Program Descriptions
Neonatal Nurse Practitioner Program
Assume a leadership role as a Neonatal Nurse Practitioner in practice, educational, and research settings. Based on the latest nursing research, the course of study focuses on the family as well as the infant through the first year of life.
Graduates are prepared to function in a variety of settings, including intensive care nurseries, well baby nurseries, home, and high-risk follow-up programs. Students will learn about care of critically ill neonates, and care of neonates with chronic conditions, as well as their follow-up. Family focused care, including an emphasis on well child anticipatory guidance across the continuum of care, is stressed throughout all clinical experiences and theoretical study.
The program is unique in that classroom and laboratory experiences include collaboration with faculty and students in the pediatric graduate programs, thereby, increasing the breadth and depth of the graduate's preparation. Successful completion of the program qualifies graduates to apply for national certification from the National Certification Corporation (NCC) as well as recognition, certification, and/or licensure by other states. Graduates are eligible to become certified by the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania as Neonatal Certified Registered Nurse Practitioners.
Pediatric Acute/Chronic Care Nurse Practitioner Program
In 1992, the curriculum of the School of Nursing's long-standing program for pediatric clinical specialties was revised to address changes in pediatric advanced practice nursing. The curriculum of the Pediatric Acute/Chronic Care Nurse Practitioner Program includes courses and clinical experiences related to physical assessment and clinical decision making, continuity of care, family interventions, health care policy, collaboration and transitional care.
The Pediatric Acute/Chronic Care Nurse Practitioner Program prepares its students to serve in advanced practice leadership roles with infants, children and adolescents who have serious acute and chronic health care needs, and for their families. Along with the Pediatric Critical Care Program at PENN, it was the first program in the country to prepare pediatric nurse practitioners to care for children with complex, specialized health care needs. The program's internationally recognized faculty and its affiliated practicum clinical centers facilitate students' professional growth.
Students may complete this 12 course-unit program in one calendar year as a full-time student, or enroll on a part-time basis.
Graduates are eligible to become certified by the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania as Pediatric Acute/Chronic Care Certified Registered Nurse Practitioners (CRNP). Successful completion of the program qualifies graduates to apply for national certification from appropriate national professional certifying bodies as well as recognition, certification, and/or licensure by other states.
Pediatric Critical Care Nurse Practitioner Program
The School of Nursing's Pediatric Critical Care Nurse Practitioner Program, the first and largest in the country, prepares nurse practitioners for advanced practice with critically ill children in diverse settings, ranging from high technology community-based home care to pediatric critical care units.
Through intensive course work and an eight-month clinical preceptorship, graduates are prepared to deliver comprehensive assessment and management of acute physical health problems; education and consultation for families and health providers; coordination of services; and collaborative interdisciplinary practice.
Students may complete this 12 course-unit program in one calendar year as a full-time student, or enroll on a part-time basis.
Graduates are eligible to become certified by the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania as Pediatric Critical Care Certified Registered Nurse Practitioners (CRNP). Successful completion of the program qualifies graduates to apply for national certification from the American Nurse's Credentialing Center (ANCC) or the Pediatric Nursing Certification Board (PNCB) as well as recognition, certification, and/or certification, and/or licensure by other states.
Pediatric Oncology Nurse Practitioner Program
A one-of-a-kind program, the Pediatric Oncology Nurse Practitioner Program offers students a foundation in normal development and specialization in oncology. The curriculum prepares nurse practitioners in a highly specialized area to deliver comprehensive care to children with cancer and their families. The curriculum's structure, content, and clinical experiences aid the student in developing and refining physical assessment skills, clinical decision making, continuity of care, family interventions, health care policy collaboration and transition care related to children with cancer.
The School of Nursing has met the challenge of educating nurses in the field of pediatric oncology by developing the innovative Pediatric Oncology Nurse Practitioner Program. The Pediatric Oncology Nurse Practitioner Program prepares students to serve in advanced practice leadership roles with infants, children and adolescents with malignancies and hematological disorders. Students are also prepared to work with family members and in various settings, ranging from acute to community care.
Students can complete the 12 course-unit program in one calendar year as a full-time student, or enroll on a part-time basis.
Graduates are eligible to become certified by the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania as Pediatric Critical Care Certified Registered Nurse Practitioners (CRNP). Successful completion of the program qualifies graduates to apply for national certification from the American Nurse's Credentialing Center (ANCC) or the Pediatric Nursing Certification Board (PNCB) as well as recognition, certification, and/or certification, and/or licensure by other states.
Pediatric Nurse Practitioner Program
Pediatric nurse practitioner program is a nationally recognized leader in preparing nurse practitioners for primary care practice. As primary health care providers, pediatric nurse practitioners' responsibilities include well-child care, sick/episodic examinations, health teaching and counseling, telephone management, home visits, conducting research, providing education and impacting public policy. Students are prepared to practice in these roles autonomously, in collaboration with a physician or as a master of an interdisciplinary team.
The Pediatric Nurse Practitioner Program full-time graduate program is one calendar year in length, with a Fall semester, Spring semester, and two Summer sessions. The course work includes core graduate courses, electives, and a group of six courses that must be taken together, which the faculty member call the "clinical courses."
Graduates are eligible to become certified by the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania as Pediatric Certified Registered Nurse Practitioners (CRNP). Successful completion of the program qualifies graduates to apply for national certification appropriate national certifying bodies as well as recognition, certification, and/or licensure by other states.