Nursing Practice (Family Nurse Practitioner)- Doctor of Nursing Practice (Online)
The Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) is a doctoral degree for nurses at the highest level of nursing practice. Practice-focused doctoral nursing programs prepare leaders for the highest level of practice and are the terminal practice degree. Courses for this degree are delivered via distance education through NMSU Global Campus (i.e., online), allowing nurses to advance their careers while remaining in their communities. Although the didactic coursework for these programs is offered through distance learning, the clinical component consists of over 1000 contact hours. Anyone interested in pursuing a nurse practitioner doctorate must ensure they can accommodate the intensive time commitment these programs require.
The Family Nurse Practitioner (FNP) track prepares nurses for advanced practice through a course of study focused on families' health care across the lifespan. The courses in this specialty focus on advanced health assessment, pathophysiology, pharmacology, and management of acute and chronic illness in families. These courses are combined with specialty seminars and clinical experiences that emphasize the physiological and psychosocial impact of illness on the patient and family. Graduates are prepared to sit for the Family Nurse Practitioner national certification exam (ANCC and AANP).
In order to complete the DNP program, each student is required to generate a project that reflects their advanced coursework in leadership, research translation, and clinical knowledge and skills.
New Mexico State University is a full member of the National Council of State Authorization Reciprocity Agreements (SARA) consortium. Students will need to check the NMSU SARA website before applying to determine if NMSU has a reciprocity agreement with their home state. State Boards of Nursing may regulate NMSU's ability to have APRN students in clinical practice in the home state of out-of-state students. Please refer to the National Council of State Boards of Nursing's APRN Distance Education Requirements website and contact the Nursing Graduate Advisor to confirm eligibility for clinical training in states outside of New Mexico.
For application information, visit the School of Nursing FNP webpage or contact the Nursing Graduate Advisor for more information about application and admission requirements at (575) 646-4007.
Course Requirements
| Prefix | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| DNP Core Courses | ||
| NURS 5120 | Nursing Informatics | 3 |
| NURS 6112 | Population Health Leadership and Epidemiologic Decision-Making | 3 |
| NURS 6115 | Advanced Nursing Knowledge and the DNP Role | 3 |
| NURS 6250 | Healthcare Policy and Ethics | 3 |
| NURS 6270 | Clinical Data Management and Analysis | 2 |
| NURS 6135 | Interdisciplinary Leadership and Role Development for Practice Excellence | 3 |
| NURS 6120 | Quality Improvement in Healthcare | 3 |
| NURS 6125 | Evidence-Based Practice in Healthcare | 3 |
| NURS 6260 | Population Health and the Environment | 3 |
| NURS 6266 | Strategic and Financial Decision-Making in Healthcare Systems | 3 |
| NURS 6305 | Introduction to the DNP Project | 1 |
| NURS 6991 | DNP Project Development | 2 |
| NURS 6991 | DNP Project Development | 2 |
| NURS 6991 | DNP Project Development | 2 |
| NP Core Courses | ||
| NURS 6220 | Advanced Pathophysiology for Clinical Nursing | 3 |
| NURS 6230 | Advanced Clinical Pharmacology | 3 |
| NURS 6224 | Diagnostic Reasoning and Advanced Health Assessment | 3 |
| NURS 6226 | Advanced Health Assessment Practicum | 1 |
| NURS 6210 | Professional Roles for Advanced Practice Clinical Nursing | 3 |
| NURS 6352 | Integrated Care for Diverse Populations | 2 |
| FNP Specialty Courses | ||
| NURS 6505 | Women’s Health and Gender Based Primary Care | 3 |
| NURS 6507 | Pediatric Primary Care | 3 |
| NURS 6510 | FNP Across the Lifespan I | 3 |
| NURS 6511 | FNP Across the Lifespan Practicum I | 2 |
| NURS 6511 | FNP Across the Lifespan Practicum I | 3 |
| NURS 6520 | FNP Across the Lifespan II | 3 |
| NURS 6521 | FNP Across the Lifespan II Practicum | 4 |
| NURS 6530 | FNP Across the Lifespan III | 1 |
| NURS 6531 | FNP Across the Lifespan III Practicum | 4 |
| Total Credits | 77 | |
| First Year | ||
|---|---|---|
| Fall | Credits | |
| NURS 6112 | Population Health Leadership and Epidemiologic Decision-Making | 3 |
| NURS 6115 | Advanced Nursing Knowledge and the DNP Role | 3 |
| NURS 6120 | Quality Improvement in Healthcare | 3 |
| NURS 6210 | Professional Roles for Advanced Practice Clinical Nursing | 3 |
| Credits | 12 | |
| Spring | ||
| NURS 6135 | Interdisciplinary Leadership and Role Development for Practice Excellence | 3 |
| NURS 6125 | Evidence-Based Practice in Healthcare | 3 |
| NURS 6220 | Advanced Pathophysiology for Clinical Nursing | 3 |
| Credits | 9 | |
| Summer | ||
| NURS 6230 | Advanced Clinical Pharmacology | 3 |
| NURS 6270 | Clinical Data Management and Analysis | 2 |
| NURS 6305 | Introduction to the DNP Project | 1 |
| Credits | 6 | |
| Second Year | ||
| Fall | ||
| NURS 5120 | Nursing Informatics | 3 |
| NURS 6224 | Diagnostic Reasoning and Advanced Health Assessment | 3 |
| NURS 6226 | Advanced Health Assessment Practicum | 1 |
| NURS 6991 | DNP Project Development | 2 |
| Credits | 9 | |
| Spring | ||
| NURS 6250 | Healthcare Policy and Ethics | 3 |
| NURS 6260 | Population Health and the Environment | 3 |
| NURS 6266 | Strategic and Financial Decision-Making in Healthcare Systems | 3 |
| NURS 6991 | DNP Project Development | 2 |
| Credits | 11 | |
| Summer | ||
| NURS 6505 | Women’s Health and Gender Based Primary Care | 3 |
| NURS 6511 | FNP Across the Lifespan Practicum I | 2 |
| NURS 6991 | DNP Project Development | 2 |
| Credits | 7 | |
| Third Year | ||
| Fall | ||
| NURS 6507 | Pediatric Primary Care | 3 |
| NURS 6510 | FNP Across the Lifespan I | 3 |
| NURS 6511 | FNP Across the Lifespan Practicum I | 3 |
| Credits | 9 | |
| Spring | ||
| NURS 6520 | FNP Across the Lifespan II | 3 |
| NURS 6521 | FNP Across the Lifespan II Practicum | 4 |
| NURS 6352 | Integrated Care for Diverse Populations | 2 |
| Credits | 9 | |
| Summer | ||
| NURS 6530 | FNP Across the Lifespan III | 1 |
| NURS 6531 | FNP Across the Lifespan III Practicum | 4 |
| Credits | 5 | |
| Total Credits | 77 | |