Child/Adolescent Acute and Continuing Care
Pediatric
Nurse Practitioner
Options:
Pediatric Nurse Practitioner
Clinical Nurse Specialist
Clinical Nurse Specialist/Nurse Educator
Visit the Acute and Continuing Care
Child/Adolescent Nurse Practitioner website.
What is a Child/Adolescent
Acute and Continuing Care Pediatric Nurse Practitioner?
This Pediatric Nurse
Practitioner (PNP) is prepared at the graduate level and is qualified to
diagnose and manage the care of children and adolescents who are acutely ill
or have a serious long-term health problem that requires more intense
monitoring or hospitalization. Core and support courses prepare the student
for specific content about health problems common to this population and
clinical practica provide specific management strategies and allow the
student to sit for the national certification examination.
The Child/Adolescent Acute and
Continuing Care Pediatric Nurse Practitioner takes responsibility for
admission of clients to acute care facilities, including history taking,
physical examination, ordering appropriate diagnostic tests and functions as
a member of an interdisciplinary health care team. In addition this PNP
works with children, adolescents and their families to develop a plan of
care that addresses both short and long term health care needs and goals for
health maintenance.
Who employs Child/Adolescent
Acute and Continuing Care Pediatric Nurse Practitioners?
Child/Adolescent Acute and
Continuing Care PNPs can be employed by those individuals and groups that
serve children and adolescents who have serious and ongoing health
problems. Examples of practice sites are emergency rooms and urgent care
centers, intensive care, special care or step down units, medical and
surgical units and specialty interdisciplinary teams or practices.
What are the classroom
content and clinical requirements for Child/Adolescent Acute and Continuing
Care Pediatric Nurse Practitioners?
In addition to the core courses
required of all masters' students, these PNPs will complete support courses,
such as advanced Growth and Development and Pharmacology and Therapeutics.
Clinical didactic courses and associated clinical practicum experiences
complete the preparation. The clinical practica total a minimum of 650
hours of clinical experience.
Who will serve as my
preceptor in the clinical courses?
A preceptor may be a nurse
practitioner, physician or physician's assistant approved by the School of
Nursing faculty. Students may select a preceptor in the specialty area they
are interested in or their clinical advisor may suggest one. Approved
preceptors and information about selecting preceptors and completing
preceptor agreements is provided to students. Faculty are always available
to students during their clinical preceptorships.
How long is the program of
study?
The Child/Adolescent Acute and
Continuing Care Pediatric Nurse Practitioner option can be completed in a
minimum of 16 months (4 semesters) of full time study beginning in the fall
semester. However, many students choose to attend part-time and complete
the program in 20-32 months (5-7 semesters).
Will I be eligible to take a
nurse practitioner certification examination when I complete the program?
Graduates of the program are
eligible to sit for certification by the Pediatric Nursing Certification
Board (PNCB). Maintenance of national certification is the professional
responsibility of the PNP and is a requirement for practice in most states.
How do I become eligible to
practice as a Child/Adolescent Acute and Continuing Care PNP?
The PNP is licensed by the
states in which they practice and are subject to the rules and regulations
of that state's practice act. You will need to contact your state's board
of nursing to learn their particular requirements. Your advisor in the
School of Nursing will assist you with that process when you are close to
graduation.
What kind of nursing
experience do I need prior to entering the program?
There is no requirement for
clinical experience prior to admission to the Master's program. However PNP
students are required to have at least 1 year of pediatric clinical
experience prior to enrolling in the advanced nursing courses. Your program
of studies can be arranged so that you can gain the required experience
while you are taking prerequisite courses.
What are the admission criteria?
- BSN degree from a regionally accredited
institution, equivalent to the one offered by the School of Nursing,
UAB;
- Cumulative grade point average of at
least 3.0 on a 4.0 scale or on the last 60 semester hours;
- A minimum combined score of 1000 on the
verbal and quantitative sections of the Graduate Record Examinations
(GRE) or a minimum combined score of 1500 on the verbal, quantitative,
and analytical sections of the GRE or a score of 480 on the GMAT or a
score 410 on the MAT;
- Letters of professional reference
attesting to the applicant's potential for graduate study; and
- Pre-admission interview with graduate
faculty.
Probationary admission may be available to
students who do not meet these requirements. There is no minimal GRE, GMAT
or MAT score requirement for probationary admission, although the GRE, GMAT
or MAT is required.
What is a typical program of
study like?
Fall - Year 1
NUR 600 Research
and Statistics for Advanced Practice
NUR 612 Advanced
Pathophysiology NPE 614 Assessment and
Diagnostic Reasoning for Advanced Practice Nursing
Spring - Year 1
NUR 613 Pharmacology and
Therapeutics NCC 621 Child/Adolescent
Advanced Nursing I: Acute and Continuing Care
NCC 685 Child/Adolescent
Acute and Continuing Care PNP Practicum I
Summer - Year 1
NCC 622
Child/Adolescent Advanced Nursing II: Acute and Continuing Care NCC 686
Child/Adolescent Acute and Continuing Care PNP Practicum II NUR 601 Professional
Role Development for Advanced Nursing Practice
NUR 633
Growth and Development
Fall - Year 2
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