5 Best Utah FNP Programs (Online & Campus) – 2024
Written By: Darby Faubion BSN, RN
Graduates of FNP programs in Utah work in hospitals, clinics, schools, home healthcare agencies, and community health organizations throughout the state. They are responsible for providing primary healthcare services such as diagnosis, treatment, preventative interventions, and wellness checks to patients across the lifespan. Employment opportunities for family nurse practitioners in the Bee Hive State will rise by 61 percent in the next 10 years. The money is good, too: Utah-based FNPs make $115,320 annually. Should becoming an FNP be your next career move? Explore your options with this list of the 5 best FNP programs in Utah for 2024.
FOLLOWING ARE THE 5 BEST FNP PROGRAMS IN UTAH (ONLINE & CAMPUS) FOR 2024
(Based on our Ranking Methodology, we have ranked the 5 best campus-based and online FNP programs in Utah.)
1. University of Utah - Salt Lake City
Programs Offered: BSN-to-DNP and
Post-APRN Licensure Certificate
About the School: The University of Utah at Salt Lake City has two of the best FNP programs in Utah. The university boasts of several accolades. U.S. News & World Report ranks the University of Utah at Salt Lake City in five categories in its 2022-2023 report, including one of the best Doctor of Nursing Practice Programs. Students in the program learn from renowned faculty who remain in active practice. The faculty's dedication to active practice, research, and evidence-based learning suggests the University of Utah is an excellent place to prepare for Family Nurse Practitioner certification.
BSN-to-DNP Program Details: The post-baccalaureate DNP program at Rocky Mountain University is one of the best family nurse practitioner programs in Utah. The program is designed to prepare you for the highest levels of professional nursing practice. You will learn from dedicated faculty who believe in leading by example. The program will prepare you with the knowledge and skills necessary to be an effective leader in today's complex healthcare environment and to apply best evidence-based practices that promote positive patient outcomes.
The BSN-to-DNP program is offered in distance learning and on-campus formats and can be completed in as few as three years of full-time study. The program features an 85-credit hour curriculum. You will gain the theoretical knowledge needed to function as an FNP by taking classes, including Interprofessional Disaster Preparedness & Response, Advanced Pharmacology, Management of Episodic Problems, and Clinical Genetics.
Post-APRN Licensure Certificate Program Details: If you are currently an Advanced Practice Registered Nurse but want to gain knowledge and certification in family practice, the Post-APRN Licensure Certificate program could be an excellent option. This pathway is available to registered nurses who hold an advanced practice degree in nursing and national certification in a population focus other than family practice.
Your program of study is individualized based on a gap analysis of your previous coursework and clinical experience. The Post-APRN Licensure Certificate program varies in length from four to six semesters, with students earning between 22 and 32 credits, depending on GAP analysis results. Some classes you may take in this pathway include Complex Pediatric Problems, Chronic Problems of Adults & Elders, and Advanced Pharmacotherapeutics Across the Lifespan.
2. Brigham Young University - Provo
Programs Offered: MSN
About the School: Brigham Young University is home to another excellent MSN Family Nurse Practitioner program in Utah. Brigham Young is a public university offering a Christian faith-based foundation for all studies. The
mission of the School of Nursing is to
“exemplify the Healer’s art by leading with faith and integrity, advancing the science of nursing and healthcare, promoting health and wellness, alleviating suffering, and serving individuals, families, and communities.” Brigham Young University is ranked by U.S. News & World Report as one of the Best Nursing Schools for Master’s Nursing Programs.
MSN Program Details: The MSN-Family Nurse Practitioner program is one of the best FNP programs in Utah. The program is available to baccalaureate-prepared registered nurses whose degree was earned at an ACEN, CNEA, or CCNE- accredited school of nursing. The program is delivered in a hybrid format, with most classes offered online. It is designed for full-time study and can be completed in seven semesters.
The MSN curriculum includes 65-credit hours. Credits are earned through graduate core courses, advanced practice core courses, FNP population focus core courses, and capstone experiences. In this program, you will take classes like Informatics & Healthcare Technologies, Applied Pharmacology in Advanced Practice, and Diagnosis & Management of Acute & Complex Disorders Across the Lifespan.
The program culminates with a capstone experience that requires you to write a thesis, project, or evidence-based scholarly paper. The program also includes a Family Nurse Practitioner internship where you will earn at least 500 clinical hours.
3. Weber State University - Ogden
Programs Offered: BSN-to-DNP
About the School: Weber University is home to another of the best FNP programs in Utah. The university prides itself on preparing expert nurse practitioners capable of improving and advancing the profession and promoting positive outcomes for patients, families, and healthcare organizations.
Weber University offers a practice-focused doctoral nursing degree designed to prepare you to evaluate and implement theoretical and clinical knowledge to transform the delivery of healthcare and promote positive patient outcomes.
BSN-to-DNP Program Details: The BSN-to-DNP program offered at Weber State University, which is an excellent FNP program in Utah, is featured in a hybrid format, with online and in-person didactic experiences, which makes it an appealing option for the working nurse. The program is designed to be completed in eight semesters, including two summer semesters of full-time study.
Eligible applicants will have a Bachelor of Science in Nursing degree conferred by a regionally accredited college or university with an active, unrestricted license to practice as a registered nurse and two years of work experience as an RN. Accreditation of the BSN program must be by the
CCNE,
CNEA, or
ACEN.
The BSN-to-DNP Family Nurse Practitioner program features a rigorous curriculum that consists of 75 total credits. In this program, you will take classes including Advanced Pathophysiology & Genetics, Scholarly & ethical Foundations, Biostatistics, & Epidemiology.
All DNP students complete a minimum of
1,000 practicum hours. Practicum hours are incorporated into the program through transferable practicum hours, project hours, clinical practice, and field study. At least 660 hours of the DNP-FNP clinical requirements will be completed at various clinical settings where you will engage in hands-on practice with patients across the lifespan experiencing varying degrees of health and illness.
4. Westminster College - Salt Lake
Programs Offered: MSN
About the School: Westminster College offers an excellent FNP program in Utah. The MSN-FNP program features small class sizes, hands-on experience, and dedicated faculty to help you achieve your academic goals. The college's mission is to provide you with the knowledge and clinical expertise necessary to become an effective Family Nurse Practitioner.
The Family Nurse Practitioner-MSN program is taught by highly skilled, experienced faculty. You will learn from their expertise and be prepared to assume leadership roles in developing and implementing interventions to promote the health and wellness of patients, families, and populations.
MSN Program Details: The Master of Science-Family Nurse Practitioner program is open to applicants with a current license to practice as a registered nurse and at least one year of work experience. Candidate applications are based on the evaluation of previous academic ability and professional nursing experience. Applicants must complete all undergraduate coursework before matriculating into the MSN program.
The MSN-FNP program, a top family nurse practitioner program in Utah, is designed to build upon your previous bachelor’s nursing degree, preparing you for advanced practice in primary family care. This MSN Family Nurse Practitioner program is offered in a campus-based format, designed to complete in five semesters of full-time study.
The program features a 42-semester hour curriculum, including classes such as Advanced Pathophysiology, Advanced Health Assessment & Diagnostic Reasoning, Theoretical Foundations of Advanced Practice Nursing, and Ambulatory Care Procedures. Students may transfer up to nine credit hours of previous eligible coursework. All students in the MSN-FNP program complete a minimum of 720 clinical practicum hours.
5. Rocky Mountain University of Health Professions - Provo
Programs Offered: MSN,
BSN-to-DNP, and
Post-Master’s Certificate
About the School: The Rocky Mountain University of Health Professions is home to three more excellent FNP programs in Utah. The RMU-College of Nursing works to provide student-centered education designed to prepare you for autonomous, evidence-based, patient-oriented, collaborative advanced nursing practice.
MSN Program Details: The MSN program at Rocky Mountain University offers bachelor's-prepared nurses the opportunity to earn a Master of Science in Nursing, prepare for advanced RN practice, and train to become a Family Nurse Practitioner. The MSN-FNP program is designed in a five-semester hybrid format. The program features a 50-credit curriculum that pairs didactic instruction with clinical practicum experiences. In this program, you will engage in asynchronous online instruction and minimal campus visits to participate in laboratory simulations.
The curriculum includes 32 credits of MSN core courses and 18 credits of Family Nurse Practitioner courses. A few classes you will take in this pathway include Organizational Behavior Management & Informatics, Primary Care & Prevention, Health Promotion & Prevention in Populations, and Roles, Leadership, & Ethics. The MSN-FNP pathway also includes 540 clinical clock hours, giving you hands-on experience caring for patients across the lifespan.
BSN-to-DNP Program Details: If you are a baccalaureate-prepared registered nurse and prefer to earn a Doctor of Nursing Practice instead of an MSN, the BSN-to-DNP program at Rocky Mountain University is an excellent option. The program was created with working nurses in mind, offering online course delivery and the opportunity to graduate in just eight semesters.
The DNP-FNP program is an 80-credit hour program designed to prepare you to influence social and health policy for patients from diverse populations across the lifespan. The curriculum includes core nursing credits, FNP core courses, and Leadership-focused classes.
Some classes you will take include Scientific Underpinnings, Advanced Clinical Pharmacology, Fundamentals of Leadership, and Advanced Health Assessment. The DNP-FNP program requires a minimum of 1,000 hours of clinical experience. You will earn clinical hours through hands-on practice and a DNP Scholarly Project.
Post-Master’s Certificate Program Details: If you have a Master of Science in Nursing degree and are searching for an FNP program in Utah, the Post-Master’s Certificate program could be a perfect choice. In just four semesters, you will be ready to work as a Family Nurse Practitioner caring for patients and families with a wide range of health conditions.
The Post-Master's Certificate-FNP program includes a 30-credit hour curriculum featuring classes such as Advanced Pathophysiology, Advanced Pharmacology, Primary Care & Prevention, and Roles, Leadership, & Ethics. Students who choose this pathway participate in 540 hours of clinical practicum relevant to family practice nursing.
VIEW OUR RANKING METHODOLOGY
Darby Faubion BSN, RN
Darby Faubion is a nurse and Allied Health educator with over twenty years of experience. She has assisted in developing curriculum for nursing programs and has instructed students at both community college and university levels. Because of her love of nursing education, Darby became a test-taking strategist and NCLEX prep coach and assists nursing graduates across the United States who are preparing to take the National Council Licensure Examination (NCLEX).
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