A Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) in Family Nurse Practitioner (FNP) comes with the confidence and authenticity needed for the highest levels of practice. Our fully online asynchronous program with optional synchronous sessions allows you to complete the DNP program with a Family Nurse Practitioner certificate on a timeline that works best for your life.
You are ambitious, seeking opportunities to progress in your career and practice as a nurse beyond acute care. Pursuing a DNP with an FNP certificate allows you to do just this and make a difference in your community and with populations with the greatest need. PLNU values your calling, meeting it with leadership and practical skills you’ll need to grow into prominent roles within complex health systems.
A DNP from PLNU builds upon your expertise and your distinct point of view. Learn from experts in the field, perform a clinical or research-based project catered to your preferences, and walk alongside a mentor throughout the process.
Family Nurse Practitioner Certificate
Through our DNP with FNP, you will earn your Doctor of Nurse Practice degree while simultaneously completing your Family Nurse Practitioner Certificate. With your FNP certificate, you can work in a variety of healthcare settings:
- Hospitals
- Private clinics
- Community clinics
- Long-term care facilities
- Private care practice
- And more
A Strong Impact
When you become a Family Nurse Practitioner (FNP), you will be prepared to advance the standard of care in your area of specialization. When you earn your FNP from PLNU, you will focus on the physical, emotional, and spiritual aspects of nursing and your specialty, preparing you to make a big impact on patients’ holistic care.
A Healthy Future
The hands-on, evidence-based instruction, clinical hours, mentoring, and networking opportunities through an extensive alumni group, as well as PLNU’s strong nursing reputation set the stage for your continued career success after graduation.
Space to Fully Invest in Work and School
PLNU’s DNP is a fully online asynchronous program where you can pace yourself with online coursework and continue working as a nurse in your field. Our program is CCNE accredited and aligns with the core competencies of an AACN Essentials for Advanced Level Nursing Practice program.
Multiple entry points allow those at most degree levels to earn the DNP. Enter as BSN-prepared and have the option to finish with an MSN or use your MSN clinical work as credits toward the DNP.
Work that is Authentic and Sacred
Nursing as sacred work is a cornerstone value of PLNU’s nursing programs. Learn alongside faculty and colleagues who value it the same way. Any program can teach you skills and best practices; at PLNU seasoned professors serve as academic and professional mentors not only in class but in helping you discover your unique calling.
When you complete the DNP program with an FNP certification, you will be able to:
- Provide primary and/or preventative care
- Create dialogue and strategies supporting practice changes within the healthcare system
- Appraise evidence for best practice implementation through the utilization of information technology
- Synthesize evidence to implement change that affects client outcomes
- Recommend standards for holistic care that meet the client needs
- Analyze own self-care practices that advance optimal care of clients, nurses and organization(s)
- Model graceful service through compassionate responses to patient, family, staff and organizational needs
- Design an environment of advocacy for patient care that honors the diversity of patients/families, healthcare staff and organizations
- Create opportunities to improve the quality of health within a community
- Defend ethical care consistent with professional practice
- Step into leadership, managerial, and nurse educator positions
- Provide a higher level of care with increased professional responsibility and autonomy
Two Pathways to Earn Your DNP with an FNP certification
BSN to DNP with FNP
If you already earned your Bachelor of Science in Nursing, you can enter our BSN to DNP with FNP track. This pathway is 76 units and can be completed in as little as 10 semesters.
Complete the program at your own pace through fully online asynchronous classes (with optional synchronous sessions), two on-campus intensive weekends, and in-person clinicals. You are required to complete 1000 clinical hours, including a minimum of 750 direct patient care hours and 250 hours related to the DNP project.
The School of Nursing will accept only in-state students and assist San Diego residents with clinical placements, however, San Diego non-residents will need to find their own placements.
You have the flexibility to complete your required evidence-based quality improvement project catered to your preferences and passions. Based on your project, you will be able to select a mentor who will work alongside you.
Although an MSN degree is not earned through this pathway you will still earn a DNP degree with FNP certification in a shorter time period than it would take to earn an MSN and DNP separately. There is an MSN stop-out option if you do decide not to complete a DNP degree prior to the 3rd graduate semester. Students who elect to stop-out will receive an MSN degree.
*Note: The National Organization of Nurse Practitioner Faculties (NONPF) made the commitment to move all entry-level NP education to the DNP degree by 2025.
MSN to DNP with FNP
If you have earned an MSN degree, you can complete your DNP with FNP certification in as little as 9 - 10 semesters. This fully asynchronous online program is 55-65 units – depending on the gap analysis of course units you enter the program with.
You are required to complete 1000 clinical hours, including a minimum of 750 direct patient care clinical hours and 250 hours related to the DNP project.
The School of Nursing will accept only in-state students and assist San Diego residents with clinical placements, however, San Diego non-residents will need to find their own placements.
You have the flexibility to complete your required evidence-based quality improvement project catered to your preferences and passions. Based on your project, you will be able to select a mentor who will work alongside you.
Compare the two different DNP with FNP pathways
Depending on where you are in your educational journey, there are different paths you can take to earn your DNP with FNP.
| BSN - DNP with FNP | MSN - DNP with FNP | |
|---|---|---|
| Who is it for? | Nurses with a BSN degree looking to earn a DNP with an FNP certification. |
Nurses with an MSN degree looking to earn a DNP with an FNP certification. |
|
Number of units |
76 units |
55 - 65 units depending on your gap analysis |
|
Completion time |
10 semesters (3.3 years) |
10 semesters (3.3 years) |
|
Program structure |
Online asynchronous, optional synchronous courses and in-person clinicals |
Online asynchronous, optional synchronous courses and in-person clinicals |
|
Typical # of Students in Class |
Classes are intentionally small. Most classes will generally have between 15 and 20 students. |
Classes are intentionally small. Most classes will generally have between 15 and 20 students. |
|
Degree Needed to Apply |
Bachelor of Science in Nursing |
Masters of Science in Nursing |
|
Scholarships Available? |
Yes | Yes |
Speak with your admissions counselor to identify where you are at.
Schedule a Meeting with a Counselor
Professional Licensure or Certification
This program is approved by the California Board of Registered Nursing and meets the requirements for licensure or certification in the state of California, where Point Loma Nazarene University is physically located. PLNU cannot confirm whether or not specific programs meet out-of-state requirements for Professional Licensure or Certification. Information about out-of-state requirements in Nursing are available on the National Council of State Boards of Nursing website.
For more information on State Authorization and Program Licensure, please refer to our disclosures page.
The baccalaureate degree program in nursing, master's degree program in nursing, Doctor of Nursing Practice program, and post-graduate APRN certificate program at Point Loma Nazarene University are accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education.
You will be eligible to take the FNP certification examination by ANCC (American Nurses Credentialing Center) and AANP (American Association of Nurse Practitioners) upon completion of the program.
