Pediatric Nurse Practitioner
Providing primary health care for children from birth to 21 years of age
Pediatric nurse practitioners (PNPs) are advanced degree nurses who provide primary health care for children from infancy to 21 years of age, including physical, psychosocial, and family dimensions of health. They diagnose and treat childhood illnesses, provide immunizations, perform developmental screenings and physical assessments, and much more in their objective to protect and enhance the health of children. Along with pediatricians and other providers, PNPs practice in settings such as private practice, primary care clinics, community health centers, and hospitals.
As part of FPB's MSN program, the PNP major requires 40 credit hours of coursework, plus about 600 hours of clinicals. The coursework is usually completed within 18 months (four semesters) for full-time students, and courses are offered in a distance-friendly format that requires about eight trips to Cleveland.
Subspecialty:
Sample Full-Time Curriculum
Fall Semester I
|
Inquiry I: Theoretical Foundations |
3
|
|
Physiologic Foundations of Advanced Practice |
4
|
|
Assessment for Advanced Practice |
3
|
|
Health Promotion |
2
|
|
Pediatric Development and Health Promotion |
2
|
|
Total
|
14
|
Spring Semester I
|
Inquiry II: The Research Process |
3
|
|
Pharmacology and Therapeutics for the Advanced Practice Nurse
|
3
|
|
Acute and Common Problems of the Pediatric Patient |
6
|
| |
Total
|
12
|
Summer Semester I
|
Inquiry III Evidenced Based Nursing Practice |
2
|
|
Collaboration and Consultation |
1
|
|
Professionalism in Advanced Practice: Role Development |
1
|
|
Professionalism in Advanced Practice: Teaching and Learning |
1
|
| |
Total
|
5
|
Fall Semester II
|
Inquiry Practicum |
1
|
|
Management of Complex Chronic Problems in Children |
5
|
|
Health Care Delivery, Legal and Ethical Issues in Advanced Practice: Ethical Issues |
1
|
|
Health Care Delivery, Legal and Ethical Issues in Advanced Practice: Finance |
1
|
|
Health Care Delivery, Legal and Ethical Issues in Advanced Practice: Policy and Legal |
1
|
| |
Total
|
9
|
Accumulated Total Hours: 40
The Advanced Practice Core courses are co-requisites or pre-requisites for the clinical nursing courses. Clinical nursing courses must be taken in the semester and sequence listed above. Clinical course availability is based upon enrollment.