because it comes from the lens of folks that have been historically marginalized. So they've been able to come up with innovations and under-resourced, you know, um experiences to advance health in their communities. And I'm like, And this is, and as we dug deeper in some of the qualitative data, a lot of it was the trauma that they experienced because most of DMP, well, majority of DMP schools are at predominantly white institutions. And so you've got the being the only one, the clawing yourself tooth and nail, you've got the experiences of racism, being targeted, being othered, being hyper-visible or hyper-invisible. And so people weren't either mentored or nurtured to their full potential during their program experiences, or they didn't feel comfortable sharing that they didn't have the knowledge or were afraid to ask questions for fear of like, well, you know, I'm going to be perceived as that I don't know, or these types of things. So it was the psychological trauma. And the second piece was the lack of the mentorship and encouragement to publish.
SPEAKER_02:Yeah.
SPEAKER_01:And so a large part of having your doctorate is having that publication currency. And so we put together a program that we initially focusing on creating that psychologically safe thing. So allowing folks to move through that trauma, like, you know, we're going to build a healthy relationship with writing and also revisiting your DMP manuscript, which might kick up some of the dust of your experiences from your um DMP school experience. And then we pair them with a mentor one-on-one. And that mentor works with them weekly over 14 weeks to help transition like their 50 plus page DMP project paper into a manuscript that's ready for publication. Now, the program doesn't guarantee publication, but it guarantees you that it gets you over that hump and it have you at least submit because that's where people stop. It's just like I don't even know how to get from this DMP project paper to a manuscript that I can actually feel comfortable and confident submitting.
SPEAKER_00:Yeah, well, here's where I'm a little bit naive because I don't have a DNP and I don't have a graduate nursing degree. And so I thought it was sort of automatic that that was a requirement that means you okay. That's interesting.
SPEAKER_01:There's, you know, what's the there's so many varieties in different programs. Okay. You know, some programs are like just revolving door, like we just trying to get. Them out and some folks just only do a poster. Some do have the publication requirement. All have the requirement that you have to disseminate in some way, shape, or form. And it's not necessarily publication.
SPEAKER_00:Okay. Okay. Yeah, that was my misunderstanding. So I know that program. And then you have your nurse, uh, nurses change shift movement that just recently kicked off this summer. So tell us a little bit about that.
SPEAKER_01:Yeah. So that's separate from DMPs of color. It's nurses shift change. And it's it was birthed out of the experiences of this past year with this new administration. And then also wanting to create a space for nursing to advocate in a different way. And so we wanted to do a rally. And so we put together what is called the Report for Duty Rally. It was nationwide. We were able to have eight locations, eight locations, and nearly 500 nurses participate nationwide. And we've been building up that movement to, with the goal of ultimately having a million nurses participate in this report for duty rally. Understanding that we need to build up, but the goal is still if we don't get you know a million, we're happy with doubling at least the participation for this upcoming May. So the Report for Duty rally is going to be May 7th nationwide, but we're going to have the centralized rally in DC.
SPEAKER_00:Okay. I know you have a conference coming up next week. Next week. And I know you've been doing it for several years now, five years. This is your youth conference. Rest and resistance is the theme. And although I know registration is already closed, can you tell a little bit about what your conference, what the focus is at the conference? Well, in general. And then I know you have that rest and resistance theme this year. And then potentially your next year conference?
SPEAKER_01:Yes. Yeah, I'd love to. So the conference is going to be October 16th through the 19th in Oakland, California. And the theme is rest and resistance. And that theme came to us last year. I'm really big on energy and curating experiences at our conference. And so our team felt like that this was going to be the year of needing to understand what rest and resistance looked like. And darn it, when those results came in come January, we were like, well. And so rest being a part of the theme with understanding the importance of having rest, receiving rest, being okay with rest. Because our community hasn't been conditioned or programmed that since we were shipped over here as enslaved Africans. It was labor, work, work, work. And so we've been conditioned to that down to the DNA. And nobody really gives you permission to rest. So we wanted to give our community tips and strategies on ways to rest. And then also understanding that rest is part of the resistance. Because if you don't rest, the body's going to take what it needs, and God forbid it takes you out. So we're going to have Reiki practitioners, we're going to have wellness practitioners, yoga, some opportunities to do some storytelling, some play, to give people strategies of like, you know, you can go roller skating down the street, you know, you can tap into some of your inner child joys, you know, as part of your ways to rest. So I'm really, really excited about offering that perspective for folks. And then the resistance piece, we're going to have opportunities to hear from boots on the ground activists that are in these streets organizing and protesting and offering mutual aid and solidarity among communities in so many ways. One of the things I also recognize that a lot of our community do not know how to organize movements. So we're going to have education around that. We're also going to have some real conversations talking about how nursing needs to show up in this moment, that nursing as a profession and our foundation is political. I mean, we're dealing with the health and humanity of people in their most vulnerable states. So this is our time to ensure we are on the right side of history. And what does that look like? So we're going to have lots of um uh dialogue around that. So I'm really, really excited. And then to close out the conference, well, we'll start up the conference. We're gonna have a mix and mingle, which is a way for allowing people just to kind of connect. And it's gonna be pajama jammy jam to play off the rest. And then we're gonna have a gala, which we're calling the gala de la resistance. And that's we're asking people to embody their activism or advocacy topics that they're passionate about. And so we're like either embody someone. So I love Angela Davis. I'm gonna be having my fro all the way out, my black leather coat and a gala dress. And so we're asking people to bring that to the forefront. And so I'm curious to see how people bring that to life. And then on um the last day of the conference, we always love to sponsor a local nonprofit in the cities that we occupy. And this year it's gonna be a Sisters Touch. And their mission is to focus on the upliftment of um young girls in the Oakland community and also raise awareness around human trafficking in Oakland, California.
SPEAKER_00:Okay. And um, wonderful. Oh, yeah, it's gonna be lit.
SPEAKER_01:Like I'm sad that you can't come.
SPEAKER_00:And so if you're not gonna be there this year and you can't make it this year, when can everyone come out next year and put it on their calendars? And do you have to be a DMP?
SPEAKER_01:You don't like we have this saying, you don't have to be a DMP to sit with me. The group is open to any and everyone as long as they understand that the mission, vision, and goals are always going to be centered on DMPs of color. And so if you can rock with that, you can sit with us. And so every uh, and again, it's about branding for me. So DMPs of color conference will always be every third weekend in October because it's around our founding date, which is October 19th, that we've coined National DMPs of color day. And it is also the start of National DMP Week, which is October 19th through the 25th. Awesome.
SPEAKER_00:Writing down all those dates. I know we've talked a lot about the nursing aspect, and one thing I've done in podcasts past is always sort of bring it back around to the business. I would love to ask you some questions about how you got started.
SPEAKER_01:You know, it's I love that you asked this question because I just got the epiphany that I'm a businesswoman, like literally like yesterday years old. You know, I I promise you. And the way it came to me was so we have we with every conference we have a board retreat. And so we we have a consultant that I was meeting with, and he was like, You realize you're running a business, right? I'm like, you know, this is my passion. I just I, you know, I'm the founder, this is great. He was like, ma'am, you've been a membership-based organization for a year now, you are accepting people's coins. That just took it to the next level. And I was like, I'm a business person.
SPEAKER_00:Yeah. Starting off, when you first thought about DNPs of color, I'm curious, what made you think nonprofit versus for-profit?
SPEAKER_01:You know, the nonprofit came from I had hired a consultant, and a lot of the nursing associations are are 501c3s. And so I wanted to align with that. And when I hired a nonprofit consultant, she was laughing at me. She was like, You have done everything that you need to do to launch this nonprofit. Like, you don't need me. I'm as she was like, I'm just here to tell you just the launch. I, you know, because a lot of the stuff honestly came from a lot of intuitiveness and then just also being part of other membership associations, just kind of modeling some of those things. But I mean, I created everything from the colors to the logo to the taglines, the mission statement, the vision statement, the strategic objectives. So the 501c3 just came from modeling other membership associations. And now that we're growing, we're looking to expand to either a C6, which will allow us to get more political, or even have a backup strategy of an LLC, especially since there's a lot of legislation around anti-DI and then also Away from organizations. Yes, and the legislations against nonprofits. So it's like, you know, we're exploring other strategies because our members want us to get political. They're like, so what are we gonna say about California? I'm like, we're just gonna just, you know, just keep on keeping on, you know.
SPEAKER_00:Now, does DMPs of color have an official statement yet about the ruling in California, the federal ruling in California just yet?
SPEAKER_01:It's in the Megan because we're gonna be in California. So we're definitely gonna speak on it. And because we're gonna be in there talking about Dr. McCain, we know, doctor, doctor, doctor. And it's this has been a conversation since the beginning of time. I mean, we put we've put out statements and had have had some, you know, very heated dialogue conversations on can you call me doctor? So we absolutely will speak on it, but we can't go one way or another. We can't really get political. So I'm hoping that we'll create a structure where we can get more political because we're representing communities of color, which are typically the most marginalized and disenfranchised.
SPEAKER_02:Yeah.
SPEAKER_01:You know, we've got to get out there lobbying and on the hill and crafting legislation. And like one of my mentors, Dr. Monica McIlmore, she's like, when you can't legislate, litigate.
SPEAKER_00:So that's the way to do it. So I do want to talk a little bit about now. I meet a lot of people who, when they talk about starting a business, they say, I want to start a nonprofit. I know you had a consultant giving you that final push. You already had a lot of things already planned and organized for DMPs of color. Would you talk about the starting process about you need a board? And you have to have bylaws and you have to have a board of directors who are basically running the organization. And then also the political side of it too, those dollars, those federal dollars that you might want to get in grants.
SPEAKER_01:Yeah.
SPEAKER_00:If you can't do a lot of political activity.
SPEAKER_01:Yeah. So when I had created everything, it was like, okay, I need to find a crew. And so I approached a lot of the people that were part of the inaugural board of directors were colleagues and mentors. And there were a couple of folks that I met through conferencing. And we so we became a nonprofit in 2018 and then officially launched in 2020. And I felt like during the time COVID always sounded like a bad idea to launch something new, but it was right on time for the community because we became a supportive space for folks that were going through.
SPEAKER_00:Yeah. Because it was May 2020 when you launched it. Yeah. Yeah. Right? Yeah.
SPEAKER_01:And so and a lot of people's graduations were canceled. So we hosted virtual graduations, which were a huge hit because people wanted the recognition. Like they had just finished their doctoral studies, and it's like they ain't even doing a virtual graduation. So we did the virtual graduation. That's been a longstanding program that we've had. That's always a huge hit. And then we started hosting community forums so that people get that space to just debrief about what's happening in clinical practice. Like, what are some of the thick challenges you're experiencing? How can we be of service of support? And yeah, so my first board of directors were colleagues and friends that were like, Yeah, we see the vision. This is great. Like you've done everything foundationally. Like, let's just, let's just start. So yeah.
SPEAKER_00:And so, where do you see DMPs of color not only in the near future? I know you have a lot going on right now with the conferences and just building the community more than you've already built it. Where do you see it in in the future, whether it's the next five years, the next 10 years, or I have so many vast visions for DMPs of color.
SPEAKER_01:Like my board now tells me to always like Danielle, like slow down. Talking to some of my colleagues, I was like, I've got so many ideas. I need someone to fund my ideas. So going back to the branding, I'm hard pressed on branding the value and translating that value into coins. Like, all right, here's the brand, here's the value. This is what I'm gonna need to get paid, you know, but also being a leading voice in creating this space for more DMPs of color. I see us navigating more spaces around, building up our networks of influence. So helping folks advance their careers, publications, creating their own businesses. I see us having speaker bureaus and then us becoming our own grant-giving organization where we can fund the projects that are most meaningful to our communities that will help with eliminating these inequities. I see us even doing global things, being part of a network to create a DMP, a global DMP program. We've started some early conversations with a group we collaborate with called the Ghanaian Diaspora Nursing Alliance in Ghana and launching a DMP school for the Ghanaian and diaspora communities. I see us, you know, growing exponentially nationwide and globally to help unify a lot of folks that want to have access to doctoral studies and the support and and being able to truly leverage it for transformation in whatever their respective area is.
SPEAKER_00:Lots of work to do. Lots of work to do. Lots of work to do. It sounds fun though. Lots of work to do.
SPEAKER_01:It is fun. And a lot, you know, I've been so incredibly fortunate to have a lot of people that want to do the work. Like, yeah, I'm like, you actually want to volunteer for this committee or like donate this money, you know. So yeah.
SPEAKER_00:And that was the next question. So, how do people get involved if they for the first time maybe hearing about DMPs of color, especially if they're new to nursing, or um, how would what's the best way to get involved? I know membership is one way.
SPEAKER_01:Yes, you don't have to be in DMP. You don't have to be in DMP to sit with me. You can go to our website. We have opportunities to join as members. People are free to come to the annual conference. People are free to even submit abstracts for the conference. I like to post on LinkedIn, DMPs of color everywhere. So our board of directors is very accessible. I'm very accessible. People hit me up. I love to have conversations. Yes, hop on a Zoom, like let's get it poppin'. Let's see where there's you know, networks align, if there's someone I can introduce you to, vice versa. So we're pretty accessible. We're on all the social media platforms. We have committees that help advance the mission. So there's always room for people to share their time, talent, and treasure.
SPEAKER_00:Thank you so much. So before I go, I want to ask you, or before we wrap up, I do want to ask you a question. If you had to think back across your nursing career and your nursing journey, what's one memorable story that you have when it comes to patients or just nursing in general?
SPEAKER_01:I guess one of the when I think back in COVID times, one of the many rewarding opportunities was when people of color come in and they see that I'm a, you know, nurse practitioner of color, just that relief that falls over people when they see that, that they can connect with the provider and they can speak candidly and I'll understand and I can speak candidly with them to create that trust and rapport. So I would say I always love that connection when communities of color find that just relief, knowing, like, okay, someone looks like me. I know they're gonna look out, I know they're gonna hear me, I know they're gonna understand me, and I know they're going to do their best to take care of me.
SPEAKER_00:That was Dr. Danielle McCaney, founder of DPs of Color. And remember that brief mention about motorcycles?
SPEAKER_01:So I ride a Suzuki Jickster 600. People call it a crotch rocket, but I grew up with a family that are bikers. They ride Harleys, they're a motorcycle club, and I didn't have a choice but to learn how to ride a motorcycle. I started off riding their bikes. My uncles lived in the country, so we would just be throughout the country roads and then ended up graduating to a street bike, cross-rocket. I love it. It's nothing like being out on the open road and just with your thoughts, with nature. Um, some people love it, some people hate it. People are like, how are you a nurse practitioner and you're riding a donor cycle? I'm like, look, life is a risk. You choose which risk you want and move forward as long as what you're doing is not hurting anybody and it brings you joy.
SPEAKER_00:Hey, thanks so much for listening to the show this week. To follow Dr. McCainy and see her full body of work, check out the show notes. Also, please make sure to rate and review this episode in your favorite podcast app. Then, don't forget to click the follow button so you won't miss an episode. Did you know we also have a newsletter? You can get early access to podcast episode drops, nurse spotlights, notices about virtual or live events, behind the scenes action, and exclusive details on how to share your story over on our website or on the show. And it's free. Head on over to thebostynurse.com forward slash join. That's thebostynurse.com forward slash join. And last thought, the State of Nursing and Nurse Entrepreneurship Survey is now here. Add your voice across five pillars, including AI, business, career advancement, self-care, and lifestyle design. Share what's real at work and in your ventures, and get entered to win some pretty cool prizes for participating. Your voice matters, so take the survey now at thebosty nurse.com forward slash survey. This episode was produced and edited by yours truly with administrative and research support from Liz Alexandri and Brenon Silva. I'm Marcia Batti, and you've been listening to the Boston Earth Podcast.
