Pediatric Nurse Practitioner

Specialty Area Information
The Pediatric Nurse Practitioner (PNP) specialty within the Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) degree prepares registered nurses to become certified PNPs who function at the highest level with Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) degree. Graduates possess expertise in child and family health and are prepared to provide care and leadership in practice settings. The PNP specialty in the School of Nursing has been recognized by the Pediatric Nursing Certification Board (PNCB) as a program that has met its national guidelines for quality PNP education.

The PNP curriculum emphasizes a holistic approach for care of children and adolescents within family and community contexts. With support from the School of Nursing’s federally-funded Center for Children with Special Health Care Needs, PNP students are prepared as nursing leaders to improve the quality of care in systems that focus on children and youth with special health care needs and their families.

Students complete approximately 1000 hours of supervised clinical experiences during the program, including a community-based scholarly DNP leadership project. Efforts are made to meet students’ individual goals and to provide experiences in their geographic area to the extent possible. Clinical experiences are available in interdisciplinary settings such as primary care, home care, schools, specialty clinics, community agencies, health policy organizations, and the Minnesota Department of Health.

At the completion of the program, students are eligible to become nationally certified as PNPs. Embedded in the curriculum is the additional credential earned by all the PNP students: a Graduate Certificate in Disability Policy and Services from the University’s Institute of Community Integration.

Career opportunities for our PNP graduates include primary and specialty health care providers, health care coordinator/manager, educator, nurse manager, and consultant. Employment opportunities are available in clinics, hospitals, public health agencies, advocacy organiziations and governmental agencies. Many graduates create new roles in health care systems as well.

Admissions
Applications are reviewed once a year; the priority deadline is November 1. After this date, DNP applications may be considered on a space available basis until March 1. Those students who are not selected may be placed on a waiting list. If placed on a waiting list, it does not ensure entrance into the specialty area for the following year for consideration. If you are not selected from the wait list, you must reapply the following year for consideration. Applicants are required to have one year of clinical nursing experience in pediatrics prior to beginning a practicum course.
 

Courses in the Curriculum:

Sample curriculum for full-time student
Sample curriculum for part-time student

• Advanced Nursing Care of Children with Acute Illness for PCNSs
• Advanced Physiology
• Assessment & Intervention Models in Families of CSHCN
• Contemporary Services for Persons with Disabilities
• DNP Proseminar
• DNP Seminars 1, 2, & 3
• Economics of Health Care
• Epidemiology
• Evidence Based practice
• Family Health Theory
• Health Care for Children & Youth with Special Health Care Needs Practicum
• Health Care for Children & Youth with Special Health Care Needs
• Health Care Leadership for a Changing World
• Health Policy Leadership
• Holistic Health Assessment
• Interdisciplinary Healthcare Informatics
• Moral & Ethical Positions in Nursing
• Nursing Research
• Pharmacology
• Pharmacotherapeutics
• Primary Care Practicum: Health Assessment & Care of Well Children
• Primary Care: Common Acute Health Conditions Affecting Children
• Primary Care: Health Assessment & Care of Well Children
• Program Evaluation
• Science of Nursing Intervention
• Statistics
• Teaching & Learning in Nursing

For more information, please contact the Office of Student & Career Advancement Services.

Frequently Asked Questions