Mar 30, 2023  
2022–2023 Walden University Catalog (September 2022) 
    
Catalog Navigation
  Catalog Home
  My Pages
HELP
2022–2023 Walden University Catalog (September 2022)

Family Nurse Practitioner - Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP)

Return to: Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP)  

Family Nurse Practitioners (FNPs) are advanced practice registered nurses with the knowledge and skills to assess and manage health issues in patients of all ages, from birth through the senior years. This specialization can prepare students to gain autonomy or advance in their career as healthcare professionals. Through a series of courses and well-rounded clinical practice experiences focused on current health issues, students can effectively implement and facilitate disease prevention, health promotion, health maintenance, and restorative care interventions.

This online Family Nurse Practitioner specialization focuses on evidence-based techniques that can enhance the quality of care and outcomes for patients. The program offers strategies that can prepare students to work in primary care outpatient health settings or change the course of their healthcare career. Graduates of the program can pursue national family nurse practitioner certification and state credentialing.

Minimum Completion Requirements

BSN-DNP entry: 90 quarter credits. MSN-DNP entry: 80 quarter credits. MSN-DNP entry for Walden AGPC alumni: 78 quarter credits.

  • Doctoral Writing Assessment (0 cr.)
  • Foundation course (5 cr.)
    • BSN-DNP entry only: Essential courses (10 cr.)
      • DNRS 6052 - Essentials of Evidence-Based Practice
      • DNRS 6211 - Finance and Economics in Healthcare Delivery
  • Core courses (40 cr.)
  • Specialization courses 
    • BSN-DNP entry & MSN-DNP entry: 35 cr., includes the required 640 practicum hours*
    • MSN-DNP entry for Walden AGPC alumni: 33 cr., includes the required 500 practicum hours*
  • Completion of DNP Project
  • Doctoral Mentoring (0 cr.)
  • Doctoral DNP Project Completion (if needed to complete DNP Project after all other coursework has been completed; 3 cr. per term, taken continuously until completion of the DNP Project)

Note: Completion of the DNP program requires a minimum of 1,000 post-BSN practicum hours, with at least 400 hours at the DNP level.   Students who enter the program with certain approved APRN licensure and certification will receive prior nursing credit and will be required to complete at least 500 practicum hours in the new population focus area*.

Specialization Courses (33 or 35 cr.)

Course Sequences

BSN-DNP Entry Course Sequence

The BSN-DNP entry course sequence is as follows.

Quarter Course Credits
1    5 cr.
   5 cr.
2    5 cr.
   5 cr.
3    5 cr.
  (4 cr. didactic, 1 cr. practicum = 80 course faculty supervised clinical hours) 5 cr.
4   (taken as companion course throughout the program of study until project completed) 0 cr.
   5 cr.
5   (3 cr. didactic, 2 clinical hours = 160 preceptor supervised clinical hours) 5 cr.
   5 cr.
6    5 cr.
   5 cr.
7   (3 cr. didactic) 3 cr.
  (2 clinical hours = 160 preceptor supervised clinical hours minimum) 2 cr.
8    5 cr.
   5 cr.
9   (3 cr. didactic) 3 cr.
  (2 clinical hours = 160 preceptor supervised clinical hours minimum) 2 cr.
10   (3 cr. didactic) 3 cr.
  (2 clinical hours = 160 preceptor supervised clinical hours minimum) 2 cr.
11   (3 didactic, 2 cl. cr.) = 160 clinical hours 5 cr.
12   (3 cr. didactic) 3 cr.
  (2 clinical hours = 160 preceptor supervised clinical hours minimum) 2 cr.
13+   (if needed to complete DNP Project after all other coursework has been completed) 3 cr. per term, taken continuously until completion of the DNP project

 

MSN-DNP Entry Course Sequence

The MSN-DNP entry course sequence is as follows.

Quarter Course Credits
1    5 cr.
   5 cr.
2    5 cr.
  (4 cr. didactic, 1 cr. practicum = 80 course faculty supervised clinical hours) 5 cr.
3   (taken as companion course throughout the program of study until project completed) 0 cr.
   5 cr.
  (3 cr. didactic, 2 clinical hours = 160 preceptor supervised clinical hours) 5 cr.
4    5 cr.
   5 cr.
5    5 cr.
6   (3 cr. didactic) 3 cr.
  (2 clinical hours = 160 preceptor supervised clinical hours minimum) 2 cr.
7    5 cr.
   5 cr.
8   (3 cr. didactic) 3 cr.
  (2 clinical hours = 160 preceptor supervised clinical hours minimum) 2 cr.
9   (3 cr. didactic) 3 cr.
  (2 clinical hours = 160 preceptor supervised clinical hours minimum) 2 cr.
10   (3 didactic, 2 clinical hours = 160 preceptor supervised clinical hours) 5 cr.
11+   (3 cr. didactic) 3 cr.
  (2 clinical hours = 160 preceptor supervised clinical hours minimum) 2 cr.
  (if needed to complete DNP Project after all other coursework has been completed) 3 cr. per term, taken continuously until completion of the DNP project

 

MSN-DNP Entry for Walden Adult Gerontology Primary Care Alumni Course Sequence

The MSN-DNP entry course sequence for Walden AGPC alumni is as follows.

Quarter Course Credits
1 NURS 8002 - Foundations and Essentials for the Doctor of Nursing Practice   5 cr.
NURS 8114 - Theoretical and Scientific Foundations of Nursing   5 cr.
2 NURS 8201 - Research for Evidence Based Practice   5 cr.
NURS 8302 - Leading Organizations for Quality Improvement Initiatives  (4 cr. didactic, 1 cr. practicum = 80 course faculty supervised clinical hours) 5 cr.
3 NURS 8702 - DNP Project Mentoring   (taken as companion course throughout the program of study until project completed) 0 cr.
NURS 8210 - Transforming Nursing and Healthcare Through Technology♦   5 cr.
NURS 8502 - Evidence Based Practice I  (3 cr. didactic, 2 clinical hours = 160 preceptor supervised clinical hours) 5 cr.
4 DNRS 6501 - Advanced Pathophysiology♦   5 cr.
DNRS 6521 - Advanced Pharmacology♦   5 cr.
5 DNRS 6512 - Advanced Health Assessment and Diagnostic Reasoning♦   5 cr.
6 DRNP 6531 - Primary Care of Adults Across the Lifespan  (3 cr. didactic) 3 cr.
PRCM 6531 - Primary Care of Adults Across the Lifespan Practicum   (2 clinical hours = 160 preceptor supervised clinical hours minimum) 2 cr.
7 NURS 8100 - Healthcare Policy and Analysis♦    5 cr.
NURS 8310 - Epidemiology and Population Health♦   5 cr.
8 DRNP 6541 - Primary Care of Adolescents and Children   (3 cr. didactic) 3 cr.
PRCM 6541 - Primary Care of Adolescents and Children Practicum   2 clinical hours = 160 preceptor supervised clinical hours minimum) 2 cr.
9 DRNP 6553 - Advanced Nurse Practice in Obstetric Health Care   (1 cr. didactic) 1 cr.
PRCM 6553 - Advanced Nurse Practice Care in Obstetric Health Care Practicum   2 clinical hours = 160 preceptor supervised clinical hours minimum) 2 cr.
10 NURS 8503 - Evidence Based Practice II  (3 cr. didactic, 2 clinical hours = 160 preceptor supervised clinical hours) 5 cr.
11+ DRNP 6568 - Synthesis in Advanced Nursing Practice of Patients in Family Care Settings  (3 cr. didactic) 3 cr.
PRCM 6568 - Synthesis in Advanced Nursing Practice of Patients in Family Care Settings Practicum  (2 clinical hours = 160 preceptor supervised clinical hours minimum) 2 cr.
NURS 8703 - DNP Project Completion  (if needed to complete DNP Project after all other coursework has been completed) 3 cr. per term, taken continuously until completion of the DNP project

*Courses must be taken at Walden University.

**DRNP/PRCM 6553 is required for Walden Adult Gerontology Primary Care Alumni.  All other students are required to take DRNP/PRCM 6552.

Note on Licensure

Walden’s DNP nurse practitioner specializations are designed to academically prepare graduates with an active registered nurse (RN) license to practice in the United States as nurse practitioners. However, each state has its own academic preparation and authority to practice requirements and issues its own license for an RN to be permitted to practice as a nurse practitioner in that state. Learn more about professional licensure.

No graduate program can guarantee that graduates will obtain licensure to practice as a nurse practitioner. We encourage students to consult the appropriate board of nursing or regulatory authority in the states or jurisdictions in which they reside or intend to seek licensure to determine specific requirements. Walden Enrollment Specialists can provide information relating to licensure; however, it remains the individual’s responsibility to understand, evaluate, and comply with all requirements relating to licensure for the state in which they intend to practice, as requirements vary widely.

Note on Certification

Walden’s DNP NP specializations are designed to academically prepare graduates to apply for national certification. Walden makes no representations or guarantees that completion of Walden coursework or programs will permit an individual to achieve national certification. We encourage students to consult an appropriate certifying body for the specific certification eligibility requirements. Students should also consult their state board of nursing or other state agency to determine what certifications are required or accepted in that state. It is an individual’s responsibility to understand, evaluate, and comply with all requirements relating to national certification, as requirements vary widely. For more information about nurse practitioner certification exams, students should visit the American Academy of Nurse Practitioners Certification Board at www.aanpcert.org, the American Nurses Credentialing Center at www.nursingworld.org/ancc, or other nurse practitioner certification websites.

Note on Field Experience and Relocating

Students who are considering relocating are advised to contact their student success advisor prior to any decision to relocate in order to determine how relocation may impact progress in their program.  Advisors can provide information and guidance on how relocating may result in possible changes, restrictions, and/or additional requirements affecting field experience. Each Board of Nursing and Higher Education Authority governs the field experience rules and regulations in their respective states, and students may be unable to complete field experience in the state in which they plan to relocate. While Walden is committed to working collaboratively with students to secure field sites across the United States, it is imperative that students contact their student success advisor immediately when considering relocating.