ANP Curriculum

• Curriculum Overview
• Additional Coursework
• MN vs. DNP Preparation
• Distance Learning Options

The ANP core curriculum consists of courses, seminars and clinical experiences that focus on:

• Advanced health screening, assessment, and diagnostic methods
• Advanced pharmacology
• Advanced pathophysiology
• Focused courses on management of patients with acute, chronic, gender-based, and mental health-related conditions
• Leadership and health care advocacy
• Research and critique of current practice standards
• Interdisciplinary practice
• Health care inequities and disparities
• Clinical practicum offering at least 500 hrs in primary care of adults in acute, outpatient, and long term care settings under supervision of faculty and with preceptor guidance

Depending on your area of interest, other courses are available that complement the core courses and broaden your knowledge of a specific area of science, health assessment, disease treatment, or research. Your program of study is developed in consultation with a faculty academic adviser. Individualized programs can be designed for part-time and partial distance learning options.

Additional Coursework
Students admitted to an MN specialty may also complete a minor in rural care or request to add coursework or a graduate certificate program in one of the Graduate Certificate Program in Advanced Practice Nursing. Some Graduate Certificate Programs in Advanced Practice Nursing include:

• Complementary and Alternative Medicine
• Forensic Nurse Specialist
• Infectious Diseases and Infection Control
• Nurse Educator

MN vs. DNP Preparation
The curriculum is organized such that preparation for certification as an ANP occurs within the first 18 months of full-time study. If you would like to sit for certification, you can obtain an MN as an exit point (MN entry-exit) or in passing (transcripted MN and continue in the DNP program).

The DNP preparation builds on and expands the ANP preparation to incorporate leadership, practice inquiry, and advanced practice at a level that offers a stronger foundation for practice, education, and application or dissemination of research.

Distance Learning Options
The University of Washington School of Nursing currently offers Technology Enhanced and Distance Learning (TEDL) options for most ANP courses. TEDL allows students to pursue the MN or the DNP degree and most graduate certificates with minimal commuting to the Seattle campus.

While most courses include some TEDL methods, there are some courses that require in-person, classroom attendance. Currently, approximately 80% of courses required for the standard MN or DNP program as an ANP are offered via TEDL. Some higher cost TEDL methods (specifically, video conferencing and web conferencing) are reserved for students living a significant distance from the UW. However, everyone in the ANP specialty can use most TEDL methods, such as video streams and web-based courses — often helpful for students with scheduling constraints. Faculty work with students to identify settings for clinical practicum that is close to the student’s home community.