On Tuesday, February 17 at 4:30 p.m., Ƶwill host a ribbon cutting in the Zylstra Nursing Education Center to celebrate the launch of its new Master of Science in Nursing–Family Nurse Practitioner (MSN-FNP) program.
At a time when many rural communities face growing shortages of primary care providers, Ƶ is taking a step to help strengthen the healthcare workforce across Iowa and the Midwest.
On Tuesday, February 17 at 4:30 p.m., Ƶwill host a ribbon cutting in the Zylstra Nursing Education Center to celebrate the launch of its new Master of Science in Nursing–Family Nurse Practitioner (MSN-FNP) program.
The ribbon cutting is open to clinical partners, preceptors, donors, and community members interested in learning more about the program and its potential impact. The event will offer attendees an opportunity to tour the nursing spaces, meet nursing faculty, and learn more about the program’s structure and community partnerships.
Family nurse practitioners (FNPs) are advanced practice registered nurses who diagnose illnesses, prescribe medications, and manage both acute and chronic conditions for patients across the lifespan. In many rural areas, they serve as a vital point of access for primary care.
“Nurse practitioners are among the most rapidly growing provider groups in today’s healthcare workforce,” says Dr. Kate Vander Veen, professor of nursing and director of the MSN-FNP program. “With rising rates of chronic disease and limited access to primary care, FNPs play a critical role in helping individuals and families receive consistent, comprehensive care—especially in rural communities like ours.”
Dordt’s 48.5-credit graduate program combines online coursework with 750 clinical hours completed in students’ home regions, allowing working nurses to remain embedded in their communities while advancing their education. Graduates are prepared to sit for national board certification as advanced practice registered nurses.
The program’s design reflects a practical goal: not only preparing more providers, but preparing providers who may serve locally.
Ƶhas a strong track record of retaining graduates in Iowa. According to the university’s First Destination Report, 45% of Ƶundergraduates begin their careers in Iowa, including nearly one-third of out-of-state students who choose to remain in the state after graduation—rates that exceed those of Iowa’s public universities.
Grounded in Dordt’s Christ-centered mission, the MSN-FNP program emphasizes whole-person care, compassion, and service alongside clinical excellence.
“Our goal is to prepare nurses who are not only highly skilled clinicians,” Vander Veen adds, “but who also approach healthcare as a form of service—caring for the physical, emotional, and spiritual well-being of the people they serve.”
About Ƶ
As an institution of higher education committed to the Reformed Christian perspective, Ƶ equips students, faculty, alumni, and the broader community to work toward Christ-centered renewal in all aspects of contemporary life. Located in Sioux Center, Iowa, Ƶis a comprehensive university named to the best college lists by U.S. News and World Report, the Wall Street Journal, Times Higher Education, Forbes.com, Washington Monthly, and Princeton Review.
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