Pediatric health is a specialty track with course work and clinical practica (preceptorships with expert practitioners) that prepares graduates for advanced practice as pediatric nurse practitioners and/or clinical nurse specialists with infants, toddlers, preschoolers, school age children and adolescents.
The program admits registered nurses who have a baccalaureate degree from an accredited nursing program. The full-time option is a 1.5 year program of 45 credits. The program of study includes 24 credits of core courses, 18 credits of maternal and child health theory and pediatric clinical practica; 600 clinical hours over two semesters, and one elective. Students who opt to complete the master's program on a part-time basis have five years to do so.
There are other program options for those who ultimately want to be prepared as a PNP: RN to MS program for nurses without a bachelor's degree; master's entry into nursing program for non-nurses with a bachelor's degree or higher in another field; and the additional specialty certificate program for masters prepared nurses.
Graduates will be able to:
- Sit for a national certification for PNPs offered through either the Pediatric Nursing Certification Board, Inc or the American Nurses' Credentialing Center;
- Apply for advanced practice nursing licensure as a pediatric nurse practitioner;
- Apply for prescription writing privileges and be eligible for third party
reinforcement (in states where NPs have these privileges)
- Apply to doctoral programs in nursing;
- Assume a pediatric nurse practitioner or clinical nurse specialist role in a wide variety of settings both inside and outside of formal health care agencies and institutions.