Online DNP FNP Programs – What’s the Best Program for You?
A doctor of nursing practice (DNP) is the highest degree that a family nurse practitioner (FNP) can attain. Those wanting high levels of autonomy, responsibility, and salaries at the top of the pay scale should consider the DNP pathway in the family nurse practitioner specialty. This degree requires hundreds of clinical hours as well as advanced nursing coursework. To be eligible for this type of program, you’ll need an active RN license, a BSN or MSN degree, and some professional nursing experience in the family care field.
Why Get an DNP FNP Degree?
There has been a distinct shift toward family nurse practitioners opting to obtain their DNP degree. Some careers that today require an MSN might expect candidates to hold a DNP at some point in the future.
As a family nurse practitioner who holds a DNP, a range of direct and indirect patient care careers are available to you. These include FNP positions in hospitals, clinics, private practices, and more, as well as roles in hospital administration, research, and academia. FNP doctorate graduates may also choose to work in roles shaping policy and procedures to improve care outcomes and advance the nursing profession.
This type of terminal degree shows a significant commitment to attaining more knowledge and skills. Let’s take a look at some of the key components of this degree type.
Pros
- Family nurse practitioners who hold a DNP can command higher salaries
- The DNP pathway opens up options for high-level managerial, research, and even teaching positions
- Options for BSN to DNP and MSN to DNP
Cons
- DNP programs in the FNP specialty can be long and expensive
- Those with an MSN may wish to pursue a shorter post-graduate certificate in the specialty instead (depending on their career goals)
- ADN-educated RNs will most likely need to complete a BSN before they can consider this pathway
How to Choose an Online DNP FNP Program
In terms of advanced degrees for family nurse practitioners, a DNP is the lengthier option. The number of credits can range between 70 and 93, depending on the school you attend and the degree level you enter the program with. More educational facilities are offering DNP programs online, with some of them delivered in a hybrid format that weaves in some campus visits.
Students searching for an online DNP program in the family nurse practitioner specialty should take great care to choose an accredited program to ensure future employability. Many online DNP programs can be taken on a part-time or full-time basis, allowing some students to continue working while they complete their doctorate studies. However, the challenging nature of the program may make working difficult; some schools recommend committing to the program full-time.
DNP FNP Curriculum
The family nurse practitioner DNP curriculum includes intensive core and specialty nursing courses. BSN to DNP programs usually require more core coursework before the FNP portion can begin. Common courses students might encounter include:
- Clinical reasoning
- Healthcare economics
- Health informatics
- Social determinants of health
Typically, a minimum of 1,000 clinical hours are required as part of the FNP-DNP program. These may include family care clinical hours as well as DNP practicum hours. Clinical placements for online students are usually arranged in the student’s local area and approved by the program’s clinical coordinator. A DNP project or capstone course may also be required in order to graduate.
List of Online DNP Family Nurse Practitioner Programs
To find an online or hybrid DNP family nurse practitioner program near you, browse through our listings below.
Select Your State:
Alabama
Samford University
| Birmingham, AL |
The University of Alabama
| Tuscaloosa, AL |
Arizona
University of Arizona
| Tucson, AZ |
Arkansas
University of Arkansas | Fayetteville, AR |
University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences
| Little Rock, AR |
California
Brandman University | Irvine, CA |
Loma Linda University | Loma Linda, CA |
Touro University California | Vallejo, CA |
University of California, Irvine | Irvine, CA |
Colorado
University of Northern Colorado | Greeley, CO |
Delaware
University of Delaware | Newark, DE |
Florida
Palm Beach Atlantic University
| West Palm Beach, FL |
Georgia
Augusta University
| Augusta, GA |
Hawaii
University of Hawai'i at Manoa
| Honolulu, HI |
Idaho
Idaho State University | Pocatello, ID |
Illinois
Bradley University | Peoria, IL |
Rush University | Chicago, IL |
Southern Illinois University Edwardsville | Edwardsville, IL |
University of Illinois at Chicago (UIC)
| Chicago, IL |
University of Illinois College of Medicine at Rockford
| Rockford, IL |
Indiana
Marian University Indianapolis | Indianapolis, IN |
Saint Mary's College | Notre Dame, IN |
Iowa
Clarke University | Dubuque, IA |
University of Iowa
| Iowa City, IA |
Kansas
University of Kansas
| Lawrence, KS |
Washburn University | Topeka, KS |
Kentucky
Western Kentucky University | Bowling Green, KY |
Maryland
Johns Hopkins University | Baltimore, MD |
Massachusetts
University of Massachusetts Amherst | Amherst, MA |
University of Massachusetts Boston | Boston, MA |
Michigan
Northern Michigan University
| Marquette, MI |
Saginaw Valley State University | Center, MI |
Wayne State University | Detroit, MI |
Minnesota
Augsburg College | Minneapolis, MN |
Mississippi
University Of Mississippi Medical Center | Jackson, MS |
Missouri
Maryville University
| St. Louis, MO |
Mizzou Online- University of Missouri | Columbia, MO |
University of Missouri - St. Louis
| St. Louis, MO |
University Of Missouri Kansas City | Kansas City, MO |
Montana
Montana State University | Bozeman, MT |
Nebraska
Creighton University
| Omaha, NE |
New Mexico
New Mexico State University
| Las Cruces, NM |
New York
Hunter College | NY, NY |
University at Buffalo | Buffalo, NY |
Ohio
Otterbein University | Westerville, OH |
The Ohio State University | Columbus, OH |
The University of Toledo | Toledo, OH |
Oregon
University of Portland | Portland, OR |
Pennsylvania
Messiah College | Mechanicsburg, PA |
University of Pittsburgh | Pittsburgh, PA |
South Carolina
Anderson University
| Greenville, SC |
Tennessee
East Tennessee State University | Johnson City, TN |
The University of Tennessee Health Science Center- Memphis
| Memphis, TN |
Texas
Baylor University
| Dallas, TX |
Texas A&M University-Commerce
| Commerce, TX |
Texas Christian University | Fort Worth, TX |
Texas Tech University | Lubbock, TX |
Utah
Weber State University | Ogden, UT |
Washington
Gonzaga University | Spokane, WA |
University of Washington
| Seattle, WA |
Washington State University
| Pullman, WA |
Washington State University Vancouver | Vancouver, WA |
Washington, DC
The George Washington University | Washington, DC |
West Virginia
Shepherd University
| Shepherdstown, WV |
Wheeling Jesuit University | Wheeling, WV |