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Doctor of Nursing Practice/Family Nurse Practitioner

Our 3-year program is your path to a rewarding career advancing the quality of patient care.

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Earn Your DNP/FNP at WesternU

From treating acute and chronic conditions to interpreting diagnostic tests and prescribing medication, family nurse practitioners play a direct and vital role in patient care. And the demand for the profession is growing—expected to increase by 45% by 2029, according to U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (August 2025).

WesternU College of Graduate Nursing—a pioneer in family nursing practitioner education and the first to offer a web-based program in this field—offers a seamless path to earning the Doctor of Nursing Practice degree with a Family Nurse Practitioner credential. More than just focusing on the technical side of nursing, our DNP/FNP program develops essential leadership skills that will enable you to enter fast-paced healthcare environments and make decisions that impact policies and procedures.
Application Requirements & FAQs
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A Flexible Degree with many advantages

The ever-changing demands of today’s complex healthcare environment require professionals with extensive scientific knowledge and practical expertise. With a DNP/FNP degree, you will have the skills and insights to meet the critical needs of patient populations and healthcare organizations.

The DNP/FNP program combines the direct patient care focus of a Family Nurse Practitioner with the advanced leadership and research skills of a Doctor of Nursing practice. This offers you greater flexibility in your career choices, including higher-level opportunities with greater earning potential in healthcare administration, policy, and education. The degree is particularly well suited to nurses who want to improve patient care and healthcare systems, address healthcare disparities, and advocate for health equity on a wider scale.
Admissions Information

World Class Faculty

Our distinguished faculty, recognized for their leadership and professional accomplishments, are committed to your success throughout the program.

Outstanding student support services

WesternU’s Office of Learning Enhancement and Academic Development (LEAD) offers academic counseling, tutoring, stress management training, study strategies, academic writing support, and more.

Longstanding humanistic tradition

One of the university’s founding principles is a compassionate and caring approach to health care and health care education. We train our students to confront complex healthcare issues with greater insight and empathy—and to think proactively with an eye toward equitable and efficient care delivery.

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  • Our comprehensive curriculum

    Prepares You for Success

    Focused on evidence-based practice and quality improvement, our DNP-FNP program provides advanced training not only to care for patients but also to affect change in policies and procedures in a variety of healthcare settings, including family practices, hospitals and clinics, and community health centers. The 3-year curriculum consists of three core components:

    Self-directed hybrid/online courses including assignments, exams, and online discussions, collaborating with faculty to achieve FNP/DNP learning objectives.

    Two synchronous/virtual or campus-based practice intensives each semester for FNP and DNP core, including clinical skill-building labs and testing, selected clinical experiences with faculty, lectures, student presentations, and content assessments across the FNP/DNP curriculum.

    Clinical experiences and practice hours completed across a variety of community practice settings and healthcare organizations.

    Explore the MSN/FNP Curriculum
  • A doctor in a white coat uses a stethoscope to listen to a patient's chest in a medical examination room. The patient is wearing a hospital gown.
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You Gain Extensive Clinical Experience

DNP/FNP-track students complete 675 clinical hours in their chosen practice setting. You will have the opportunity to work with various patient populations—adult, geriatric, pediatric, and obstetric and gynecologic—in a range of settings, including private practices, community clinics, public health facilities, acute care environments, and specialty clinics. You will work closely with medical doctors, osteopathic physicians, physician assistants, and nurse practitioners, refining your diagnostic and treatment skills for better patient outcomes. This partnership between the academic and clinical practice environment prepares you for clinical practice as well as future employment opportunities.
See the Clinical Experience Opportunities

Our Alumni Follow Many Different Paths

WesternU DNP/FNP graduates work in a broad range of healthcare settings, with roles that include Chief Nursing Officer, Nursing Manager/Clinical Director, and Nurse Educator. Meet some of our recent alumni.
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First Last, Degree

WesternU Class of XXXX

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First Last, Degree

WesternU Class of XXXX

A man in scrubs smiles and looks at someone off-camera in a brightly lit room with blurred people in the background.
First Last, Degree

WesternU Class of XXXX

“I’m still clinically involved with my patients, who I believe are one of the most important stakeholders. I am grateful to be able to work with the community, provide care at bedside, and be involved in processes to improve patient outcomes.”

Christine Dang, DNP ’16/MSN-FNP ’16, Nurse Practitioner/Administrator
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WesternU Virtual Tours

Western University of Health Sciences is one of the most comprehensive graduate schools for the health professions in the nation. Immerse yourself in 360-degree views, videos and photos that showcase WesternU’s colleges, labs, and programs.
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Take the Next Step

With a DNP/FNP degree, you will have a broad range of exciting and rewarding career opportunities available to you. And WesternU is the place to earn it—with our strong academic program and supportive faculty and peers.

Get more information today and let us guide you through the application process.