Become a FNP.

Take the next step in your educational journey.

Education

DNP Family Nurse Practitioner

At The University of New Mexico College of Nursing, we educate students to provide holistic health care for rural and underserved patients of all ages. Providing primary care in urban and rural settings. As an independent practitioner, you will have the skills to address health and health equity from a holistic perspective. Treating the patient, not just the symptoms.

You will be able to:

Independently perform comprehensive health assessments.
Order and interpret diagnostic tests and preform common procedures.
Manage health conditions by diagnosing and collaboratively formulating treatment plans with patients.
Order, provide and evaluate outcomes of interventions.
Lead quality improvement projects within the community or health care settings to improve system and/or patient health outcomes.

We coordinate our students’ clinical rotations and provide faculty liaison support to ensure student development and experiences working with diverse populations. As a Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE) accredited program, you know you will be educated to the highest standards of quality and integrity.

Your Education

8 consecutive terms completed in under 3 years
70 credits in total, 825 clinical hours 75 lab hours, and 300 systems thinking/ project hours total
Courses are delivered in hybrid format
Clinical courses are taught in block format. Our blocks include on-campus learning for the first 2 to 3 weeks at the beginning and mid-semester. Followed by a dedicated 4 to 5 week period of clinical rotations
When you complete this program, you will earn a Doctor of Nursing Practice
Graduates will be eligible to become certified as family nurse practitioners in New Mexico and nationally after successfully passing the certification exam through the American Nurses Certification Center (ANCC) or the American Academy of Nurse Practitioners (AANP) Certification Board

Curriculum

Designed to achieve your ultimate goal of becoming an FNP. Our curriculum ensures that you will be prepared. More than prepared – you will thrive.

Designed with you in mind.

You will start your experience at UNM in an in-person orientation with all of our incoming Advanced Practice Nurse Practitioner students. Building your interprofessional community. And continue your first year before breaking out into your concentration cohorts – family nurse practitioner.

DNP Core Courses (9 credits)

NURS 700: Introduction to Professional Inquiry (3 credits)
NURS 707: Formulating Strategies for Systemic Health Inquiry (3 credits)
NURS 709: Integrating Innovative Strategies for Systemic Health Change (3 credits)

Evidence-Based Practice Core (9 credits)

NURS 701: Introduction to Translational Evidence-Informed Care (3 credits)
NURS 708: Evidence-Informed Practice and Scholarship (3 credits)
NURS 710: Translation of Evidence for Health Care Practice, Policy, and Evaluation (3 credits)

DNP Systems Thinking and Project Core (6 credits)

NURS 796: Systems Thinking for Healthcare Transformation I (2 credits, 100 project hours)
NURS 797: Systems Thinking for Healthcare Transformation II (1 credit, 50 project hours)
NURS 798: Systems Thinking for Healthcare Transformation III (1 credit, 50 project hours)
NURS 799: Systems Thinking for Healthcare Transformation IV (2 credits, 100 project hours)

Advanced Practice Registered Nurse Core (9 credits)

NURS 711: Advanced Pathophysiology (3 credits)
NURS 712: Pharmacological Principles of Clinical Therapeutics (3 credits)
NURS 713: Advanced Health Assessment (3 credits: 2 didactic/ 1 lab [50 lab hours])

Didactic FNP Courses (9 credits)

NURS 714: Primary Care Concepts (3 credits)
NURS 716: Diagnostic Reasoning (1 credit)
NURS 717: Mental Health in Primary Care (2 credits)
NURS 734: Sexual and Reproductive Health Across the Lifespan (2 credits: 1.5 didactic/ 0.5 lab [25 lab hours])
NURS 735: Clinical Skills and Procedures in Primary Care (1 credit)

Clinical FNP Courses (28 credits)

NURS 731: Primary Care of Adults I (4 credits: 2didactic/ 2 clinical)
NURS 732: Primary Care of Adults II (5 credits: 2.5 didactic/ 2.5 clinical)
NURS 733: Primary Care of Adults III (5 credits: 2 didactic/ 3 clinical)
NURS 743: Primary Care of Pediatrics I (3 credits: 2 didactic/ 1 clinical)
NURS 744: Primary Care of Pediatrics II (4 credits: 2 didactic/ 2 clinical)
NURS 795: Advanced Nursing Fieldwork (7 credits: 1 didactic/ 6 clinical)

Upon completion of the curriculum, you will finish with a total of 70 credits including 825 clinical hours, 75 lab/simulation hours and 300 systems thinking/project hours.

Course descriptions can be found in the University Catalog.

Academic Calendars and Register for Classes

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You Will Be Prepared.

Completing the DNP Family Practitioner Program prepares you to:

Provide the full scope of primary care, using both independent and collaborative approaches, to individuals and families across the life span, including management of acute and chronic health problems, health promotion, disease prevention and support for transitional and end-of-life needs.
Integrate ethical principles in decision-making and evaluation of care related to individuals, families, populations and systems of care.
Coordinate health care through interdisciplinary collaboration with members of the health care team.
Partner with individuals and families to be full participants in their own health care.
Advocate for systems and policies that reduce health disparities, facilitate access to care and address cultural diversity and rural populations.
Assume professional responsibility for maintaining and advancing clinical practice competencies.
Design a quality improvement project to improve healthcare delivery
Appraise evidence-based research as the basis for practice.

Our Clinical Experiences

From rural clinics to urban settings, and everything in between. You will have diverse clinical experiences from our highly qualified preceptors – faculty in the community. Your faculty liaison and our staff will support you along the way.

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Student Handbook

Find essential resources, academic progression information, guidelines and program-related requirements to make the best of your nursing education.

Explore the Handbook

Simulating Real-World Experiences

From assessments to tele-health, our simulation spaces allow for clinical experiences in a safe, low-risk environment.

You will be part of OSCE's, an examination designed to test clinical skill performance and competence in a range of skills. It is a practical, real-world approach to learning and assessment.

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Ensuring Your Success

With small class sizes and a hands-on learning approach, we are focused on supporting you. We know each student is different, and we have the resources to ensure your success.

Your faculty will provide tailored feedback and support. Students also have access to our Office of Academic Advising, Office of Academic Success and all of the University support centers available to students.

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FAQ's

There is a lot of information to consider as you prepare to apply to our DNP program. We know you have questions. We have answers.

Your Questions Answered

Why a DNP at UNM?

Going back to school for your DNP is a big decision. Learn why UNM is the right place for you.

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FNP Program Contact

Admissions & Recruitment Office

College of Nursing
Building 214
Suite 1501
1 University of New Mexico

505-272-4721

HSC-CON-Admissions@salud.unm.edu

FNP Program Coordinator, Clinician Educator, Assistant Professor

Christy Cogil, DNP, MPS, RN, FNP-BC