A pediatric nurse practitioner (PNP) is a healthcare provider who is dedicated to improving children’s health through health promotion and disease prevention. A PNP has an advanced degree in pediatric nursing and serves children and their families in a broad range of practice settings.
PNP Role
The role of nurse practitioner has evolved since it was first started in Colorado in the 1960s. A nurse practitioner is a specially trained nurse that obtains approved education and credentialing to assess, diagnose, and manage acute and chronic health conditions with a focus on disease prevention and health management. Nurse practitioners bring a comprehensive perspective to healthcare and partner with their patients and families to promote optimal health and wellness.
Our program at the UAMS College of Nursing qualifies the graduate to take the national certification examination as a Pediatric Nurse Practitioner. Once this examination is passed, the PNP may apply for both an Advanced Practice License and a certificate of Prescriptive Authority in the state of Arkansas. Advanced Practice Registered Nurses (APRNs) licensed in the state of Arkansas are now eligible to apply for Full Practice Authority after meeting the requirements outlined on the Arkansas State Board of Nursing website.
Students in the Pediatric Nurse Practitioner select one of the following tracks:
Primary Care Pediatric Nurse Practitioner: The primary care PNP provides care to children from birth through young adulthood and possesses in-depth knowledge and experience in pediatric primary healthcare, including physical, psychological, and social concerns of children in the areas of health maintenance and promotion, and assessment and management of disease processes. The primary care PNP encourages optimal health and wellness of children within the context of their families, communities, and environments.
Acute Care Pediatric Nurse Practitioner: The acute care PNP works with an interprofessional team to care for infants, children, adolescents, and young adults to provide evidence-based care in assessing and managing life-threatening illnesses and organ dysfunction or failure. The acute care PNP cares for patients with acute, complex, critical, and chronic illnesses in a variety of care settings.
Dual Certification Pediatric Nurse Practitioner: This track prepares students to assume a clinical role in primary care and acute care through education of infants to adolescents across the continuum of wellness to acute care.
Post Masters Certification Program
If you are already certified as a Primary Care PNP, an Acute Care PNP, or another specialty nurse practitioner and have an interest in returning to obtain the education to sit for a PNP certification (Primary Care or Acute Care), then this is the program for you. Most prior UAMS graduates should be able to complete this in approximately 18 months.
The final program of study and acceptance will depend on a gap analysis of previous coursework. All standard application requirements must be completed and met prior to consideration for the program.
More Information
Contact
Kellie Bishop, DNP, APRN, CPNP-PC, PMHS
Primary Care Pediatric Nurse Practitioner Specialty Coordinator
501-526-8954
KBishop@uams.edu