Doctor of Nursing Practice (FNP/DNP)

Offered Online

The DNP is a terminal degree in nursing that builds upon baccalaureate education to prepare nurses for the highest level of advanced clinical practice. The DNP program fulfills a need in the profession, so that advanced practice nurses may provide leadership in an evolving and increasingly complex healthcare system. The program prepares graduates to demonstrate competencies in evidence-based practice, organizational leadership, interdisciplinary and collaborative practice to solve healthcare problems, population health, finance, translational research, quality improvement, and policy development that enhance healthcare delivery models. The DNP graduate will be a visionary leader for practice of nursing and the delivery of healthcare in all settings, with the goals of improving individual patient care and population health outcomes.

The FNP is an advanced practice registered nurse (APRN) that has competencies in family health promotion and the clinical management of common health conditions across the lifespan. FNP’s manage acute and chronic medical conditions, which can be both physical and mental in nature. They complete history and physical exams, order diagnostic tests, and provide medical treatments. They are qualified to diagnose medical problems, order treatments, perform advanced procedures, prescribe medications and make referrals for a wide range of acute and chronic medical conditions within their scope of practice. FNP’s work in hospitals, private offices, clinics, and nursing homes or long term care facilities.

LR’s program is constructed with working adult learners in mind. The majority of the program is constructed in an online but highly interactive environment with several immersions planned to create collegial relationships among both students and faculty. (Immersion experiences will occur on the Hickory Campus: two immersions in the first semester, one immersion in the remaining semesters). The program is constructed as a cohort entrance in the fall of each academic year, which will allow students to complete the requirements for both the FNP and DNP within a 3-year time structure. The program will allow students to meet the national accreditation requirement of 1000 clinical hours with the completion of the program.

The FNP/DNP program uses the National Organization of Nurse Practitioner Faculties’ Nurse Practitioner Primary Core Competencies in Specialty Areas (NONPF), the National Task Force on Quality Nurse Practitioner Education, the American Association of Colleges of Nursing (AACN) BSN & DNP Essentials, DNP Toolkit, the Institute of Medicine (IOM) core competencies and Quality and Safety in Education of Nurses (QSEN) standards as guidelines for all program outcomes. Accordingly, the program prepares students for higher level nursing practice through advanced content knowledge, enhanced critical thinking skills, and appropriate professional dispositions.

Admission Requirements

Candidates for admission to the Doctor of Nursing Practice - FNP/DNP – program must meet the following criteria:

1. Possess an earned baccalaureate degree in nursing from a regionally accredited program (ACEN or CCNE);
2. Submit official transcripts from all colleges attended demonstrating an overall 3.0 GPA and a nursing GPA of a 3.0 on a 4.0 scale;
3. Submit evidence of completion of undergraduate introductory statistics course with a C or better;
4. Submit evidence of completion of undergraduate nursing research course with a C or better;
5. Submit evidence of unrestricted RN license (Provide license number and state in which the license is current);
6. Write a philosophy statement reflecting personal and professional goals, including the reason you would like to become a Family Nurse Practitioner; describe a clinical practice problem that you would like to pursue for a potential DNP project, and how implementing this project may address a need for a change in practice. All references should be cited using APA format.
7. Submit a curriculum vitae or resume.
8. Submit three professional recommendations (done via email through the application system). The recommendations may include academic or nursing faculty, supervisor, former or current employer, or manager. At least one reference must be from clinical practice.
9. Interviews may be required.

Upon admission, the following items for enrollment must be submitted through a vetted LRU School of Nursing provider (student is responsible for the expense):

1. Criminal background check
2. A 12-panel drug screen
3. Health and immunization forms