DNP in Family Nurse Practitioner
The Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) degree curriculum educates registered nurses in the Family Nurse Practitioner role to provide comprehensive health care to diverse populations across the lifespan. After graduation and board certification, our FNP graduates are qualified as Advanced Practice Registered Nurses (APRN) to practice in a range of family practice settings, including adult primary care, urgent care, private practice, and long term care in hospital and community based settings.
The National Organization of Nurse Practitioner Faculties (NONPF) voted in 2018 that all APRN programs convert to the DNP degree as a pathway for preparation and entry into the nurse practitioner role by 2025.
FNP competencies are concentrated in comprehensive and preventative health care within a family-centered model. This approach includes health assessment, follow-up care for health problems, and health promotion and disease management activities based upon care of children, women, and adult populations. The FNP curriculum is designed to provide in-depth content focused on patients across the lifespan within the framework of the family and community.
FNPs increase health care access for patients of all ages. Elms DNP graduates are prepared for practice as family nurse practitioners in a variety of community settings, including clinics, private practices, schools, businesses, and specialty offices. By 2026, demand for nurse practitioners is expected to grow 31%, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. Underserved populations in urban and rural communities have the greatest need for FNPs.
Scholarly Project
The Elms FNP program culminates in a practice-focused quality improvement project completed over the course of several semesters. The DNP Project demonstrates a student’s ability to synthesize scientific evidence focused on new systems or population health approaches for improved outcomes in a practice setting.
Certification
Upon completion, students are prepared to take the American Nurses Credentialing Center or American Academy of Nurse Practitioners certification exams for family nurse practitioners.
Curriculum
Click to view course requirements for the Family Nurse Practitioner (FNP).
Foundational Core – 10 Credits (BS-DNP only)
Formerly | Course Name | # of Credit Hours |
---|---|---|
Technology: Methods and Tools for Graduate Study | 1 (optional) | |
Translating and Integrating Evidence into Practice | 3 | |
Nursing Knowledge and Practice | 3 | |
Health Care Policy and Advocacy | 3 | |
Innovating in Practice | 1 |
Clinical Core: Advanced Practice – 15 Credits
Formerly | Course Name | # of Credit Hours |
---|---|---|
Advanced Diagnostic Analysis, Health and Physical Assessment with 30 hours of supervised lab practicum practice hours | 4 | |
Advanced Pathophysiology | 4 | |
Advanced Pharmacology and Therapeutics | 4 | |
Clinical Decision Making and Diagnostic Reasoning for the Advanced Practice Nurse | 3 |
DNP Theory Core – 30 Credits
Formerly | Course Name | # of Credit Hours |
---|---|---|
Organizational Systems and Quality Improvement | 3 | |
Innovating in Practice | 1 | |
Biostatistics | 3 | |
Research Methods and Translation for Advanced Practice | 3 | |
Financial Management in Health Care Delivery | 3 | |
Population Health and Epidemiology | 3 | |
Leadership and Collaboration in Health Care Organizations | 3 | |
DNP Immersion I: Role Development of the APRN Nurse Practitioner | 3 | |
DNP Immersion II: Scholarly Project – Project Idea | 2 | |
DNP Immersion III: Scholarly Project – Project Development | 2 | |
DNP Immersion IV: Scholarly Project – Project Implementation | 2 | |
DNP Capstone: Scholarly Project – Project Evaluation | 3 |
Advanced Practice Specialty: Family Nurse Practitioner – 25 Credits
Formerly | Course Name | # of Credit Hours |
---|---|---|
Primary Care I: Infancy through Adolescence and Practicum | 4 | |
Primary Care II: Young Adult to Older Adult and Practicum | 6 | |
Primary Care III: Women’s Health and Practicum | 4 | |
Ethics for Advanced Practice | 3 | |
Complex Health Problems in Primary Care and Practicum | 6 | |
Transition into Practice and Certification Seminar | 2 |