Boise State University Online BS-DNP Programs – AGACNP, FNP
“Online programs offer flexibility in terms of location and sometimes timing, but that doesn’t mean the coursework is light.”
Nicole Loos-Bartlett, DNP, Clinical Assistant Professor, Boise State University’s School of Nursing
Boise State University (BSU) offers a doctor of nursing practice (DNP) program with adult-gerontology acute care nurse practitioner (AGACNP) and family nurse practitioner (FNP) specializations. This program is open to students with a bachelor’s degree in nursing. Master’s degree-prepared nurses may enroll in a post-master’s DNP program track.
Boise State University’s nursing program curricula feature five focus areas. These areas are clinical reasoning and critical inquiry, experiential learning, communication, global worldview, and professionalism and leadership.
The bachelor’s degree to doctor of nursing practice track (BS-DNP) track can prove a cost and time-effective way to advance in a nursing career. Typical doctoral programs require three to five years to complete. A master’s degree is often a two- to three-year time commitment. By choosing a BS-DNP bridge program, students can significantly reduce the total time and financial investment they make to advance their careers.
AGACNPs work primarily with older adults. Common care settings include intensive care units, surgical units, and critical care units. AGACNPs diagnose and treat acute and complex illnesses and typically work with medical care teams to collaborate and create an effective treatment plan.
FNPs are advanced practice registered nurses (APRNs) whose specialized training equips them to work with individual patients and families, communities, and even whole populations. FNPs provide patient care, health promotion, and health education. FNPs treat patients across the human lifespan. FNPs are becoming increasingly popular and are often filling gaps in rural healthcare settings.
All of Boise State University’s nursing degree programs are accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE).
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Meet the Expert: Nicole Loos-Bartlett, DNP, AGACNP-BC, PNP-BC, PMHNP-BC
Dr. Nicole Loos-Bartlett serves as the BS-DNP and adult gerontology nurse practitioner program director and clinical assistant professor at Boise State University’s School of Nursing. With over a decade of experience in neonatal and pediatric intensive care, she earned her MSN from California State University, Fresno, and her DNP from Brandman University, with a focus on reducing preventable illnesses in public schools.
Board-certified in both pediatric and adult-gerontology acute care, Dr. Loos-Bartlett practices privately and serves as the medical director of the Crisis Center of Southern Idaho, addressing opioid detox and mental health care. She actively contributes to curriculum development, emphasizing healthcare finance and rural health access, and is a member of Sigma Theta Tau, Nurse Practitioners of Idaho, and the American Nurses Association.
NPSchools.com: What do you wish the public understood about online nurse practitioner programs?
Dr. Loos-Bartlett: Online nurse practitioner programs are rigorous and legit. A lot of people think “online” means easier or lower quality. Not true. Accredited online nurse practitioner (NP) programs—especially those affiliated with reputable universities—maintain the same academic standards as on-campus ones. Students still have to complete clinical hours, pass national board exams, and meet state licensing requirements.
Clinical placement can be a real challenge. Especially in rural parts of Idaho, finding preceptors for clinical hours can be tough. Students often have to network, cold call, or even travel long distances to complete their clinical rotations. Programs may offer support, but the burden can still fall on the student.
Flexibility isn’t the same as easy. Online programs offer flexibility in terms of location and sometimes timing, but that doesn’t mean the coursework is light. Balancing studies with work, family, and clinicals requires serious time management and self-discipline.
Lastly, online programs play a huge role in solving Idaho’s healthcare gaps. They are vital for growing the state’s healthcare workforce, especially in rural and underserved areas where primary care providers are in short supply. Many of these students live in these communities and stay to serve them after graduation.
NPSchools.com: What advice would you give aspiring online nurse practitioner program students?
Dr. Loos-Bartlett: Here is my advice for aspiring students:
- Vet the program carefully
Make sure the program is accredited (ACEN or CCNE for nursing programs). Also, check if it’s authorized to operate in Idaho and if it helps with clinical placements locally. - Start building your network early
Begin reaching out to potential preceptors as soon as possible. Talk to local providers, clinics, and hospitals. Clinical placement is often the most stressful part—don’t wait until the last minute. - stay organized and set a routine
Treat your coursework like a job. Set up a schedule that includes study blocks, clinical prep, and downtime. Online learning demands self-motivation and time management. - Know your why
Whether it’s to serve rural communities, advance your career, or specialize in a certain field, keep your motivation in focus. NP school is tough, and having a strong “why” can carry you through the rough patches. - Get support from day one
Talk to current students, join online communities, and find a mentor. Isolation can be a challenge in online programs, so building a support system really helps.
What to Expect from the Boise State University DNP Programs
Admission Requirements: All nursing applicants must complete an online application. As part of that online application, applicants must submit several documents, including a personal statement, a resume or curriculum vitae (CV), and three letters of recommendation. Prospective students must have at least one year of direct patient care experience working in settings and with adult patients in their desired area of specialty. Applicants must also demonstrate that they have a valid, unencumbered RN license. Finally, applicants must pay a graduate college application fee and a nursing program application fee. Selected candidates will be invited to a video interview.
International applicants are also welcome to apply. International students must comply with Boise State University’s requirements for international student admission. Such requirements typically include a review of educational attainment and professional history to ensure candidates have the qualifications equivalent to those required of domestic candidates deemed necessary for success in the program. Proof of English language proficiency must be demonstrated via official TOEFL or IELTS scores. Accepted students who plan to study using an F-1 student visa must submit a financial documentation form and proof of sufficient funds in order to be able to then apply for their student visa. Given the complexity common to international admissions, such applicants are advised to follow BSU’s instructions for international students seeking graduate admission, which are listed on BSU’s website.
State Restrictions: Boise State University accepts students from Alaska, Arizona, California, Colorado, Georgia, Hawaii, Idaho, Minnesota, Montana, Nevada, New Mexico, North Carolina, North Dakota, Oregon, Texas, Utah, Virginia, Washington, West Virginia, and Wyoming into the DNP programs. Interested students should contact the School of Nursing through Boise State University to determine eligibility. Additionally, prospective students should contact the licensing board of their specific state of residence to determine if the program meets state requirements for NP licensure.
Study Plan: Full-time students can complete the BS-DNP programs in about three years. Program duration is typically based on the assumption that students will attend classes in the fall, spring and summer. Boise State offers assistance with identifying and securing clinical placements via its dedicated clinical placement team. In recent years, Boise State has had a 100 percent success rate with clinical placements.
DNP Curriculum: The FNP and AGACNP specializations of the BS-DNP degree program both require 70 credits. Core courses for both specialties include advanced physiology and pathology; foundations of evidence-based practice; advanced health assessment; advanced pharmacotherapeutics; information systems and technology improvement; quality and safety in healthcare; biostatistics; advanced health assessment; concepts of population health and health promotion in health systems; diagnosis and management of health and illness across the lifespan; diagnosis and management of health and illness across the lifespan clinical; evidence-based methods; advanced pharmacotherapeutics ii; policy, economics and financial planning; leadership, role and collaboration for the APRN; and a series of three DNP seminar courses.
- FNP Specialization Courses: Primary care management of health and illness across the lifespan; primary care management of health and illness across the lifespan clinical; primary care procedures and diagnostics/primary care skills synthesis; primary care management of health and illness across the lifespan II; primary care management of health and illness across the lifespan clinical II; primary care clinical practicum
- AGACNP Specialization Courses: Acute care management of adult/geriatric health and illness; acute care management of adult/geriatric health and illness clinical; acute care procedures and diagnostics acute care skills synthesis; acute care management of adult/geriatric health and illness II; acute care management of adult/geriatric health and illness clinical II; acute care clinical practicum
Online Experience: BSU uses Blackboard as its online Learning Management System (LMS). Blackboard offers several online tools, such as online chat and whiteboards, discussion boards, assessments, and multimedia tools. Faculty deliver courses with interactive content designed specifically for distance education. In addition, the BSU Online Student Success Team helps students with questions and resources. Success coaches and student advisors provide additional support. Other resources include online tutoring, online writing consultations, career services, library services, and technical support.
On-Site Requirements: Students complete clinical placements at an approved location close to their residence. Students may only complete clinical placements in the states Boise State accepts students into its DNP program.
Paying for the Boise State University Online DNP Programs
At Boise State, all master’s and doctoral degree program students may be eligible for federal aid. Within the DNP program, no federal need-based aid is available. Students may instead be eligible for consideration for unsubsidized loans, Graduate PLUS Loans, or work-study.
When estimating needed financial resources, prospective students should also note that costs for room, board, and transportation are generally incorporated into financial aid calculations to ultimately generate an estimated full cost of attendance, but these same costs are not necessarily required for students who pursue a fully online degree. Transportation to a local clinical placement could be challenging for students without vehicles. Due to this particular scenario and other situations, prospective students should contact Boise State University with questions about how to finance their education.
Boise State University offers Family Nurse Practitioner and Adult-Gerontology Acute Care Nurse Practitioner graduate nursing degrees operating from a framework of experiential learning, communication, clinical reasoning, global worldview, critical inquiry, leadership, and professionalism.
BS to DNP – Adult-Gerontology Acute Care NP
BS to DNP – Family Nurse Practitioner
1910 University Drive
Boise, Idaho 83725
Program Essentials
DNP – Doctor of Nursing Practice
AG-ACNP – Adult-Gerontology Acute Care Nurse Practitioner
Fall, Spring
No
3
70
780
CCNE – Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education
Program Admissions
BSN – Bachelor of Science in Nursing
No GRE Required
None specified
AL, AR, CT, DC, DE, FL, IA, IL, IN, KS, KY, LA, MA, MD, ME, MI, MO, MS, NE, NH, NJ, NY, OH, OK, PA, PR, RI, SC, SD, TN, VT, WI
Program Tuition
70
$890.00
$62,300.00
$890.00
$62,300.00
Program Essentials
DNP – Doctor of Nursing Practice
FNP – Family Nurse Practitioner
Fall, Spring
No
3
70
780
CCNE – Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education
Program Admissions
BSN – Bachelor of Science in Nursing
No GRE Required
None specified
AL, AR, CT, DC, DE, FL, IA, IL, IN, KS, KY, LA, MA, MD, ME, MI, MO, MS, NE, NH, NJ, NY, OH, OK, PA, PR, RI, SC, SD, TN, VT, WI
Program Tuition
70
$890.00
$62,300.00
$890.00
$62,300.00
Tuition is calculated based on credits, at the published tuition rate. Rates may change, so please check here for the latest tuition information. For programs with variable tuition rates, we use the rates for part-time students. “Resident” and “non-resident” refer to the student’s school-recognized state residency status. Tuition number represents the cost of tuition for the entire program, not per semester or year. Estimated total tuition does not include additional fees.
Bernd Geels
WriterBernd Geels is a Berlin, Germany-based freelance writer and artist. He holds an undergraduate degree in atmospheric science and two graduate degrees. He completed his most recent graduate degree in international environmental studies at the Monterey Institute of International Studies in 2011. He is interested in healthcare, climate change, marine conservation, indigenous science, and refugee issues. You can reach him directly at [email protected].
Sara Navratil
WriterSara Navratil is a freelance writer and a Certified Canfield Success Principles Trainer. She’s the owner of Sara Liza Life, a company dedicated to helping people rewrite their lives. She enjoys researching and writing about healthcare-related topics, including information on online NP programs. When not working she likes to read, bake, and spend time with her family.