Program Structure
The program is structured to admit students beginning each fall semester. Students take courses on a full-time basis during the completion of their 500 level courses, pre-FNP 800 level courses, and during the didactic and clinical courses in the FNP program.
Length of program: The Post-BSN to DNP-FNP track of study leads to eligibility for certification as a Family Nurse Practitioner (FNP) through the American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC) and the American Academy of Nurse Practitioner (AANP). Thie DNP FNP track is 80 semester credit hours, including 53 didactic credit hours, 4 seminar credits, and 23 clinical credit hours.
Didactic
A total of 19 didactic courses (53 semester credits) constitute the DNP-FNP program. Didactic classes, seminars, clinical skills labs, structured practica, and clinical experiences are taught in a variety of flexible schedules that are responsive to student needs. 500-level courses consist of six online synchronous classes a semester. In addition to the didactic course, students take a one credit practicum course associated with each 500-level didactic course. The DNP courses (NUR 800 level), are taught via synchronous online or hybrid in-person modalities, usually meeting synchronously six times per semester for three to six hours class sessions. Class attendance is expected and should be considered a key responsibility, not only to one’s self, but to one’s classmates and the course instructor. Face-to-face classes are held in the Riverside Park Plaza building near Augsburg’s campus in Minneapolis, MN. Students must be prepared to drive to classes. If weather is inclement, class may shift to synchronous online.
Practica (for DNP courses) / Clinicals (for FNP courses)
To earn the DNP-FNP, a student must complete a total of 1080 practicum hours. This includes 270 practica hours for the DNP portion and 765 hours for the clinical portion.
Practica are organized to give flexibility and individual choice to students to support their increasing independence and depth of practice experience at the doctoral level. Students select practicum experiences that are either structured immersions in a variety of cultural contexts led by nursing faculty or that are student initiated and individually directed experiences mentored by nursing faculty. Students with prior graduate practice hours will be allowed to transfer up to 270 practicum hours from their master’s degree in nursing.
765 FNP clinical hours are required. FNP clinical sites will be arranged by clinical faculty. The FNP clinical hours are completed in a variety of health care settings with a focus on primary care for patients across the lifespan including the care of pediatrics patients and older adults.
In a 15-week semester, practicum hours are computed as follows:
- 1 semester credit hour = 45 clock hours of practicum time per semester
- 2 semester credit hour = 90 clock hours of practicum time per semester
- 3 semester credit hour = 135 clock hours of practicum time per semester
Required Practica hours = 270 which equals 6 credits
Required Clinical hours=765 which equals 17 credits
The total credits for practica and clinicals are equal to 23.
Seminars & Final DNP Project
Seminars focus on the DNP Scholarly Project. Students are required to participate in a total of four one-semester-credit doctoral seminars during the DNP-FNP program. The final seminar culminates in the project presentation and completion of the requirements for the DNP degree.
Clinical Skills Labs
Two 0.5 credit elective skills labs are offered to teach hand-on skills to students. These clinical skills labs focus on women’s health and musculoskeletal skills.
Study Abroad and Away
The Department of Nursing works closely with cultural guides and nurse mentors in various contexts of care in emerging care settings at home and abroad. The Center for Global Education and Experience is a partner with the Department of Nursing in developing and facilitating study abroad opportunities in Guatemala, Mexico, Namibia, Pine Ridge, SD, and England. A detailed listing of practica and immersion experiences abroad and away can be found at the nursing website (www.augsburg.edu/nursing).
Final DNP Project
Final DNP projects make a significant impact on nursing practice and health outcomes of populations and communities, demonstrate an evidence-based contribution to existing nursing knowledge, and be suitable for presentation or publication in a peer-reviewed venue. Through this scholarly project students demonstrate leadership in synthesizing and applying scientific knowledge and theory to practice challenges in local and/or system wide contexts of care. Students begin working on their DNP projects in the early stages of the program and continue throughout. The student’s scholarly project is guided by a faculty reader