The scope of practice of the Pediatric Nurse Practitioner includes providing direct patient care management such as performing in-depth physical assessments, interpreting results of laboratory and diagnostic tests, ordering medications, and performing therapeutic treatments in a variety of settings (NAPNAP, 2004).
The Pediatric Nurse Practitioner—Acute Care focuses on the management of children with complex acute and chronic health conditions within the hospital or pediatric acute care setting. This includes providing care for children from birth to 21 years with life threatening illnesses and organ dysfunction or failure, negotiating health care delivery systems, monitoring and ensuring the quality of health care practice, providing family centered care, and demonstrating cultural competency.
Graduates of the program are eligible to sit for the Pediatric Nurse Certification Board (PNCB) Acute Care certification exam. Graduates have opportunities to practice in a variety of acute care settings including emergency departments, subspecialty clinics, hospitals and intensive care units.
A minimum of 600 practicum hours will be completed in among several greater Cincinnati and regional pediatric acute care centers. Experienced pediatric preceptors will work one-on-one with students and along with pediatric specialty faculty, will guide students through their practicum experiences.
A minimum of one year of pediatric acute care nursing practice is required for program admission as a basic working knowledge of pediatric growth and development, family dynamics and pediatric assessment are cornerstones for moving toward the role of the Pediatric Nurse Practitioner—Acute Care. If students do not have a year of clinical experience, they may enter the program on a part-time basis and begin taking didactic courses while gaining valuable experience as a working RN.
The program can be completed on either a full-time or part-time basis. Full-time students can complete the program in six quarters (2 academic school years). Part-time students can progress at their own speed, typically taking three or four academic years to complete the program.
| Year 1 Fall Semester Courses | Credits |
|---|---|
| NURS8020 Adv. Health Assessment | 3 (2+1) credits |
| NURS8022 Advanced Physiology and Pathophysiology | 4 credits |
| NURS8004 Biostatistics for EBP | 3 credits |
| TOTAL | 10 credits |
| Year 1 Spring Semester Courses | Credits |
|---|---|
| NURS8002 Theoretical Basis for Clinical Reasoning | 3 credits |
| ANPC8000 Advanced Parent-Infant Nursing | 3 credits |
| NURS8024 Pharmacology for the APN | 3 credits |
| ANPC8020 Pediatric Acute Care Practicum I | 2 credits (8 clinical hours per week) |
| ANPC8030 Pediatric Acute Care Seminar I | 1 credit |
| TOTAL | 12 credits |
| Year 2 Fall Semester Courses | Credits |
|---|---|
| ANPC8010 Advanced Acute Nursing Care of the Infant, Child, and Adolescent | 4 credits |
| NURS8006 Research & Best Evidence for Clinical Reasoning | 4 credits |
| ANPC8022 Acute Care Practicum II | 4 credits (16 hours per week) |
| ANPC8032 Pediatric Acute Care Seminar/Capstone | 2 credits |
| TOTAL | 14 credits |
| Year 2 Spring Semester Courses | Credits |
|---|---|
| ANPC8012 Management of Acute and Chronic Illness in Childhood and Adolescence: Acute Care | 4 credits |
| NURS8008 Health Care Policy | 3 credits |
| ANPC8024 Acute Care Practicum III | 5 credits (20 hours per week) |
| ANPC8034 Pediatric Acute Care Seminar III/Capstone | 2 credits |
| TOTAL | 14 credits |
Credit Hours = 50 (56 practicum hours per credit)
Practicum I = 112 clinical hours
Practicum II = 224 clinical hours
Practicum III = 280 clinical hours
Total = 616 hours
Additional information on the role of the Pediatric Nurse Practitioner—Acute Care may be found through national organizations such as:
Click here to receive more information or to register for an interest session.
Contact the Office of Student Affairs at nursing1@uc.edu or (513) 558-3600.
or
Denise Gormley, PhD
Assistant Professor and Executive Director
denise.gormley@uc.edu
(513) 558-5101