Doctor of Nursing Practice - Family Nurse Practitioner Specialty

At the end of the CSUSB DNP Program, the graduate will demonstrate competency in:

1. Clinical practice by demonstrating advanced nursing practice knowledge through providing holistic person-centered evidence-based care and engaging in shared decision making with individuals and families in collaboration with interprofessional stakeholders.
2. Clinical scholarship by translating evidence- based research, informatics, and healthcare technologies into practice that improves health outcomes for individuals and communities.
3. Leadership in healthcare promoting population health, health equity, and navigating organizational and healthcare systems to address quality and safety for individuals and organizations.
4. Professionalism by modeling respect for diversity, equity and inclusion of all individuals and advocating for an environment that promotes self-care and well-being and demonstrating accountability to professional practice standards.
5. Advocacy for equity and social justice by respecting diversity and promoting inclusion of all individuals, with considerations of determinants of health, to improve health outcomes.

At the end of the CSUSB DNP Program, students will demonstrate clinical competency in the following areas:

1. Clinical Practice: Provide holistic person- centered evidenced-based care including:
   • Perform a comprehensive health history and physical exam.
   • Order and interpret appropriate diagnostic tests.
   • Differentiate, diagnose and manage acute and chronic health concerns.
   • Prescribe and manage appropriate pharmacologic and non-pharmacologic treatment/ therapeutics.
2. Clinical Scholarship:
   • Translate evidence-based research into practice to improve health outcomes for individuals and communities.
3. Leadership:
   • Guide individuals navigating the healthcare system.
   • Collaborate within an interprofessional team to improve health outcomes with consideration for the determinants of health.
4. Professionalism:
   • Model respect for diversity, equity and inclusion of all individuals, including other members of the healthcare team.
   • Advocate for an environment that promotes self-care and well-being.
   • Demonstrate accountability to professional practice standards, including regulatory requirements.
5. Advocacy:
   • Engage in shared decision making with individuals and families in collaboration with interprofessional stakeholders.
   • Advocate for social justice and health equity with considerations for determinants of health.

A Family Nurse Practitioner (FNP) is an advanced practice registered nurse (APRN) prepared at the graduate level to deliver comprehensive, evidence-based primary care to individuals and families across the lifespan. FNP's are trained to assess, diagnose, and manage acute and chronic conditions; order and interpret diagnostic tests; prescribe pharmacologic and non-pharmacologic treatments; and promote wellness through patient education and preventive care. With a holistic, family-centered perspective, FNP's provide care that addresses physical, emotional, and social determinants of health. Practicing in settings such as primary care clinics, community health centers, and specialty practices, FNP's expand access to quality healthcare, improve health outcomes, and advance health equity.

The Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) program is a full-time, year-round program completed over three years (eight semesters). In addition to rigorous didactic coursework, students complete 750 direct-care clinical hours and 250 indirect hours through on-campus simulation and DNP Project implementation. The curriculum, which extends well beyond traditional master’s-level preparation, includes:

• DNP Core Courses in leadership, advocacy, ethics, health policy, epidemiology and clinical prevention, and informatics.
• Doctoral Project Courses culminating in the design, implementation, and evaluation of a fully developed DNP Project.
• Nurse Practitioner Courses in advanced pharmacology, advanced health assessment, pathophysiology, pediatrics, obstetrics, integrative holistic therapies, and family health management.

This comprehensive program equips graduates with advanced clinical expertise, strong leadership capacity, and a holistic perspective to transform healthcare delivery and improve patient outcomes.

DNP-FNP Plan of Study

The DNP program offers a distinctive emphasis on holistic and integrative healthcare, setting graduates apart as leaders prepared to deliver comprehensive, patient-centered care. Grounded in a mindful and reflective doctoral experience, the curriculum is designed to scaffold evidence-based holistic practices across all clinical courses, ensuring that students are equipped to treat the whole person, not just the condition.

Students benefit from specialized coursework, including a second pharmacology course with a unique focus on herbal therapeutics, as well as the Introduction to Integrative Health and Self-Care for the APRN course. Here, they gain the knowledge and skills to incorporate holistic modalities into patient care plans while also cultivating self-care strategies to build resilience, reduce stress and anxiety, and prevent professional burnout.

By combining rigorous academic preparation with an emphasis on wellness, the DNP program not only advances clinical expertise but also promotes a healthier, more sustainable approach to nursing practice empowering graduates to transform healthcare delivery and lead with innovation and compassion.

The Doctor of Nursing (DNP) Program at California State University San Bernardino is WSCUC accredited and pending accreditation by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE).

View Full DNP-FNP Admission Requirements