Nursing: Primary Care Family Nurse Practitioner (D.N.P.)

The online Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) program prepares nurses for the highest level of specialized nursing practice. DNP graduates are innovative leaders prepared to translate evidence into practice, improve systems of care and measure health outcomes in diverse settings. Students are required to plan, implement, and evaluate a quality improvement project customized to support their unique aspirations.

The Post Baccalaureate DNP (PB DNP) program is for nurses with a baccalaureate degree in nursing who are seeking leadership development and certification as a Primary Care Family Nurse Practitioner

Admission Requirements

1. Registered Nurse licensure: An unencumbered registered nurse license in the United State
2. Baccalaureate degree in nursing or another field
3. Letters of recommendation: Three letters of reference pertaining to academic ability, professional competency, and personal character are required.
4. Updated resume
5. Professional statement: The professional statement must include a written essay responding to each of the following:
   1. Describe a clinical experience that demonstrates your critical thinking and readiness to enter doctoral study.
   2. Explain how you use a nursing theoretical/conceptual lens to improve care.
   3. Tell us about a U.S. policy or health issue you are passionate about and why.
6. Interview: After initial review of the application, applicants may be contacted for an interview.

Degree Requirements

Post Baccalaureate DNP: Primary Care Family Nurse Practitioner (PC-FNP) program

Clinical Hours: 750*

*

Clinical hours are completed through the following required courses: NURS 921, NURS 923, NURS 940.

The Primary Care Family Nurse Practitioner builds upon the skills of the baccalaureate prepared nurse.

Upon completion of the Master of Science in Nursing, the graduate student is expected to:

• Employ strategic leadership skills to shape practice environments to produce positive, patient centered, healthcare outcomes at individual and system levels.
• Serve in a healthcare leadership and change agent role as part of a diverse, complex, and patient-centered health care system.
• Act as a practice scholar to design, direct and evaluate system changes to promote safe, timely, effective, efficient, equitable and patient-centered care.
• Use data analytic methods, information systems and technology to evaluate, integrate and apply knowledge that will improve programs of care, outcomes of care and care systems.
• Use translational science and analytic methods to develop, identify, implement, and evaluate best practices to improve health care and health care systems.
• Design and implement health promotion and clinical prevention strategies across the health/illness continuum to optimize health and disease management.
• Systematically use improvement methods to monitor and evaluate care processes and outcomes and applies data for continuous improvement and safety
• Advocate for social justice through policy, professional and political engagement.
• Applies leadership principles that support inter-professional practice.
• Facilitate interprofessional collaboration to implement practice models, peer review, practice guidelines, health policy, and standards of care.

In addition, the Primary Care Family Nurse Practitioner graduate will:

• Utilize advanced assessment, diagnostic reasoning, and evidence-based practice when partnering with individuals, families, and communities to optimize health.
• Judiciously prescribe treatment modalities to manage acute and chronic conditions within state and federal scope of practice regulations.
• Function as an independent practitioner to manage comprehensive primary care across the lifespan.

Professional Licensure/Certification Disclosures

The University of New Hampshire offers a number of academic programs designed to lead to professional licensure or certification in New Hampshire. However,  completing a UNH degree/program does not guarantee professional licensure or certification. Eligibility may also depend on factors like years of work experience, professional examinations, passing a background check, and other criteria.

UNH does not guarantee that its professional licensure programs will satisfy the criteria of professional licensure boards in other states. Some states maintain different requirements for professional licensure or certification and requirements can change frequently. Federal regulations require the University to make public disclosure of certain information regarding professional licensure or certification programs, regardless of the modality the program is offered (i.e., in-person or online). The University provides guidance below but recommends students contact their state/territory licensing or certification board to ensure a program meets specific state/territory requirements.

Visit the Office of the Registrar's website for information about whether this program meets professional licensure requirements in your state.