PROSPECTIVE GRADUATE STUDENTS

Pediatric Nurse Practitioner

The College of Nursing Pediatric Nurse Practitioner (PNP) specialty focuses on the delivery of primary health care to infants, children, and adolescents. This program is currently ranked by US News and World Report as the third best PNP program in the nation. The core curriculum provides students with an in-depth understanding of advanced nursing practice and enables them to apply this understanding to a variety of settings, such as community health centers, day care programs, chronic care facilities, hospital and other outpatient facilities, private practice offices, schools, health departments, and homes. PNP curricular content includes growth and development; pathophysiology; pharmacology; health promotion; ethics; physical, developmental, family, cultural, community, and environmental assessment; laboratory skills; and the diagnosis and management of behavioral problems and childhood illnesses, both acute and chronic conditions. There is a special emphasis on evidence-based practice throughout the program.

The program for Pediatric Nurse Practitioners prepares graduates for many challenging career opportunities The pediatric nurse practitioner program meets the curriculum guidelines of the National Organization of Nurse Practitioner Faculties, and the requirements for advanced practice certification set by the National Certification Board of Pediatric Nurse Practitioners and Nurses and the American Nurses Credentialing Center. Graduates are eligible to take the National Certification Board of Nurse Practitioners and Nurses examination and/or the American Nurses Credentialing Center exam for Pediatric Nurse Practitioner.

PNPs practice under their state Nurse Practice Act and in accordance with individual state laws and regulations. Since all fifty (50) states vary in their regulations as to the definition, scope of practice, and prescriptive authority of nurse practitioners, specific state requirements for practice must be identified and met.

Clinical experiences occur across a variety of settings and focus on providing primary care to all children. Students complete a minimum of 540 clinical hours.  One of the unique aspects of our program is that all students are initially precepted by College of Nursing faculty at our Pediatric Faculty Practice sites located throughout the Denver metro area.

PNPs are pediatric health care professionals who provide comprehensive care to children through assessment, diagnosis, treatment and evaluation of care. PNPs provide pediatric health care services in a variety of health care settings. The PNP may consult with other members of the health care team, may coordinate care and/or make referrals to other members of the health care team. Additionally, the PNP may function as a consultant to other disciplines in areas of expertise.  Health care services provided by PNPs include, but are not limited to, the following:

• Obtain a comprehensive developmental, health and medical history
• Perform physical examinations based on age and history
• Order and interpret age-appropriate and condition-specific screening, laboratory tests, and diagnostic procedures.
• Systematically compare and contrast clinical findings in formulating a differential diagnosis
• Assess and diagnose childhood illnesses, including chronic and acute conditions, or any other condition that is within the expertise and knowledge of the PNP
• Formulate a holistic, culturally-sensitive, family-centered plan of care recognizing the child and family as active participants
• Prescribe/order appropriate pharmacological and non-pharmacological interventions, including complementary and alternative therapies (within limits of prescriptive authority and knowledge of the PNP)
• Use a scientific and theoretical foundation for practice

Excerpted from the website of the National Association of Pediatric Nurse Practitioners (NAPNAP) Scope of Practice. Approved for publication 7/21/03.

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Faculty
Faculty are one of the cornerstones of any program. They provide direction for the curriculum, incorporate their research endeavors into their teaching, provide guidance to learners, serve as mentors and create innovative learning opportunities. We are fortunate at the University of Colorado Denver, College of Nursing to have many faculty involved with our program. We have a cadre of extremely well qualified faculty and associates who teach, conduct research, and serve as preceptors and mentors for our students. Our faculty are located in Colorado and the United States. Our faculty are extremely committed to the discipline of nurse midwifery and serve on many national and international boards and are leaders in several professional organizations.  Please take a look at the experts in pediatric nurse practioners that are part of our Master’s Program.  

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FAQs
How long will it take to complete the Pediatric Nurse Practitioner program? The PNP program is a 46 semester hour program. This includes the 12 credits of clinical. Most students successfully complete the program in 2 to 3 years by taking 6 to 9 credits in the fall and spring semesters and 3 to 6 credits in the summer. The program must be completed in 5 years.

Does this program have a clinical requirement? Yes. The PNP program requires 12 credits of clinical which equals 540 contact hours. Clinical are usually completed in 2 and 3 credit blocks.

Is the PNP program offered completely on-line or in-class?  Over two thirds of the didactic courses are offered in both an online and in class format which alternate semester to semester. Your academic advisor will work with you to develop a program plan to meet your individual needs and learning preferences. Nurse Practitioner students can utilize face-to-face interactions and limit travel time by attending classes in an intensive format involving 3-4 days (between semesters) on campus, with online follow-up during the semester. Online supervision may be available for students completing clinical requirements located out of the Denver-metro area.

Will I be required to come to Colorado? Yes. Clinical placements are in Colorado and require an active Colorado Registered Nurses license. Additionally, although we have many distance learning options some courses must be completed on-campus.

Will this program prepare me to sit for the ANCC certification as a Pediatric Nurse Practitioner?  Yes, our courses provide you with the knowledge and skills to take the ANCC certification exam . Currently there are two organizations that offer certification exams for Pediatric Nurse Practitioners. They are the American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC) http://www.nursingworld.org/ancc/ and the Pediatric Nursing Certification Board (PNCB) http://www.pncb.org/ptistore/control/index .

Can I take a course before I apply? Yes, you may take up to 12 semester credits as a non-degree student prior to being accepted to the program. You must meet all prerequisite requirements of the course. Non-degree students register on a space available basis during open enrollment just prior to the beginning of the semester. Students enrolled as non-degree seeking are not eligible for financial aid.  Please see the Office of Professional Development for more information.

Are there other options for persons who do not have a BS in Nursing or BSN? Yes there are options, for those who are RNs with a BS/BA degree in other field or significant coursework completed toward a bachelor’s degree. You can find out more about the RN to Masters Program by going to the College of Nursing RN to Master of Science link.

Can I talk to a graduate of your program? Yes. Please email the Pediatric Nurse Practitioner office and indicate what you are interested in doing with your degree and you will be matched with a graduate. The graduate will then email or call you to discuss the program.

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