Program Overview

Overview of the Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) Program

The Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) program is designed to prepare advanced practice registered nurses (APRNs) to provide high-quality patient care and lead in the healthcare industry. The program offers various tracks, including the Family Nurse Practitioner (FNP) track.

DNP- Family Nurse Practitioner Track

The FNP track is designed for students who want to work with diverse communities and focus on health promotion and disease prevention across the lifespan. As an FNP, students will learn how to deliver family-focused care in diverse, non-hospital settings to patients from different backgrounds, including underserved and vulnerable populations.

Why Choose the FNP Track?

Students should choose the FNP track if they enjoy working with diverse communities and focusing on health promotion and disease prevention across the lifespan. The FNP track strongly emphasizes the broad, comprehensive preparation necessary for primary care practice throughout the life cycle.

Sites of Practice

Graduates from the FNP track practice independently and serve as valued members of larger healthcare teams. They practice in a range of settings, including:

• Primary care (adults and children)
• Cardiology
• Internal Medicine
• Oncology
• Veteran's Health
• Gastroenterology
• Dermatology
• Neurology
• Urgent care (generally not in Emergency Rooms without additional training)

Preparation of FNP Students

FNP students are prepared to:

• Utilize developmental, patient and family-centered approaches
• Partner with patients and families for health promotion and disease prevention
• Perform comprehensive health assessments, including ordering and interpreting diagnostic procedures
• Make differential diagnoses and manage acute and chronic health problems based on a robust foundation in the biological sciences
• Prescribe and evaluate therapies (medication and non-medication based)
• Serve as leaders in healthcare systems

Available Pathways

The program offers two pathways:

• BSN to DNP Family Nurse Practitioner
• Post Master's FNP to DNP Family Nurse Practitioner

Expected Costs

The expected costs for the DNP program include:

• COMPLIO: $154
• Typhon: $90
• Books: $750
• Tuition for FNP Track:
  • In-State: $444.26 per credit hour
  • Out of State: $1,075.66 per credit hour

Curriculum

The DNP program's academic (didactic) curriculum and required clinical hours provide each student with a solid foundation to become a leader in the advanced practice nursing profession. The program is offered online as full-time and part-time study tracks, with minimal on-campus skill practice and testing.

Program by Year

The program is divided into three years:

• Year 1: Core DNP academic classwork with peers across all DNP tracks
• Year 2: Track-focused classes, seminars, and clinical experiences
• Year 3: Completion of an Evidence-based Quality Improvement DNP project/product

Application Requirements

To apply for the DNP program, students must:

1. Have a BSN degree from a nationally accredited program with an upper division grade point average of 3.0 or higher, or an MSN degree from a nationally accredited program with a grade point average of 3.0 or higher
2. Submit proof of clinical hours completed for the MSN program (if applicable)
3. Submit copies of course syllabi for Adv. Pathophysiology, Adv. Health Assessment, Adv. Pharmacology, and any other course they wish to transfer to the DNP program (if applicable)
4. Provide official transcripts from all undergraduate and graduate institutions attended
5. Have an unencumbered and unrestricted RN license
6. Submit three letters of recommendation
7. Provide a current CV or resume

National Certifications

After completing the FNP track, FNP students are eligible to sit for the FNP certification exams through the American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC) or American Academy of Nurse Practitioners Certification Program (AANPCP).