In the eyes of a family, an FNP may be the most important medical care provider of all. Ready to submit your applications for the DNP? Feel free to skip ahead to our program listings. But if you’re looking for tips on FNP certification requirements, an inside look at the DNP degree, and examples of DNP capstone projects, read on!
Becoming a Family Nurse Practitioner
The Modern Family Nurse Practitioner
Family Nurse Practitioners – otherwise known as FNPs – are advanced practice registered nurses (APRNs) who provide primary care to patients of all ages. Like GPs of old, FNPs often become trusted medical advisers to families. They may be responsible for treating acute illnesses, managing chronic conditions, conducting physicals and diagnostic tests, prescribing medications, and counseling families on better health and wellness.
This last task is also one of the most important. A large part of a FNP’s job is focused on disease prevention, health promotion, and holistic care. Regardless of the setting – be it a doctor’s office, a rural clinic, a private home, a school, or a hospital – FNPs act as patient advocates, helping families deal with complex healthcare systems. Although many FNPs work under the supervision of a clinical physician, some run their own private practices. Others take up leadership positions as hospital administrators, researchers, or healthcare policy makers.
FNP Certification Requirements
Once you have completed graduate nursing education, you have 2 major options for FNP certification. The first is the Family Nurse Practitioner – Board Certified (FNP-BC) credential offered by the American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC). The second is the Family Nurse Practitioner (FNP) credential offered by the American Association of Nurse Practitioners (AANP).
There is a lot of debate about which FNP credential is better to pursue. However, most FNP nurses claim there is absolutely no difference when it comes to job applications. When in doubt, talk to your mentors and check with your State Board of Nursing for advice. Regardless of your choice, your DNP program should clearly state that it is accredited and able to prepare you for FNP certification exams. If you can’t find information about certification exam pass rates on the program website, ask the school to provide you with the statistics.
FNP-BC Requirements
- Hold a current, active RN license.
- Hold a master’s, postgraduate, or doctoral degree from a family nurse practitioner program accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE) or the Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing (ACEN).
- Complete a minimum of 500 faculty-supervised clinical hours during your family nurse practitioner program.
- Complete graduate-level courses in advanced physiology/pathophysiology, advanced health assessment, and advanced pharmacology, as well as coursework in health promotion/maintenance, differential diagnosis, and disease management.
- Pass the national FNP-BC exam administered by the American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC).
- Maintain your certification & licensure through continuing education.
FNP Requirements
- Hold a current, active RN license.
- Hold a master’s, post-master’s, or doctoral degree from a family nurse practitioner program accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE) or the Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing (ACEN).
- Complete a minimum of 500 faculty-supervised clinical hours during your program.
- Complete APRN core courses in advanced physical assessment, advanced pharmacology, and advanced pathophysiology.
- Pass the national FNP exam administered by the American Association of Nurse Practitioners (AANP).
- Maintain your certification & licensure through continuing education.
Helpful Professional Organizations
- American Association of Colleges of Nursing (AACN)
- American Association of Nurse Practitioners (AANP)
- American Nurse Credentialing Center (ANCC)
- Alliance of Nurses for Healthy Environments (ANHE)
- National Nursing Centers Consortium (NNCC)
- National Organization of Nurse Practitioner Faculties (NONPF)
The Family Nurse Practitioner DNP
Typical DNP Curriculum
Most FNP programs are listed as “graduate tracks” or “concentrations” in DNP degrees. In other words, you start by taking general APRN courses and gradually concentrate on family health. Good DNP programs tend to focus on 3 pillars of learning:
- Advanced clinical skills
- Nursing leadership
- Evidence-based theory & practice
Look for DNPs that give you plenty of primary care experience with a variety of clients (e.g. vulnerable populations, infants, hospice patients, etc.) in a range of settings (e.g. rural homes, inner city hospitals, specialty clinics, etc.). And take advantage of every on-site resource. For example, to give your independent DNP capstone project extra heft, you may wish to work with your university’s medical research center.
Make no mistake – the DNP is a long haul. Because of FNP certification requirements, the curriculum must cover key APRN courses such as advanced physical assessment, advanced pharmacology, and advanced pathophysiology. To meet AACN’s Essentials of Doctoral Education, the program will also include classes such as healthcare policy, information technology, biostatistics, healthcare delivery systems, and evidence-based practice. Happily, most programs will allow you to focus on a sub-specialty (e.g. cardiology, urology, gerontology, orthopedics, critical care, etc.).
Experience Requirements
Experience requirements for DNP programs differ from school to school. You may be asked to have 3-5 years of clinical experience as an RN or you may simply be required to provide proof of work in primary care. Most universities recommend that you spend some time shadowing a primary care provider (e.g. physician or NP) in a related setting. The more clinical hours you’ve amassed dealing with patients of different ages and populations, the better your chances for acceptance.
Examples of DNP Capstone Projects
- Implementation of an Evidence-Based Educational Workshop and Toolkit: Menopausal Women’s Healthcare Needs for the Primary Care Provider. (University of San Francisco)
- Implementing Clinical Practice Guideline Recommendations to Address Adult Obesity: A Practice Change in Primary Care. (West Virginia University)
- Patient Care Enhancement of Acute Viral Upper Respiratory Illness. (Frontier Nursing University)
- Using a DNP-Led Transitional Care Program to Prevent Rehospitalization in Elderly Patients with Heart Failure or Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease. (University of Massachusetts Amherst)
