Family Nurse Practitioner

Specialty Area Information:
The Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) program with a specialty in the Family Nurse Practitioner (FNP) area of study prepares nurses for leadership as advanced practice nurses. The three-year DNP program is for students who already hold a baccalaureate degree in nursing, and involves both coursework and clinical practicums.

The Family Nurse Practitioner area of study offers leadership preparation for nurses desiring expertise in the scope of practice and in the role of the Family Nurse Practitioner.  Students ground their studies in the science of nursing intervention, moral/ethical issues, and nursing research. They then focus on courses that examine the basis of assessment and intervention for families and individuals of all ages. Practicum experiences are arranged to meet the individual needs of students while also meeting accreditation and certification requirements. In addition to completing core studies in the specialty, students also gain skills in evidence-based practice, program evaluation, informatics, teaching/learning, health economics, health care policy, and epidemiology. A final project that is a systematic investigation of a practice problem is planned, implemented, and completed during the curriculum.

Where applicable, completion of required FNP coursework and practice hours provides eligibility to sit for the FNP Certification through the American Nurses Credentialing Center.

Admissions
Applications are reviewed once a year and the application priority deadline is November 1. Other DNP applications will be considered on a space available basis or until March 1 of each year. Due to the high number of applications we receive for the Family Nurse Practitioner specialty, it is highly recommended that interested applicants meet the priority deadline to receive full consideration.

Those students who are not selected may be placed on a waiting list. If placed on a waiting list, it does not ensure entrance into the specialty area for the following year. If you are not selected from the wait list, you must reapply the following year for consideration.

Clinical Experiences
As of the 2012-2013 entering class, the Family Nurse Practitioner specialty area will require all students to complete their clinical requirements at sites located within Minnesota or the surrounding states of Iowa, North Dakota, South Dakota, or Wisconsin. Students need to be flexible in the times they are available for clinical experiences. There are clinical experiences in eight practica courses.

Courses in the FNP Curriculum

Sample Course Sequence: 3-year Plan (Full Time Preferred Sequence)

Sample Course Sequence: 4-year Plan

• Advanced Physiology
• Assessment & Management of Health for APNs, Part 1 & 2
• DNP Pro Seminar
• DNP Seminar 1, 2, & 3
• Economics of Health Care
• Epidemiology
• Evidenced Based practice
• Family Health Theory
• Health Care Leadership for a Changing World
• Health Care of Children for the FNP
• Health Care of Children Practicum for the FNP
• Health Policy Leadership
• Holistic Health Assessment
• Interdisciplinary Healthcare Informatics
• Introduction to Complementary & Alternative Therapies
• Moral & Ethical Positions in Nursing
• Nursing Research
• Pharmacology
• Pharmacotherapeutics
• Primary Care Practicum for FNPs: Assessment & Management of Health for APNs, Parts 1-6
• Program Evaluation
• Reproductive Health Care of Women for the FNP
• Reproductive Health Care of Women Practicum for the FNP
• Science of Nursing Intervention
• Statistics
• Teaching & Learning in Nursing

Course Descriptions

For more information, please contact the Office of Student & Career Advancement Services.

Frequently Asked Questions