The Master of Science in Nursing specialty for the Pediatric Nurse Practitioner – Acute Care (PNP – AC) prepares graduates to work in a wide variety of pediatric acute and critical care settings including inpatient acute and critical care as well as the emergency room and urgent care settings. Coursework, clinical field experiences, and evidence-based assignments allow students to acquire the knowledge, skills, and values necessary for certification by the Pediatric Nursing Certification Board (PNCB) as pediatric nurse practitioners in acute care. Students must complete the equivalent of one year of full time in-hospital pediatric nursing experience, preferably in an intensive care unit or other high acuity setting prior to beginning the advanced pediatric acute care nursing clinical practicum series of courses.
Core courses
- Nursing 7403: Innovation Leadership in Advanced Nursing Practice (3)
- Nursing 7483: Quality Improvement and Informatics (3)
- Nursing 7491: Health Promotion and Disease Prevention across the Life Span (3)
- Nursing 7500: Health Policy and Advocacy (2)
- Nursing 7780: Evidence Based Nursing Scholarship (3)
Other required courses
- Nursing 7260: Concepts in Advanced Family Nursing (2)
- Nursing 7330: Advanced Pediatric Health Assessment (4)
- Nursing 7331: Assessment and Management of Child and Adolescent Mental Health Issues (3)
- Nursing 7450: Pathophysiology of Altered Health States (5)
- Nursing 7470: Advanced Pharmacology in Nursing (4)
Clinical coursework 2019-2020 and prior
- Nursing 7338.01: Advanced Nursing Practice in Pediatric Primary Care Practicum I (6 credit hours; 3 credits didactic, 3 credits clinical which equals 112.5* precepted clinical hours)
- Nursing 7218.01: Advanced Nursing Practice in Pediatric Acute Care Practicum I (10 credit hours; 4 credits didactic, 6 credits clinical which equals 225* precepted clinical hours)
- Nursing 7218.02: Advanced Nursing Practice in Pediatric Acute Care Practicum II (10 credit hours; 4 credits didactic, 6 credits clinical which equals 225* precepted clinical hours)
* These are the minimum hours required
Clinical coursework 2020-2021 and later
- Nursing 7338.01: Advanced Nursing Practice in Pediatric Primary Care Practicum I (6 credit hours; 3 credits didactic, 3 credits clinical which equals 112.5* precepted clinical hours)
- Nursing 7218.01: Advanced Nursing Practice in Pediatric Acute Care Practicum I (11 credit hours; 4 credits didactic, 7 credits clinical which equals 262.5* precepted clinical hours)
- Nursing 7218.02: Advanced Nursing Practice in Pediatric Acute Care Practicum II (10 credit hours; 4 credits didactic, 6 credits clinical which equals 225* precepted clinical hours)
* These are the minimum hours required
Self-audit checklist
Use the hyperlinked list to ensure you have taken all of the courses required for your specialty. Your advisor will conduct a final review when you apply to graduate. Students must have completed these courses or have a Nursing Graduate Studies Committee-approved Course Waiver petition on file.
Pediatric Acute Care NP Self Audit Checklist
Pediatric Acute Care NP Self Audit Checklist for 2020 and later
Standard curriculum plans
SAMPLE FT MS Pediatric Acute Care NP
SAMPLE PT MS Pediatric Acute Care NP
Standard curriculum plans for clinical 2020 and later