Loyola University > School of Nursing > Academics > Degree Programs > Graduate Degrees > Doctor of Nursing Practice > Family Nurse Practitioner
Family Nurse Practitioner
Impact health across the lifespan through health promotion, disease prevention, and the management of health conditions.
With Family Nurse Practitioners (FNPs) in high demand, now is the ideal time to pursue your advanced nursing degree at the Marcella Niehoff School of Nursing. FNPs have the unique opportunity to treat a broad range of conditions in patients young and old. At Loyola, we place a strong emphasis on wellness and prevention, but also prepare you to treat health conditions affecting people of all ages.
Our FNP graduates go on to work in a variety of settings, including clinics, private practices, schools, or health care systems. Our degree options ensure you receive an immersive experience that prepares you to handle the role and responsibilities of an FNP.
Our Commitment to You
Graduates of Loyola Nursing's FNP track will possess the following knowledge, competencies, and professional values to develop, deliver, and evaluate family-focused care at the highest level of nursing practice.
KNOWLEDGE
You will learn:
- Population health principles and concepts
- Theoretical, conceptual, and evidence-based foundations for advanced practice nursing care across the lifespan in primary care settings
- Methods of advanced physical and health assessment and history taking
- Advanced pharmacology and pharmacotherapeutics
- Advanced physiology of health and illness
- Management of common and complex health problems across the lifespan
- Family systems and family dynamics
- Systems thinking principles and concepts
- Resource management in healthcare
- Quality improvement principles and practices
- Health care policy and advocacy
- Health care economics and finance
- Decision-making tools and processes
Competencies
You will be able to:
- Conduct advanced physical assessments and health histories for patients across the lifespan
- Educate and guide patients of all age groups on disease prevention and healthy lifestyle measures
- Develop treatment plans for acute illness and chronic disease management for patients across the lifespan
- Order and interpret diagnostic tests and screening evaluations
- Prescribe medications and other therapies
- Manage overall patient care, including issues related to aging and development
- Analyze trends, issues, and evidence in health care and health care systems
- Integrate the best evidence and patient preferences into the development, delivery, and evaluation of care at the highest level of advanced nursing practice
- Provide leadership in advanced nursing practice
- Foster and maintain team partnerships in collaborative health care environments
PROFESSIONAL VALUES
Loyola Nursing is committed to preparing nurse leaders that value:
- The hallmark characteristics of a Jesuit education:
- Commitment to excellence
- Faith in God
- Service that promotes justice
- Values-based leadership
- Global awareness
- Ethical and moral judgement
- Eliminating health disparities
- Promoting patient safety and excellence in nursing practice
- Engaging in leadership activities through intra- and inter-professional collaboration
- Ensuring equity in health policy
- Accountability to patients, society, and the profession
Credit Hours
72 credit hours
COURSES
Core Courses:
- Theories and Concepts for Advanced Clinical Practice
- Research for Advanced Clinical Practice
- Population-focused Health
- Social Justice and Ethics in Health Care
- Leadership and Roles in Advanced Nursing Practice
- Statistics for Health and Biological Sciences
- Health Care Policy and Economics
- Evidence Translation for Advanced Clinical Practice
- DNP Project
Role (NP) Courses:
- Advanced Pathophysiology
- Advanced Pharmacology
- Advanced Health Assessment Across the Lifespan
- Basic Diagnostics for Advanced Practice
Population (Family) Courses:
- Management of Common Adult Health Problems
- Management of Complex Adult Health Problems
- Family-focused Health Promotion and Disease Prevention
- Child & Family Health
- Childbearing & Family
- Suturing and Acute Wound Management
Practicums:
- Primary Health Care Practicum
- Pediatric-focused Nurse Practitioner Practicum
CLINICAL EXPERIENCES
All DNP students are required to complete practicums that focus on acquiring the advanced skills and knowledge to meet FNP competencies. Faculty design all clinical rotations and secure placements for students. Loyola maintains academic-practice partnerships throughout the Chicago metropolitan area with a focus on working with and in underserved communities.
An RN license and a minimum of 2,000 hours of recent RN clinical practice experience is required before beginning the first practicum.
Specialty
Interested in Emergency specialty preparation? Explore Loyola's Emergency specialty for Family Nurse Practitioner students.
Admission
You must be a registered nurse with a baccalaureate or master's degree in nursing from an accredited program to apply. Admission is competitive and based on the strength of application materials and interview.
Begin your journey to becoming a Family Nurse Practitioner! Learn more about the specific application requirements.
Have a question or want to learn more about the FNP track? Contact Program Track Directors, Chandra Norder-Brandli, DNP, AGACNP-BC, FNP-BC, ENP-C, APRN and Kate Myczek, DNP, APRN-FPA, FP-BC at FNPDirector@luc.edu.
