University of Portland double alumnus aspires to establish his own nurse practitioner clinic

Pictured: Colton Hafeman '17, '20 DNP

Colton Hafeman ‘17, ‘20 DNP had the aspiration to become a nurse practitioner (NP) so he could one day establish his own clinic. In order to make his dream come true, he decided to attend a Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) information session during his time as an undergraduate student to learn more about the program; while also networking with DNP staff and faculty. He grew excited about the possibility and during his senior year at the University of Portland, he applied to the doctorate program and was thrilled to learn he had gotten accepted.

After much thought, he knew it was the right decision to pursue his doctorate immediately after earning his bachelor of science in nursing (BSN) degree. And so, he enrolled in the DNP-Family Nurse Practitioner (DNP-FNP) program that summer while working full-time as a RN at Providence St. Vincent. However, managing school and full-time work during his first year in the program became difficult to manage, so he decided to reduce his working hours to dedicate more time to school. Fortunately, his nursing manager had actually received a DNP degree from the University of Portland and understood the time commitment needed to excel in the program. Because of this, his manager was flexible with reduced hours and scheduled his shifts around his school schedule. 

During the DNP-FNP program, Colton was exposed to a wide variety of clinical experiences and thoroughly enjoyed on-campus weekend immersions due to exceptional guest speakers and hands-on learning. In addition, he was fond of its small class sizes and ability to build a strong connection with his professors and classmates. 

After three years of dedication and tenacity, he completed the program in May 2020. He states, “I felt so well-prepared and confident in my ability to practice as a nurse practitioner through receiving a University of Portland nursing education.” In fact, during his final year, Dr. Patricia Cox, current DNP Director, notified him about the VA Portland Health Care Systems Nurse Practitioner Residency Program that had become available. He decided to apply and got accepted into the residency program. It is a 12-month precepted training program and upon completion, he will receive a NP placement through the VA and will be able to practice independently. Colton is looking forward to his bright future and hopes to establish his own clinic in a rural, underserved community to provide holistic care to patients.

If you are interested in the DNP-FNP program and would like to hear from a double alumnus, feel free to connect with Dr. Colton Hafeman! He can be reached at hafeman17@alumni.up.edu. 

Contact the School of Nursing:

To learn more about the Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) program, please visit our website at https://nursing.up.edu or send us an email at nursing@up.edu.