About the DNP Family Nurse Practitioner Program
Our DNP Family Nurse Practitioner (DNP-FNP Track) program instills a foundation of knowledge that will prepare you to work in a variety of diverse settings that align with your career interests. You will find employment opportunities across the health care spectrum. Due to the wide range of patients and the diverse array of duties that are entrusted to a FNP, these settings may range from primary care, national health agencies, prenatal and women’s heath, to home care delivered at the door step of the patient to addressing the rural health needs locally and beyond; you decide the career path that you want to follow, we’ll provide you with experiences and education to accelerate your journey.
Certification and Licensure
Students are eligible to sit for the National Board Certification Examination from the American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC) and/or American Association of Nurse Practitioners (AANP) Family Nurse Practitioner (FNP) upon successful completion of this nurse practitioner program.
PBA has determined that the curriculum of this program is sufficient to meet the educational requirements for licensure in the state of Florida.
If you have a question about out-of-state licensure, please contact our eLearning office at (561) 803-2652 or by email at onlinehelp@pba.edu.
FNP What Can I Do with the Degree?
A Family Nurse Practitioner (FNP) with a Christian focus can integrate faith into a holistic primary care career, addressing physical, emotional, and spiritual health.
Provide Holistic Primary Care: Diagnose and treat a wide range of acute and chronic conditions (e.g., infections, diabetes, hypertension) for patients across the lifespan, incorporating Christian values like compassion and respect into patient interactions.
- Incorporate Faith-Based Care: Offer spiritual support, such as prayer or discussing biblical principles, when appropriate and requested by patients, while providing evidence-based medical care, prescribing medications, and ordering diagnostic tests.
- Work in Christian Healthcare Settings: Practice in faith-based clinics, hospitals, or organizations (e.g., Christian Community Health Fellowship, Catholic health systems) that emphasize whole-person care, integrating physical and spiritual wellness.
- Serve in Church or Community Outreach: Partner with churches to provide health screenings, wellness programs, or primary care clinics for underserved congregants or communities, addressing needs like preventive care, chronic disease management, or health education.
- Missionary or Global Health Work: Use FNP skills in medical missions through Christian organizations (e.g., Samaritan’s Purse, World Vision) to deliver primary care in underserved regions domestically or internationally, combining medical expertise with faith-driven service.
- Establish a Faith-Based Practice: Open a private practice catering to Christian patients, offering family medicine with a spiritual focus, such as counseling on health decisions aligned with biblical values or addressing family dynamics.
- Educate and Advocate: Teach health and wellness from a Christian perspective in churches, schools, or community groups, reducing stigma around medical care and promoting stewardship of physical health. Advocate for equitable healthcare access in faith communities.
Career Considerations:
- Demand and Salary: FNPs are in high demand, with a projected 38% job growth for nurse practitioners by 2032 (U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, 2023). Salaries typically range from $95,000-$130,000 annually, though faith-based or mission roles may prioritize service over higher pay.
- Certifications and Licensure: Obtain FNP certification (e.g., through AANP or ANCC) and maintain state licensure. Additional training in Christian counseling or bioethics can enhance faith-based practice.
Unique Opportunities:
- Develop faith-based health programs, like chronic disease workshops or wellness ministries, for churches.
- Provide primary care to Christian communities in remote areas.
- Collaborate with pastors or Christian counselors to address both spiritual and physical health
Program Details
PBA is known throughout the region for the quality of nursing graduates we produce each year. This is a result of our proven curriculum and exceptional instructors who serve as student mentors and bring decades of real-world experience. Other distinctives include:
- Christ-Centered Experience—concepts of faith and biblical principles are at the center of everything nursing students experience.
- Holistic Approach—we strongly believe, and teach our students, that true healthcare involves sociocultural understanding and spiritual encouragement in addition to the physical.
- Advanced Labs and Technology—you will benefit from training with the most advanced nursing lab technologies and patient simulation resources, preparing you to step in and succeed on day one.
- Personalized Learning—you will be guided by expert faculty who bring years of nursing experience at places such as Palm Beach Gardens Medical Center; Bethesda Memorial Hospital in Boynton Beach, Florida; Good Samaritan Medical Center; and Vanderbilt University Medical Center.
Learn more about your classes and requirements in the course catalog.
- NursingCAS application at http://nursingcas.org/ (NursingCAS is the Centralized Application Service for students applying to nursing programs)
- Baccalaureate degree in nursing from a regionally accredited university and nationally accredited nursing program
- Applicants for Post-Master’s DNP track must have Master of Science in Nursing from a regionally accredited university and nationally accredited nursing program
- State Graduates of Palm Beach Atlantic University’s BSN or MSN, tracks are eligible for seamless admissions to the University’s DNP program. Contact the Graduate Admissions office for details.
- Minimum cumulative 3.0 GPA on a 4.0 scale, minimum nursing courses 3.0 GPA
- No GRE required; however, applicants who score less than 3.0 (cumulative and nursing) on a 4.0 scale must provide acceptable GRE scores of 50th percentile on both verbal and quantitative sections and 4.0 on the analytical writing section
- Minimum of one year’s work experience as an RN or current employment as an RN.
- Required documents below may be submitted through NursingCAS* at nursingcas.org.
- Official Transcripts from all schools attended
- Current Curriculum Vitae (CV)
- Three letters of recommendation attesting to the applicant’s academic ability and leadership potential, including one from a current supervisor
- GRE scores if applicable
- Current and active Florida license OR a valid RN license from another state and proof of application to Florida Board of Nursing
- Personal statement supporting future goals, faith, and interest in obtaining a practice doctorate (no more than 500 words)
- Personal interview with the School of Nursing Graduate Admissions Committee
- After interview and upon acceptance, applicants must:
- Submit Admissions Deposit of $400 (non-refundable; will be applied to tuition upon enrollment
- Provide Documentation to the School of Nursing:
- Background Check with Fingerprints
- Drug Screen
- Proof of Immunization/Titers
- PPD or other TB Test
- CPR Certification from American Heart Association
- Florida RN License
- Proof of Health Insurance
For a complete program description and policies, click here.
Certification
Students are eligible to sit for the ANCC and/or AANP FNP National Certification Examination upon completion of the NP program.
The School of Nursing has a vast range of opportunities for both our students and our graduates. From student clubs and organizations to externships and internships, you can get involved!
Launching Brighter Futures
Graduates of the program are ready for licensure as nurses with careers in bedside nursing, leadership and community nursing. Many program alumni also pursue a graduate degree. PBA nursing graduates consistently achieve a 94 percent pass rate on the national licensure exam, and are employed by respected healthcare organizations around the country, some of which include:
- Canasi Medical Institute
- Cleveland Clinic
- Community Health Clinic of West Palm Beach
- Emory Healthcare of Atlanta
- Florida Cancer Specialists
- Florida Department of Health
- Jupiter Medical Group
- Marcus Neuroscience Institute
- Palm Beach Cardiology
- Mary’s Medical Center
- Team Health
PBA awards over three million dollars in scholarships every year. Learn more about financial aid.
Explore PBA
From the intrigue of the Intercoastal Waterway to the inspiration of the stunning DeSantis Chapel, to the opportunities in bustling downtown West Palm Beach, to the comfort of a cozy residence hall, you’ll feel at home here. Come experience the vibrant, supportive, inspiring campus of PBA for yourself.
