DNP - Family Nurse Practitioner Track
53
Credit Hours
23%
Max Transfer Credit
Class Type
Online courseworkSee state availability
Next Start Date
May 20, 2024
Years To Complete
Finish in as few as 3 years
Accreditation
CCNE

Take primary care to a higher level with Franklin’s online DNP-FNP program

Family medicine needs more than caregivers – it needs leaders. Specifically, leaders who can translate community factors, social determinants and health risks into delivering the highest quality patient care. If you’re an advanced practice nurse committed to optimizing patient care through data, technology and other clinical and evidence-based practices, then Franklin’s Doctor of Nursing Practice-Family Nurse Practitioner (DNP-FNP) track is the right choice for you. 

Program Availability

Online
On Site

Built-in Practicum

Apply what you learn while you learn it.

Make an Impact

Become a change agent for primary care.

Finish in as Few as 3 Years

Advance toward your future – faster.

Online Coursework

Balance earning your degree with other work-life commitments.

Learn from the Best

Benefit from the experience of your instructors – seasoned, in-field practitioners.

Skip the Dissertation

Complete an evidence-based project to demonstrate your knowledge
 

DNP - FNP Program Overview

Grow in both your capabilities and responsibilities in the high-demand field of primary care medicine with  the DNP-FNP program

Gain the advanced knowledge and practical skills required to innovate, lead, and impact patient care and outcomes at the highest level. As a busy nurse, Franklin’s DNP-FNP track combines learning and practicum hours to accelerate your degree program – a program you can complete in about 3 years.

Apply what you learn while you learn with practicum hours and a scholarly project woven into the program

At Franklin, you can continue working while you advance your career, thanks to convenient online courses designed to challenge and advance your skills. Even better, you’ll progress quickly because our online Doctor of Nursing practice degree features course-based practicum. 

For the DNP with FNP concentration, you’ll apply and demonstrate your competency for a total of 1,100 practicum and clinical hours, starting with your major area courses, continuing through your DNP seminar courses and FNP clinical hours. You may be able to achieve 500 hours from transfer credit or residency. Eligible students may be able to transfer up to 12 credit hours in coursework in addition to these 500 clinical hours. Plus, BSN to DNP students who complete the required bridge courses can earn up to 125 practicum hours for those courses.

Advance your capabilities and improve your clinical contributions with a scholarly approach to the nursing discipline

Prepare yourself for an advanced role as a nurse practitioner by earning a clinical doctorate and completing a DNP scholarly project using evidence-based practice that leads to a problem-solving intervention. Franklin’s DNP program is rooted in evidence- and systems-based quality improvement and clinical practice, application and translation. You’ll study in several distinct areas, including major area courses, DNP seminar courses and concentrated Family Nurse Practitioner (FNP) courses. Built-in learning outcomes mean you are evaluated and measured as you progress through your program of study. 

Meet your personal and professional goals with an in-demand DNP degree that can help put you at the top of the nursing profession

Demand is rising for nurse managers, nurse practitioners, nurse faculty and BSN graduates who are willing to pursue the profession’s highest clinical credentials: the Doctor of Nursing (DNP) degree. Franklin’s DNP program lets you rise up to meet these emerging professional standards of nursing, all the while practicing the techniques and testing quality improvement frameworks and theories you learn along the way.

Earn your DNP degree from a university built for busy adults

Earn your DNP degree on your terms by taking classes 100% online. Accredited and nonprofit, Franklin was built from the ground-up to satisfy the needs of adult learners. Our seamless transfer process and team of academic advisors will help ease your transition to becoming a student, while our flexible course schedules help to balance your education with work, family and life. Get started on your future today.

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Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE)

The Bachelor of Science in Nursing, Master of Science in Nursing, post-graduate APRN certificates, and Doctor of Nursing Practice programs at Franklin University are accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (http://www.ccneaccreditation.org).

 

Future Start Dates

Start dates for individual programs may vary and are subject to change. Please request free information & speak with an admission advisor for the latest program start dates.

Summer 2024
May
20
Recommended Register By:
May 10
Fall 2024
August
19
Recommended Register By:
Aug 9

Your Best Value DNP-FNP Track

Choose Franklin’s DNP-FNP and you’ll get more for your money while you make the most of your time. Complete your degree in as few as 3 years with online coursework and built-in practicum hours.

Affordable Tuition

$748
PER CREDIT HOUR

Affordable tuition rates make Franklin's DNP a professional investment you can feel confident about.

Automatic Smart Start Scholarship

$39,644
Total Tuition
$5,000
Automatic Scholarship
$34,644
Tuition with Scholarship

Franklin’s affordable tuition rate and our Smart Start Scholarship puts your degree within reach.

Lower Fees

Save thousands of dollars in fees by choosing Franklin over other leading programs for your DNP-FNP.

Source: Internal research of leading programs (May 2022)

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Highly Recommended

98%
STUDENT SATISFACTION

98% of graduating students would recommend Franklin to their family, friends and/or colleagues.

Source: Franklin University, Office of Career Development Student Satisfaction Survey (Summer 2023)

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DNP - FNP Courses & Curriculum

53 Semester Hours
Major Area Required
NURS 810 - Foundations of the DNP (3)

The purpose of this course is to introduce the student to the role of the DNP as a leader and change agent in healthcare. Skill development includes identification of a gap in practice, conducting a needs assessment, and describing the scope and significance of the problem. [Practicum hours: 50]

NURS 820 - Evidence-Based Prac & Qual Improvement (3)

This course focuses on advanced nursing practice as a form of inquiry, integration, and application of evidence into practice. Skill development includes evaluation of evidence-based practice methods, and use of information systems and patient technology for quality improvement.

NURS 830 - Clinical Prevention and Health Care Outcomes (3)

This course prepares students to assess, design, implement and evaluate evidence-based quality healthcare practices for individual and aggregate patient populations. Skill development includes defining outcomes linked to measures, variables, and data sources; and appropriate data collection and evaluation methods. [Practicum hours: 50]

NURS 840 - Leadership, Policy & Interprofessional Collaboration (3)

This course focuses on principles of leadership in relationship to change policy, and membership in high functioning teams to improve health care outcomes within complex systems. Skill development includes assessment of organizational culture, quality and safety data, and exploration of principles for effecting change as a member and leader of a team. [Practicum hours: 50]

Project Courses
NURS 850 - DNP Seminar I (3)

The purpose of this course is to provide students with the support and direction needed, in collaboration with the sponsoring facility and preceptor, to develop a proposal for a comprehensive, site-specific DNP Project, including an evaluation plan. Skill development includes application of theory, review of the literature and population data to frame the DNP Project to drive cost-effective safe care. [Practicum hours: 125, PLO 1, 2, 3]

NURS 851 - DNP Seminar II (3)

In this course, the student secures school approval and implements the approved project plan. Skill development includes managing time and resources, assessing and managing implementation issues, data collection, and utilizing communication, and leadership and collaboration strategies. [Practicum hours: 125]

NURS 900 - DNP Seminar III (4)

In this course, the student completes and disseminates results of the project. Final projects reflect the student?s ability to employ effective communication and collaboration skills, take a leadership role, influence quality and safety, transform practice, lead innovation, and successfully negotiate change in health care delivery.

Family Nurse Practitioner Core
NURS 644 - Advanced Pathophysiology (3)

This course provides an in-depth study of the physiological changes and responses to altered health states and their impact on the functional status of patients. Students will focus on the essential knowledge of human health and disease across the lifespan. Pathophysiological theories and evidence-based research serve as a basis for applying content to population groups.

NURS 648 - Advanced Pharmacology (3)

This course focuses on the concepts, principles, and application of pharmacotherapeutics used in the management of health problems encountered in primary care. Emphasis is placed on theories and principles of pharmacokinetics, pharmacodynamics, and pharmacogenetics, which provide a foundation for critical thinking, and the application of research finding. The focus on pharmacology is aimed at the treatment of acute and chronic health problems in populations over the lifespan. Prescriptive authority for nurses is explored.

NURS 646 - Advanced Physical Assessment (3)

This course builds upon the student?s previous health assessment knowledge offering more advanced health assessment content to provide the foundation for advanced professional nursing roles. This course emphasizes knowledge of health assessment, including physical, psychosocial, spiritual health assessment, risk assessment, and functional assessment in diverse populations in the promotion of health and prevention of disease. To maintain a nursing focus on patient responses to health, illness, or the threat of illness, the nurse must exhibit effective communication and client teaching, which is incorporated throughout the course. The importance of effective documentation and health record keeping is included.

NURS 698 - Diagnostic Methods for the Nurse Practitioner (2)

This course will provide students with content regarding common diagnostic tests applicable to APN practice, the rationale for these tests, expected results and common abnormal results. Topics include selection of appropriate diagnostic tests, procedures for collecting specimens, analyzing selected tests and evaluating results. The role of the APRN is to be knowledgeable about evidence-based support for the choice of diagnostic testing and use critical thinking to evaluate the significance of this testing in the context of the test?s sensitivity specificity the disease prevalence and the patient?s likelihood for the condition. The APRN is an advocate for the patient when weighing the risk/benefit factors for testing while also being a good manager of resources and avoiding unnecessary testing which contributes to the high cost of medical care. The APRN needs to be familiar with legal implications of testing such as protecting the privacy of medical information, timeliness of providing test results, and laws concerning mandatory reporting. The ethics of autonomy and the right to refuse a test need to be considered as the APRN shares decision making with the patient. Socioeconomic factors and social determinants of health can influence create barriers to access to care and also need careful consideration.

NURS 700 - Foundations of Nurse Practition Practice

This course introduces the practice of primary health care. Principles of safety, quality, and the art of diagnosis and treatment influencing care delivery will be addressed. These include fundamentals in the art of diagnosis and treatment, population health, cultural competency, oral and written communication, and billing and coding. This course has a required basic office procedure skills and assessment lab of 16 hours.

NURS 701 - Primary Care I (4)

This course provides the nurse practitioner student with advanced theoretical knowledge in the principles of health promotion, disease prevention, and management of common acute and chronic health problems across the lifespan. This course has a required clinical experience of 150 hours where students will complete appropriate focused and comprehensive subjective and objective assessments; use a differential diagnosis process to make clinical decisions; select appropriate interventions including diagnostic tests, medications, and referrals; and document effectively in patients? health records.

NURS 702 - Primary Care II (4)

This course provides the nurse practitioner student with advanced theoretical knowledge in the principles of health promotion, disease prevention, and management of common acute and chronic health problems across the lifespan. This course has a required clinical experience of 150 hours where students will complete appropriate, focused, and comprehensive subjective and objective assessments; use a differential diagnosis process to make clinical decisions; select appropriate interventions including diagnostic tests, medications, and referrals; and document effectively in patients? health records.

NURS 703 - Management of Multidimensional Health (4)

This course focuses on the health care concepts specific to the application of assessment and management of common conditions with special emphasis on health promotion, disease prevention, risk reduction, and disease detection, with a focus on pediatric and geriatric populations. This course has a required clinical experience of 150 hours where students will complete appropriate focused and comprehensive subjective and objective assessments; use a differential diagnosis process to make clinical decisions; select appropriate interventions including diagnostic tests, medications, and referrals; and document effectively in patients' health records.

NURS 790 - FNP Capstone (4)

This course focuses on the health care concepts specific to the application of assessment and management of physical and mental health with special emphasis on health promotion, disease prevention, risk reduction, disease detection, and gender-related well-being. Students will advance understanding of core concepts related to well-being and gender-related health in diverse populations. This course has a required clinical experience of 150 hours, where students will complete appropriate focused and comprehensive subjective and objective assessments; use a differential diagnosis process to make clinical decisions; select appropriate interventions including diagnostic tests, medications, and referrals; and document effectively in patients? health records.

NURS 704 - Family Nurse Practitioner Certification Prep (1)

This course is designed to prepare the student to successfully pass the national certification exam. Emphasis will be on best test-taking practices and professional and independent practice in primary care for individuals and families.

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DNP - FNP Program Details

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FNP or AGPCNP: Which is the Best Fit for You?

Nursing is a challenging, yet rewarding profession that affords you the opportunity to follow your passion in a rapidly evolving and growing industry. If you are deciding between the Family Nurse Practitioner (FNP) and Adult-Gerontology Primary Care Nurse Practitioner (AGPCNP), there are some important similarities between the two programs. Both specializations:

  • Require 600 clinical hours and completion of Primary Care I (NURS 701/701C) + Primary Care II  (NURS 702/702C)
  • Are nationally certified through American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC) or American Association of Nurse Practitioners (AANP)
  • Equip you for positions in ambulatory care centers, medical offices and correctional facilities

However, below you’ll find some information on what differentiates the two options. Compare the options and find the best fit for you.

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FNP
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AGPCNP

Age-Range of Patients: Birth to Geriatric

Best Fit: Nurses who enjoy caring for babies and children

Demand Driver: Rural areas with less access to pediatric specialists.

Additional Required Clinical Courses: Management of Multidimensional Health (NURS 703/703C) + FNP Capstone (NURS 790/790C)

Practice Settings: Schools, Rural Health Clinics, Worksite-Based Clinics

Age-Range of Patients: Patients ages 13 and older

Best Fit: Nurses who enjoy caring for teens and adults – especially older adults

Demand Driver: Aging population and absence of physicians specializing in geriatric care.

Additional Required Clinical Courses: Management of the Geriatric Population (NURS 710/710C) + Adult-Gero Primary Capstone (NURS 791/791C)

Practice Settings: Long-term Care Facilities, Assisted Living Centers, University Student Health Centers 

Nursing Careers & Jobs

Advanced Practice Registered Nurses (APRN)

APRNs design, implement and evolve continuous quality improvement programs that are responsive to patient, clinical and community needs.

Family Nurse Practitioner

Family nurse practitioners ensure quality care delivery in the family practice setting by applying evidence-based findings to improve clinical practice and healthcare delivery systems.

Nurse Educator

Nurse Educators leverage their advanced educational credentials and practical practice experience to help train, develop, and prepare the next generation of nurses.

Nursing Practice Specialist

Nursing practice specialists are influencers, working to guide and elevate the practice of nursing through evidence-based practice strategies.

Nursing Practice Employment Outlook

13%

From 2021-2031 jobs for Nursing Practice are expected to increase by 13%

All Occupations

2021
3,809,935 jobs
2031
4,288,360 jobs


Source information provided by Lightcast.

The Clinical Experience

Meet Your [Clinical] Match

Clinical rotations play a critical role in preparing you to excel as nurse practitioner. Learn how we will support your search and what you can do to personalize the experience to meet your personal and professional needs. 

Info for Students

DNP Frequently Asked Questions

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