4 Crucial Questions to Ask When Choosing an FNP Program

Online or on campus? MSN vs. DNP? You’ve got decisions to make.

As we face a shortage of physicians, family nurse practitioners (FNPs) are becoming more valued and sought after in nursing. If you are a nurse who is passionate about the health-care system and is dedicated to providing the best possible care, you are exactly the kind of person who would benefit from pursuing a doctorate degree in nursing.

Here are several questions we think are crucial for aspiring FNPs to ask when considering graduate school.

1. Why should I get a DNP instead of a Master of Science degree in nursing?

The Master of Science degree in nursing (MSN) is a respected degree, but if you are looking for more opportunities in your career, you should consider an FNP-DNP versus an MSN. As one of the highest degrees in nursing a student can achieve, the DNP degree offers much more clinical experience than an MSN and prepares nursing leaders to impact change in both direct patient care and at a policy level.

While an FNP should at the very least have an MSN, achieving a DNP is becoming the standard for FNP professionals across the country. In fact, the American Association of Colleges of Nursing (AACN) says the MSN degree may not be a viable path to becoming an FNP for much longer: “The DNP provides a clinical option for advanced preparation in nursing practice that is more comparable to other interprofessional education.” A DNP degree also allows FNPs to pursue leadership positions in organizations.

Sacred Heart University’s Dr. Susan L. Davis, R.N., & Richard J. Henley College of Nursing has an FNP-DNP program best suited for those looking to enhance their career with more authority in direct patient care and who are seeking the opportunity to work with varied populations in different settings. SHU also offers a post-master's Doctor of Nursing Practice for students who are interested in taking a more general approach to their studies.

2. What is the class model or structure? Online, hybrid or traditional?

Another factor to consider is whether the class model or structure of a particular program will fit with your lifestyle. Some schools require students to take courses exclusively on campus in a traditional setting, while others provide more flexible class opportunities with hybrid or online models. Whether you favor an in-person learning style or work full time and need to take some classes online, make sure the program has the options you need to complete your degree.

With flexible learning options, SHU allows FNP-DNP students to complete their degree part time or full time using a hybrid model so students can complete courses both online and on campus.

3. How is clinical practice integrated into the program?

One key component of an FNP-DNP program is the hands-on, clinical experience. On-the-ground fieldwork is where you get to test your knowledge. You will want to compare programs to determine which ones strike a fair balance between experiential learning and clinical practice.

FNP-DNP students at SHU need to complete 1,010 hours of clinical practice for their degree. Various schools have different ways of integrating practice hours into their FNP-DNP programs. Some schools use the capstone project as the main source of clinical hours, while others allow students to gain credit hours through policy summits, leading work teams, simulations/lab environments and so on. You will want to confirm with an adviser that the curriculum they offer will fulfill your educational and career goals.

You can also talk to current or past students and faculty to get a feel for the integration of these clinical hours into your program. SHU partners with local professionals to provide students with hands-on experience at local, regional and national levels—combining classroom lessons with  
on-the-job experience.

4. How successful has the program been for previous students?

If you are going for an FNP-DNP degree, you are likely seeking to achieve national certification and licensure. The degree to which programs prepare their students for certification will be revealed in their certification exam pass rate. Be sure to ask an adviser or an admissions counselor what the pass rate is for first-time exam takers.

You may also want to look into the program’s attrition rate, or percentage of students who drop out of a program before completion. While the ideal attrition rate is zero, even the best FNP-DNP programs will have a low attrition rate, which is not necessarily a reflection of the program. Attrition rates fluctuating between 5-10% are not automatically a cause for alarm; however, attrition rates over 10% are worthy of further investigation. Why are so many students dropping out of the program? Is it a reflection of the program itself or is it the result of an unrelated factor with unfortunate consequences?

As of 2023, Sacred Heart’s FNP-DNP program rate’s attrition rate is less than 1%. The program is student-centered and offers support to its students so they can balance their personal life and educational responsibilities.

Interested in earning your FNP-DNP to become a family nurse practitioner?

Sacred Heart University takes great pride in preparing mission-driven, results-oriented changemakers who can thrive in the field of nursing, and we’d love to help you jumpstart your career as a nursing leader.

For more information about this program, schedule a meeting with Lea DiStasio, or reach out at distasiol2@sacredheart.edu.