PhD in Nursing Practice - Family Nurse Practitioner

Fairfield University, renowned for its dedication to academic excellence, ethical values, and a strong commitment to social justice, Fairfield offers a diverse range of undergraduate and graduate programs across various fields. At Fairfield University, the integration of a Jesuit education with academic pursuits is central to its mission. The university's emphasis on critical thinking, ethical leadership, and community engagement creates a dynamic learning environment that prepares students to navigate complex challenges in their future careers. With a dedicated faculty and a vibrant campus culture, Fairfield fosters an atmosphere where students can excel academically and personally. Through its commitment to academic rigor, values-driven education, and a dedication to making a positive impact on the world, Fairfield University prepares graduates to become ethical leaders who contribute to their communities and the broader society while upholding the Jesuit values of cura personalis (care for the whole person) and a commitment to the greater good.

Fairfield University’s Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) Family Nurse Practitioner program prepares advanced practice nurses to provide holistic care to individuals of all ages from newborn babies to end of life. Students work in all care settings with a focus on delivering health promotion and disease prevention to people with acute and chronic disease. Graduates of this program are eligible to diagnose and manage the care of patients across the life span and in all settings except critical care. Students have clinical practica in nearby city and rural clinics, private practices, hospitals, and settings that employ advanced practice nurses or medical doctors. The clinically-focused degree prepares graduates to evaluate and apply existing evidence to improve practice outcomes. Taught as a cohort program, students are educated in the fundamental skills necessary to make a difference in healthcare: population-level healthcare, organizational systems, leadership, business management, clinical scholarship, information technology, and policy-making. With this knowledge, DNP Family Nurse Practitioner graduates are prepared for leadership roles in a variety of settings—as executives in healthcare organizations, directors of clinical programs, or faculty programs with a clinical focus, to name a few.