Doctor of Nursing Practice, Family Nurse Practitioner (DNP-FNP)

• You will participate in a variety of clinical practicums that provide experiences in different clinical settings, including emergency department, family practice, internal medicine, and women's health, preparing you to become a highly-skilled primary care provider for patients throughout the lifespan.
• This 77-hour program will be completed in a hybrid format, allowing you to balance your personal commitments with academic and career aspirations.
• BSN and MSN graduates will not only obtain the DNP — the practice-focused terminal degree in nursing — but also will be eligible to sit for the FNP certification exam.

To prepare nurses to become primary care providers with the required knowledge and skills to lead innovative, evidence-based practice initiatives that focus on quality improvement, leadership, informatics, policy, advocacy, and population health.

1. To prepare graduates to integrate scientific knowledge, research evidence, and analytical methods to improve healthcare outcomes, develop new practice approaches, and design evidence-based interventions for complex clinical challenges.
2. To prepare graduates to become leaders in healthcare policy advocacy, quality improvement, and equitable care delivery while leveraging information systems and technology to enhance patient safety and optimize health outcomes.
3. To prepare graduates to collaborate with inter-professional teams to implement population health strategies, advocate for policy changes, and provide compassionate, culturally-competent care to diverse patient populations across the lifespan.

Experts predict that Illinois and the nation will require an ever-growing number of nurses in the decades ahead. AU is committed to helping meet this predicted nursing shortage through our DNP-FNP program.

Sample DNP-FNP Schedule

*Online coursework with required synchronous Zoom meetings
**Includes direct patient care hours
^Includes a weekend intensive