Nurses who hold a bachelor’s degree in nursing and dream of earning a doctorate can take advantage of two new streamlined tracks at Wilmington University that can help them reach that goal faster and more affordably — BSN to DNP Family Nurse Practitioner (FNP) and BSN to DNP Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner (PMHNP).  

“Having a DNP signals the highest level of clinical preparation in nursing practice. It enhances your professional identity and opens doors in higher education, public policy and in clinical settings,” says Dr. Lori Irelan, WilmU’s nurse practitioner program chair. “By enrolling in a BSN to DNP program, you skip the MSN as a separate step and go directly to the terminal degree, which can save time in the long run.”   

Both programs can be completed in 3 ½ years, combining rigorous academics with the flexibility working RN-BSNs need. Through coursework and experiential hours, doctorally prepared faculty will help you bridge the gap between research and clinical practice. 

“All of our faculty practice while they are teaching so that we can provide real-world insight and up-to-date clinical information,” Dr. Irelan says. “Our program is geared toward adult learners. Our classes are in the evening, and it is possible to still work and have minimal disruptions.” 

The 79-credit BSN to DNP PMHNP program is ideal for “highly motivated BSN-level nurses who have a passion to become psychiatric mental health nurse practitioners and who want to perform at the top of their field,” says Dr. Dana Olive, assistant chair of WilmU’s PMHNP program. It’s “designed to emphasize integrated care of the whole person as they exist within families and communities. Mental health care is whole-person health.” 

She and other instructors will prepare you for national certification as a psychiatric mental health nurse practitioner through the American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC) or the American Academy of Nurse Practitioners Certification Board (AANPCB). If you choose the 75-credit BSN to DNP FNP program, you’ll be eligible for family nurse practitioner national certification.  

“Our 100% pass rate shows our commitment to preparing competent and well-prepared providers,” Dr. Irelan says. 

BSN to DNP candidates must meet the admissions requirements for WilmU’s Doctor of Nursing Practice program and either the Family Nurse Practitioner Certificate program or Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner Certificate program. Cohorts begin in the fall and spring.  

“I view this new BSN to DNP program as an opportunity to influence the development of strong advanced practice competencies while students are identifying their professional priorities,” says Dr. Natalie Hart, an assistant professor and PMHNP program coordinator. “We will cultivate great role models who can carry the torch throughout their professional careers.”