DNP in Nursing - Family Nurse Practitioner (FNP)

Admission

  1. An approved graduate-level statistics course taken within the last ten years;
  2. A Bachelor of Science in Nursing from a nationally accredited school (NLN or CCNE);
  3. A GPA of 3.000 or higher in the following areas:
    1. All undergraduate coursework,
    2. All undergraduate nursing courses,
    3. Any graduate-level courses taken,
    4. The following four science courses taken with an overall GPA of at least 3.000 and no grade that generates less than 2.000 credit points per credit hour in any one course: anatomy/physiology, microbiology, pathophysiology and pharmacology,
  4. One application must be submitted to the Graduate School. The application must be submitted by May 1 (fall admission only);
  5. All students will request entrance to a specific specialization upon application;
  6. Evidence of license as a registered nurse in Kansas;
  7. Coverage by professional and general liability insurance. CNS and NP students must have NP student coverage prior to enrollment in practicum coursework. Minimum coverage required: $1,000,000 single incident/$3,000,000 aggregate for both professional and general liability;
  8. Computer literacy is an expectation of the graduate nursing program. Skills should include: word processing, email, file attachments and internet searches. If courses require Blackboard, students are highly encouraged to complete the Blackboard orientation. Students may elect to take PC 105, or another basic computer skills course, to fulfill the computer literacy expectation; and
  9. Technical standards must be met.

Program Requirements

Course Title Hours
Core and Preparatory Courses
NURS 701Advanced Health Assessment2
NURS 702Advanced Health Assessment Laboratory1
NURS 703Theoretical Foundations of Advanced Nursing Practice3
NURS 715Advanced Nursing Practice Roles1
NURS 793Advanced Pathophysiology I4
NURS 795AApplied Drug Therapy I3
NURS 795BApplied Drug Therapy II3
NURS 801Health Policy3
NURS 806Evidence-Based Nursing Practice and Outcomes of Care3
NURS 824Advanced Pathophysiology II2
NURS 826Evidence-Based Nursing Project I2
NURS 828Evidence-Based Nursing Project II2
NURS 901Organizational Systems and Leadership3
NURS 902Population and Social Determinants of Health3
Specialization Courses
NURS 728Advanced Practice Technology and Skills3
NURS 803FNP Primary Care I3
NURS 804FNP Primary Care Practicum I4
NURS 830FNP Management and Clinical Application I1
NURS 838FNP Advanced Practice Role I1
NURS 903FNP Primary Care II3
NURS 904FNP Primary Care Practicum II4
NURS 905FNP Management and Clinical Application II2
NURS 906Transition to FNP Advanced Practice Role II1
NURS 952Advanced Nursing Practice Preceptorship3
Select one Graduate Nursing Elective3
Capstone Courses
NURS 956Practice Management2
NURS 959Evidence-Based Nursing Project III3
NURS 960Residency6
Total Credit Hours74

Elective Courses

Elective coursework is available in many topic areas, including education, diabetes, human lactation, dermatology and low back pain. Students should see their advisor for assistance with elective choices.

DNP Project

Students complete an evidence-based project. Students work collaboratively with at least one graduate nursing faculty member who is chairperson of their committee and one other graduate faculty member to identify an evidence-based practice problem and plan the implementation to address the problem. Successful defense of the evidence-based project proposal is the expected outcome within the Evidence-Based Project III course. After successful completion and defense of the Evidence-Based Project III proposal, the candidate may enroll in residency hours. The residency allows the student to complete/disseminate the results of the project and develop a portfolio documenting practice scholarship. The residency hours may be taken in 2-, 4- or 6-hour increments and may be repeated until requirements are met. The candidate completes an oral defense of the project at the end of the residency.

Applied Learning

Students in the DNP FNP program are required to complete an applied learning or research experience to graduate from the program. The requirement can be met by completing all coursework culminating with the DNP Project. This evidence-based project stems from a series of courses and practicum work and is finalized and defended during the NURS 960 residency course.