Family Nurse Practitioner, D.N.P.

The Family Nurse Practitioner (FNP), Doctor of Nursing Practice (D.N.P.) is a practice degree designed to prepare nurses as clinical practitioners/scholars to assume advanced practice clinical roles. The curricular plan is designed for the student who has a Bachelor of Science in Nursing (B.S.N.). The degree prepares graduates to provide direct patient management in primary care across many complex health systems  as well as population based and application science to improve patient outcomes. Graduates will be prepared to lead and care for diverse populations in the community they serve. Graduates are employed in a variety of primary care settings ranging from emergency departments, federally qualified health centers, urban and rural family practice/primary care practices.

This curriculum prepares nurses to sit for the Family Nurse Practitioner national certification.

Learning Outcomes

  1. Identify direct and indirect clinical problems in complex health settings and work with interprofessional teams to address patients across the lifespan.
  2. Differentiate theoretical knowledge as it applies to direct or indirect clinical care.
  3. Translate evidence to address population health problems.
  4. Integrate data bases and information literacy in designing interventions for advanced practice.
  5. Execute evidence-based interventions to improve health care outcomes.

Entry

The FNP, DNP program offers one entry point for students:

B.S.N. entry - a student must hold a Bachelor of Science in nursing degree from a program that is nationally accredited.

Requirements for Earning the D.N.P. Degree include:

  1. Doctoral residency of at least 18 graduate credit hours for three consecutive major semesters. Enrollment in a summer term is not required to maintain continuity, but credits earned during summer terms (including May session) will count toward the 18 hours required for Residency. The residency requirement may be met only after admission to the D.N.P. program;
  2. Completion of an approved program of study;
  3. Comprehensive assessment through defense of project proposal;
  4. Completion of a research utilization / evidence-based practice project and oral defense.

Required Courses (74 hours)

Course Title Credits
NURS 702Pharmacologic Mgmt in Pediatric, Adult, & Gerontological Patients Across Hlthcare Delivery Continuum3
NURS 704Advanced Health Assessment and Diagnostic Reasoning 13
NURS 707Advanced Pathophysiology for Nurses3
NURS 717Application of Basic Statistics for Nursing Practice & Service Management3
NURS 718Diagnostic Interpretation and Therapeutic Modalities3
NURS 720Clinical Application of Population Analysis3
NURS 737Foundations for DNP Development3
NURS 756Advanced Primary Care of Children for the FNP2
NURS 757Primary Care of Women for Advanced Nursing 12
NURS 758Acute Problems in Primary Care for the FNP 26
NURS 759Management of Common Chronic Health Problems for the FNP 1, 26
NURS 760Family Nurse Practitioner Legal, Ethical, and Role Transition2
NURS 760AFamily Nurse Practitioner Role Practicum 22
NURS 779Health Policy 23
NURS 780Organizational Theories and Systems in Healthcare3
NURS 781Applied Technology in Health Care3
NURS 783Clinical Project Immersion & Proposal Development 23
NURS 790Research Methods for Nursing3
NURS 805Advanced Nursing Leadership3
NURS 808Advanced Nursing in Population Health3
NURS 817Application of Statistics for Evidence Based Nursing Practice3
NURS 819Evidence and Nursing Practice3
NURS 897DNP Project Preparation and Residency 26
Total Credit Hours74
1

Indicates on campus immersion course.

2

Indicates practicum course.