What is a Pediatric Nurse Practitioner (PNP)?
A pediatric nurse practitioner is a health care provider who is dedicated to improving children’s health. A PNP has an advanced degree in pediatric nursing and serve children and their families in an broad range of practice settings.
Is there more than one type of PNP and what do they do?
Yes, you can become certified as a primary care PNP (CPNP-PC) or as an acute-care PNP (CPNP-AC), both of which are offered at UAMS.
PNPs care for well and ill children of all ages. PNPs can practice in a variety of settings ranging from primary care, such as pediatric offices or clinics, or in acute care settings, such as hospitals, surgery centers, or specialty clinics, depending on your certification.
Services provided by primary care PNPs include:
- Health maintenance care and for children
- Routine developmental screenings
- The diagnosis and management of commonly occurring childhood illnesses
Services provided by acute care and specialty PNPs include:
- Caring for acutely, chronically, and critically ill children
- Perform comprehensive physical assessments
- Order and interpret laboratory and diagnostic tests
- Prescribe medications and perform therapeutic treatments
Both Primary Care and Acute Care PNPs may practice in a wide range of pediatric specialty areas, including cardiology, dermatology, and gastroenterology, among others.
For more information, please contact Dr. Albrey Love at (501) 526-6408 or email allove@uams.edu.