DNP-FNP Program Overview
- Complete in as little as 3 years
- 1,035 clinical hours
- Online coursework + hands-on intensives
- Meets FNP board certification requirements
- Prepares you to take the Nurse Coaching certification exam
You understand excellent patient care because you’ve delivered it. If you’re ready for more autonomy, the Texas Wesleyan Doctor of Nursing Practice – Family Nurse Practitioner (DNP-FNP) gives you the clinical expertise to practice independently as a family nurse practitioner and the leadership skills to influence how care is delivered at the organizational level.
Our DNP program for family nurse practitioners is challenging, but it’s designed to be manageable for working nurses. Most of the coursework is online and asynchronous, so you can fit it in around your shifts and personal schedule.
You’ll come to campus at key points in the program: at the beginning for orientation, during the degree for hands-on skills intensives and near the finish for your final project presentation. Clinical rotations begin in your third semester, and we will help connect you with sites in your area.
Download our program brochure to get more details about the DNP-FNP program.
What Makes Texas Wesleyan Different?
Personal relationships matter here. Texas Wesleyan faculty and staff will know your name, your strengths and what motivates you. With small classes and instructors who still work in clinical practice, you get individual attention from people who truly understand your career.
Learn clinical skills that count. We focus on what you’ll actually use in practice, like reading X-rays and EKGs, suturing, abscess drainage, bone casting and more. These skills give you true clinical autonomy and help you step into any care setting with confidence, from busy urban clinics to those in rural counties.
Develop the credentials and skills to transform patient care delivery. Beyond patient care, you’ll learn grant writing, quality improvement methods, policy development and evidence-based practice to address real clinical and administrative challenges. Your final DNP project gives you direct experience implementing solutions to actual healthcare problems in your community or clinic.
Explore the curriculum to see how we deliver this difference.
Request Information
To download a program brochure and learn more about the Texas Wesleyan online DNP-FNP program, please fill out the form. You can also get in touch with an enrollment specialist directly by calling us at 817-785-9307.
Is the Online DNP-FNP the Program for You?
The DNP-FNP is ideal for registered nurses with a BSN who want to:
- Diagnose conditions and prescribe medications as a primary care provider
- Lead change in healthcare systems and influence policy decisions
- Earn the highest level of academic achievement in the field to be positioned as a healthcare leader
The nursing profession is moving toward requiring a doctoral degree for advanced practice. A DNP-FNP places you at the same credential level as other healthcare leaders, plus it gives you the management experience to lead teams and advocate for patients.
See full degree requirements and review the admissions steps.
We Prepare You for FNP Certification
Texas Wesleyan’s DNP-FNP includes the clinical hours and coursework required for FNP certification. We also offer board review and exam preparation to help you succeed. You’ll be ready for the AANP or ANCC exam.
Texas Wesleyan graduates have a 92.6% FNP board pass rate (vs. the 83% national average).
Family nurse practitioners earn a median salary of $126,300
Source: Lightcast Labor Market Data
Frequently Asked Questions
A family nurse practitioner is a registered nurse with advanced education and training who is certified to make independent clinical decisions. An FNP can diagnose conditions, prescribe medications and create treatment plans without waiting for approval.
FNPs provide care to patients of all ages, from newborns to seniors. They use relationship-centered, holistic care and a broad scope of practice that is relevant to individuals, families and communities.
As an FNP, you can work in settings such as private clinics, urgent care centers, hospitals, community health centers, telehealth platforms and more. Some FNPs even go on to open their own practices.
- The DNP-FNP is for nurses who want to earn their doctorate and become certified family nurse practitioners. The program includes leadership training, policy development and evidence-based practice coursework. This degree takes a minimum of three years and includes 1,035 clinical hours.
- The DNP is for nurses who already have their master’s degree and advanced practice credentials. This program takes a minimum of two years and focuses on leadership, policy work and organizational change without clinical practice hours (though you will complete 500 work hours).
To apply for the DNP-FNP program, you need:
- Unencumbered RN license in the state where you’ll complete clinical hours
- Bachelor’s degree in nursing from a nationally accredited program
- Minimum 3.0 GPA in upper-level nursing courses with a 2.8 GPA overall (if your GPA is below 2.8, call us at 817-785-9307 to explore pathways to admission)
- Completed undergraduate statistics and research courses with a grade of B or higher
When you apply, you’ll submit a resume, three professional or academic references and official transcripts. You’ll also complete a virtual interview.
Visit our admissions page to see application details and to start your application process.
A DNP-FNP gives you complete clinical training as a family nurse practitioner, plus doctoral preparation for leadership. You’ll be ready to provide excellent patient care and drive improvements in how healthcare organizations work.
Our program covers leadership, policy development and organizational strategy, so you'll understand how to implement the changes you know need to happen. With a doctorate, you’ll also be prepared for leadership in administration, policy or quality improvement. You'll be ready for FNP roles in clinics, urgent care, telehealth and more.
This is a terminal degree — the highest level of academic achievement in the field — that prepares you for the direction nursing is heading. The AACN reports that nearly 40% of nurse practitioners held a Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) in 2022, with healthcare systems increasingly requiring this level of education for advanced practice roles.
Not sure which program fits your goals?
Download a brochure to compare the programs. You can also reach out for a one-on-one consultation: call us at 817-785-9307 or email us to set up a time to talk.