Doctor of Nursing Practice-Family Nurse Practitioner program faculty members Dr. Melissa Viatori, clinical assistant professor in App State’s Department of Nursing, far left, and Dr. Melinda Bogardus, assistant professor in the nursing department, second from right, instruct App State senior nursing major Kimber Blackburn, of Clayton, far right, during an experiential learning experience in the Beaver College of Health Sciences’ nursing skills lab in the Levine Hall of Health Sciences. Melissa Edmondson, administrative assistant in the Department of Nursing, second from left, played the role of patient during the exercise. Photo by Chase Reynolds
BOONE, N.C. — Appalachian State University is accepting applications for its new Doctor of Nursing Practice-Family Nurse Practitioner (DNP-FNP) program, which will welcome its inaugural students this fall. Prospective students are encouraged to apply by the priority deadline, Feb. 1. The final deadline to apply is July 1, with students accepted on a space-available basis.
“Nurse practitioners provide a critical solution to addressing the shortage of health care providers, particularly in rural areas,” said Dr. Marie Huff, dean of App State’s Beaver College of Health Sciences. “Offering this program builds upon a decade of App State Mountaineer nursing excellence, and by educating additional family nurse practitioners, App State is strengthening both the health of individuals in the region and health care access for rural communities.”
The part-time, hybrid DNP-FNP program is designed for registered nurses who have earned a bachelor’s degree in nursing and have at least one year of work experience. Students will complete coursework primarily online and spend one week of each semester at the App State Hickory campus, where they will engage in intensive skill development utilizing the high-tech nursing simulation laboratory space that is scheduled to open to students this fall.
Jennifer White, director of health care simulation and innovation learning in App State’s Department of Nursing, right, views Dr. Melinda Bogardus, assistant professor in the nursing department, center, and App State senior nursing major Kimber Blackburn, of Clayton, left, as they engage in a hands-on exercise with a simulation mannequin in the Beaver College of Health Sciences’ Healthcare Simulation Lab, located in the Levine Hall of Health Sciences. Students in App State’s Doctor of Nursing Practice program, to begin this fall, will spend one week of each semester engaged in intensive skill development at App State’s Hickory campus, utilizing the high-tech nursing simulation laboratory space that is scheduled to open at the campus this fall. Photo by Chase Reynolds
Family nurse practitioners diagnose and treat patients across the lifespan — from babies to older adults — and approach care from a holistic perspective. They work in a variety of settings, including outpatient primary care/family medicine, community health centers, specialty care medical practices, school-based health centers and other facilities.
Currently, about one-fourth of North Carolina counties do not have the recommended primary care provider ratios for their residents, according to Sheps Health Workforce NC. The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reports the demand for nurse practitioners is projected to grow by 40% from 2024 to 2034 — much faster than the average for all occupations.
Registered nurses interested in enrolling in App State’s DNP-FNP program should begin the process by applying for graduate admission to the Williams School of Graduate Studies at App State. Learn more about admissions requirements for App State’s Williams School of Graduate Studies and DNP-FNP program.
App State senior nursing major Kimber Blackburn, of Clayton, left, practices her nursing skills under the direction of Dr. Melinda Bogardus, assistant professor in the Department of Nursing, as part of a hands-on exercise in the Beaver College of Health Sciences’ Healthcare Simulation Lab, located in the Levine Hall of Health Sciences. Photo by Chase Reynolds
About App State’s DNP-FNP program
The DNP-FNP program at App State is led by a dedicated team of nursing faculty, all of whom are licensed and experienced nurse practitioners. The program’s faculty members maintain active clinical practice, bringing current, real-world expertise to every course.
Dr. Anna S. Hamrick, DNP-FNP program director and clinical professor of nursing in App State’s Department of Nursing, shared that App State’s DNP-FNP program offers unique advantages for prospective students — including opportunities for interprofessional collaboration in the Beaver College of Health Sciences.
“Our variety of well-established health science programs — such as social work, public health, occupational therapy, health administration, and nutrition — create rich opportunities for App State DNP-FNP students to learn and practice as part of high-functioning interprofessional teams,” she said.
Hamrick added, “We have created a program designed for working registered nurses to advance their training in a flexible, supportive program. In addition to the online and on-campus sessions, our dedicated faculty will support students in securing high-quality clinical practicums with providers in their region.”
The DNP-FNP degree program is designed to be completed in four years (11 semesters), including Summer Sessions. Students will complete a minimum of 750 direct patient care practicum hours, meeting the established national standard for advanced clinical training. After completing the program, graduates will be eligible to sit for the national certification exam.
Complementing the core requirements for the DNP program and preparation as a family nurse practitioner, students can personalize their education by selecting one of three cognates — Nursing Education, Public/Policy Health or Health Care Administration — to develop specialized expertise aligned with their professional interests and career goals.
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About the Department of Nursing
The Department of Nursing in Appalachian State University’s Beaver College of Health Sciences provides an evidence-based nursing education in an intellectually stimulating and challenging environment that is designed to prepare the beginning nursing professional with the knowledge and skills to practice in diverse settings in a highly complex health care system. The department offers two accredited Bachelor of Science programs: the nursing pre-licensure program and the online RN to BSN program, designed for current registered nurses seeking the bachelor’s degree. The department also offers a Master of Science in nursing program that prepares registered nurses for leadership roles as educators. Learn more at https://nursing.appstate.edu.
About the Beaver College of Health Sciences
Appalachian State University’s Beaver College of Health Sciences (BCHS), opened in 2010, is transforming the health and quality of life for the communities it serves through interprofessional collaboration and innovation in teaching, scholarship, service and clinical outreach. The college enrolls more than 3,600 students and offers 10 undergraduate degree programs, nine graduate degree programs and four certificates across seven departments: Kinesiology, Nursing, Nutrition and Health Care Management, Public Health, Recreation Management and Physical Education, Rehabilitation Sciences, and Social Work. The college’s academic programs are located in the Holmes Convocation Center on App State’s main campus and the Levine Hall of Health Sciences, a state-of-the-art, 203,000-square-foot facility that is the cornerstone of Boone’s Wellness District. In addition, the college supports the Appalachian Institute for Health and Wellness and has collaborative partnerships with the Wake Forest University School of Medicine’s Physician Assistant Program, UNC Health Appalachian and numerous other health agencies. Learn more at https://healthsciences.appstate.edu.
About Appalachian State University
As a premier public institution, Appalachian State University prepares students to lead purposeful lives. App State is one of 17 campuses in the University of North Carolina System, with a national reputation for innovative teaching and opening access to a high-quality, cost-effective education. The university enrolls more than 21,000 students, has a low student-to-faculty ratio and offers more than 150 undergraduate and 80 graduate majors at its Boone and Hickory campuses and through App State Online. Learn more at https://www.appstate.edu.
The program, launching in fall 2026, will develop the next generation of rural health care leaders
UNC System awards $29 million in grants to expand nursing education
