Javascript is currently not supported, or is disabled by this browser. Please enable Javascript for full functionality.

Skip to Main Content
University of Pittsburgh    
2024-2025 Graduate & Professional Studies Catalog 
    
 
  Feb 18, 2025
 
2024-2025 Graduate & Professional Studies Catalog

Family Individual Across the Lifespan Nurse Practitioner MSN to DNP Concentration


Return to School of Nursing Return to: School of Nursing

The Family (Individual Across the Lifespan) Nurse Practitioner (FNP) Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) area of concentration offers post-MSN to DNP preparation for individuals with master’s preparation as an FNP. The FNP is prepared as a generalist, principal provider of primary health care across the lifespan from newborn through elder years. In this DNP clinician leadership role, the FNP assumes responsibility for promoting, maintaining, and restoring health to individuals across the life span. This role includes the identification of health risks, the promotion of wellness, and the diagnosis and management of acute and chronic illness, and referral to specialty services as needed. FNP DNP graduates provide leadership in quality improvement, case management, and mobilization of community resources. The FNP works in collaboration with other health care professionals in a variety of primary care and subspecialty settings.

Students may study full time or part time. The MSN to FNP DNP is offered both onsite and online. Selected core courses may be transmitted to eligible students who live a distance from campus. A sample program plan for full-time study is provided below. Depending on courses completed during the previous MSN program, additional coursework may be required.

Applicants should be MSN-prepared nationally certified FNPs who wish to earn the DNP. Only those with a master’s degree in the same focus may choose the online option.

Full-Time Curriculum


Total Credits: 41


*Courses with a “D” are delivered synchronously via distance technology for qualified onsite students as per Policy 438

***Must take at least 1 credit.

Total Credits (41 credits + NURNP 3038 )

Total Didactic Hours - 600 hours (40 credits)

Total Clinical Hours - 120 (from 2 required credits, 1 credit NURNP 3038 and 1 credit NUR 3037) plus NP MSN clinical hours up to 700 + NURNP 3038 sufficient to total 1,000 clinical hours.

Additional coursework may be required depending upon previous education. Post-master’s NP DNP students must earn a minimum of 36 new credits, enroll for a minimum of three terms, and complete graduate academic credits for 1000 clinical hours including hours completed during their MSN program.

Return to School of Nursing Return to: School of Nursing



Catalog Navigation