DNP-FNP Program

Dear Prospective DNP-FNP Student: 

Welcome to the Doctor of Nursing Practice–Family Nurse Practitioner (DNP-FNP) Program at California State University, Bakersfield. As the Founding Director of the DNP Program, I am delighted that you are considering joining our community of nursing leaders and scholars.

Our DNP-FNP program prepares future family nurse practitioners to deliver high-quality, evidence-based primary care while developing the leadership skills needed to transform healthcare. As nursing education continues to evolve toward doctoral preparation for advanced practice nurses, our program reflects national recommendations and prepares graduates to meet the growing demands of an increasingly complex healthcare environment. Through rigorous coursework, immersive clinical experiences, and a practice-focused doctoral project, you will be prepared to integrate advanced clinical expertise with leadership, scholarship, and quality improvement to transform healthcare delivery and improve patient and population health.

I look forward to supporting you as you begin your journey toward becoming a doctoral-prepared Family Nurse Practitioner and a leader in the future of healthcare.

Sincerely, 

Heidi He, DNP, MSN, FNP-C, RN

Graduate Program Director

Program Information

The purpose of the DNP-FNP program is to produce doctorally prepared nurse practitioners to address the critical shortage of primary care providers in the region and to meet the emerging educational and scholarly standard for nurse practitioners. This three-year, eight-semester, program is designed for registered nurses (RNs) who have a Bachelor of Science (BS) or Master of Science (MS) in Nursing, and who are not Family Nurse Practitioners and aspire to become doctorally prepared nurse practitioners. Currently, our DNP-NP program only offers the Family Nurse Practitioner (FNP) concentration.  Admission to the program is every fall semester.

Graduates of the FNP Program are: 

• Qualified to be certified as NPs by the State of California.
• Qualified to earn an FNP furnishing number from the State of California.
• Prepared to take National FNP Certification exams.

The Doctor of Nursing Practice program at CSUB is pursuing initial accreditation by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education, 655 K Street NW, Suite 750, Washington, DC 20001, 202-887-6791. Applying for accreditation does not guarantee that accreditation will be granted.

HRSA ANEW Traineeship Program

The Department of Nursing has been awarded a four-year grant by the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) Advanced Nursing Education Workforce (ANEW) program. For the period of 2023-2027, this grant enables the department to offer a limited number of traineeships, at $25,000 per year, to admitted students who have demonstrated a strong commitment to providing primary care in underserved and rural communities after graduation. These scholarships are designed to support students as they prepare to meet the critical healthcare needs of these populations, aligning with the department's mission to improve healthcare access and outcomes in vulnerable communities.

Lectures

Our program is designed to provide a comprehensive learning experience through a combination of course formats such as:  

• Weekly in-person and synchronous online courses
• Asynchronous courses
• Hybrid courses
• Other days/times that may be required as scheduled by faculty

Off Campus Clinical Hours

• A minimum of 1000 clinical hours is required.
• First clinical course starts in the 4th semester.
• Typically, 1-2 eight-hour clinical day(s) per week will be required during the regular work week (Monday-Friday, during normal business hours).  More days may be required as students progress through the program.

Virtual Information Sessions

These informational sessions are designed for students who are interested in apply for one of the DNP Programs for the Fall 2027 application cycle.  The sessions will include an overview of admissions requirements, applications, and general information.

All sessions will be held virtually via Zoom - registration is required.  After you register for a session, you will receive an email with instructions on how to join the meeting.