Children and young adults deserve expert care.
Choosing to specialize as a pediatric nurse practitioner gives you the opportunity to impact a child’s life from birth to young adulthood. You can be the one who improves the well-being of children and their families by helping them get access to preventive care and sharing knowledge about making healthy choices. Maryville University’s online PNP programs offer the opportunity to focus your skill set and fortify your professional standing as a nurse.
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Online Master of Science in Nursing — Pediatric Nurse Practitioner (MSN PNP)
Learn what it takes to specialize in caring for children and young adults. Our advanced degree program offers a Pediatric Nurse Practitioner track designed to help nurses pursue one of the most rewarding specialties available today.
Want to learn more about the online Master of Science in Nursing program?
Online Bachelor of Science in Nursing to Doctor of Nursing Practice Program — PNP Concentration (BSN to DNP PNP)
Are you motivated to reach the apex of the nursing profession by working with some of the youngest patients? Our program offers a direct path to a DNP career with the added advantage of focusing a portion of your coursework in primary care and pediatrics.
Want to learn more about the online Bachelor of Science in Nursing to Doctor of Nursing Practice program?
Online Post-Master’s Nurse Practitioner Certificate — Pediatric (Primary Care) Nurse Practitioner (MSN PNPC)
If you have your MSN and now you’re ready to specialize in pediatric primary care, our certificate can be your best option. Our coursework focuses on the growth and development of the pediatric patient population.
Want to learn more about the online Post-Master’s Nurse Practitioner Certificate program?
Online Doctor of Nursing Practice with Nurse Practitioner Concentration — Pediatric (Primary Care) Nurse Practitioner (DNP-NP PNP)
Go from your MSN to your DNP with an PNP concentration, and you can earn a terminal degree that helps bring you back into the clinical setting. You’ll earn your PNP along with attaining your DNP, allowing you to practice at the highest level and lead interdisciplinary teams.
Want to learn more about the online Doctor of Nursing Practice with Nurse Practitioner Concentration program?
Why become a PNP?
Children are our future. Caring for them is yours.
You have a love of children and the desire to make a difference in the world. Now is the time to specialize in pediatrics as a nurse practitioner. The American Association of Nurse Practitioners (AANP) estimates that there is only one qualified candidate for every four available nurse practitioner jobs.
Upon graduation, you should know how to:
- Conduct age-appropriate developmental and health screenings.
- Recognize unhealthy lifestyle habits and provide guidance on proper sleep, nutrition, and exercise.
- Identify and address mental health, functional, mobility, and cognitive issues.
- Order and interpret laboratory and diagnostic tests.
- Prescribe medication and develop treatment plans.
- Perform in-office primary care procedures.
- Escalate chronic and acute care needs to physicians/specialists.
Caring for children can be extra rewarding.
Dedicating your nursing career to the pediatrics care specialty can be dually rewarding. Not only will you get the chance to provide long-term care for patients who you get to know over the years, but you will also have the opportunity to join a professional sector that is compensated better than most.
Why Choose Maryville?
We’re a private, four-year institution ranked as one of America’s Best Colleges by both U.S. News & World Report and Forbes. We’re also proud to have been named to the Military Friendly Schools list for the 6th consecutive year. When you choose us, you receive a highly flexible and highly regarded education with the added convenience of being delivered 100% online. Here are a few more reasons why we offer you the best path:
- Streamline your time and talent to earn a post-master’s certificate.
- Graduate from a program accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE).
- Enjoy a flexible and convenient 24/7 online learning model.
- Explore important topics that will help pave the way to a better future for yourself and the nurses who follow in your footsteps.
- Take the opportunity to conduct research via clinical inquiry courses that will challenge your assumptions.
- Learn from an expert faculty of nursing leaders who openly share their experiences and insights regarding public health and the nursing profession.
PNP Career Outlook
Shape the future of healthcare.
There are many factors behind the increased demand for pediatric nurse practitioners. Favorable employment trends for pediatric NPs include:
- Data from The Clinical Advisor reports an annual median salary of $83,937 for pediatric NPs, based on 2012 numbers.
- The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics anticipates a 31% increase in job opportunities for nurse practitioners between 2012 and 2022.
- Scrubs Magazine identifies the pediatric nurse practitioner as one of the “Top 10 Highest Paying Nursing Specialties.”
- The role of nurse practitioner also ranked No. 1 on Kiplinger’s Personal Finance’s 2013 list of “Today’s Hottest Jobs.”
- An ongoing shortage of primary care and family medicine physicians. It is anticipated that by 2025, the nation will be short at least 100,000 family medicine doctors. Pediatric (primary care) nurse practitioners are predicted to be in particularly high demand due to the even greater scarcity of physicians in rural and inner city communities.
- The emergence of nurse-run clinics and growth in the number of traditional walk-in clinics in response to the Affordable Care Act.
- Higher levels of patient satisfaction of those treated by nurse practitioners.
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The MSN, Post-Master’s NP Certificate, and DNP programs at Maryville University are accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education, 655 K Street, NW, Suite 750, Washington, DC 20001, 202-887-6791.
PNP Curriculum
Four curriculum models. One rewarding career specialty.
Online MSN PNP Concentration
Online Master of Science in Nursing — Pediatric Nurse Practitioner (MSN PNP)
You can complete your MSN PNP in as few as 28 months. Begin your coursework the semester after you enroll with three entry points per year (January, May, and August ).
MSN | Core Courses
NURS 600 | Theoretical Foundations of Nursing Practice | 3 Credits |
A master's-prepared nurse is expected to critique, evaluate and utilize appropriate theory within his/her practice. This course focuses on the application of theoretical and conceptual frameworks to guide decision making that enhances health for culturally diverse populations. A variety of theories, e.g., developmental, systems, psychodynamic, physiological, and nursing theories relevant to health and illness care and organizations are explored. (3 credit hours) | ||
NURS 601 | Evidence-Based Practice in Nursing | 3 Credits |
Evidence-based practice is the deliberate use of current best practice in making informed decisions about patient care. This course emphasizes evidence-based practice as it relates to changing and improving nursing practice. Students systematically explore and evaluate current nursing knowledge for scientific and clinical merit. (3 credit hours) | ||
NURS 602 | Health Care Policy | 3 Credits |
The advanced practice nurse needs to understand the complexities and functioning of health care delivery systems, health care financing systems, and the development and implications of health care policies that guide those systems. The philosophical and sociocultural underpinnings of health care policy are examined. (3 credit hours) | ||
NURS 610 | Health Promotion/Disease Prevention | 3 Credits |
The master's-prepared nurse is in a key position to influence the health practices of individuals, groups and communities. Health screening, risk assessment, targeted needs assessment, and health promotion are emphasized. Health care goals at the local, regional, and national levels are implemented to direct program planning, development, implementation, and evaluation. (3 credit hours) | ||
NURS 603 | Professional Role Development | 3 Credits |
Advanced Practice Nurse This course provides a theoretical foundation for exploring, analyzing, and evaluating the advance practice nursing roles within the health care system. The legal and ethical context in which the advanced nurse practices is addressed. (3 credit hours) |
NURS 619 | Leadership and Quality | 3 Credits |
This course focuses on preparing the graduate nursing student to assume leadership roles on interprofessional teams that effectively implement patient safety and quality improvement initiatives. The course explores using a complexity science and systems theory approach to analyze organizations and the provision of health care within those organizations, as well as plan change strategies to improve the care environment. Budget and marketing principles will also be discussed. (3 credit hours) | ||
NURS 611 | Advanced Pathophysiology | 3 Credits |
Provides the basis for understanding the pathophysiology of diseases and the changes in normal function that result in manifestations indicative of illness. Emphasis is on correlating manifestations of illness with pathophysiological processes in order to formulate diagnoses and health care goals. (3 credit hours) | ||
NURS 612 | Advanced Health Assessment | 5 Credits |
Advanced practice nurses perform comprehensive health assessments in a variety of settings. Advanced health assessment integrates health history, physical and psychological changes and psychosocial variations. The assessment is used to determine health and risk status, develop health promotion strategies, and establish priorities of care. Differences between a complete health history and a history for an episodic event are examined. This course incorporates documented clinical experience with a preceptor focusing on health history and physical assessment. Students will apply concepts related to advanced health assessment and health promotion to problems of adults in rural and/or urban health settings and will begin their clinical logs. (5 credit hours) | ||
NURS 615 | Advanced Pharmacotherapeutics | 3 Credits |
Nurse practitioners diagnose and prescribe treatment regimens for persons with common acute and/or chronic health problems. This course focuses on the pharmacological foundation for safely prescribing medical regimens for illnesses that affect individuals. Also included are illness prevention and non-pharmacological primary care for individuals and populations at risk. Selection of appropriate therapies, patient education and evaluation parameters are stressed. (3 credit hours) |
For the PNP concentration you will need:
NURS 650 | Health Promotion of the Pediatric Population | 3 Credits |
Focus on growth and development for stages of pediatric development using theory and evidence based practice; learn anticipatory guidance techniques. Understand appropriate health promotion and illness prevention within the pediatric population incorporating individual, cultural, ethnic, and spiritual preferences into health care. (3 credit hours) | ||
NURS 651 | Pediatric Assessment and Diagnosis I | 3 Credits |
This course introduces pediatric nurse practitioner students to advanced nursing management of the pediatric population in a primary care setting. Content on how to perform comprehensive history and physical examination and use diagnostic testing and screening tools for the pediatric population in addition to interpretation of data and understanding differential diagnosis for common pediatric illnesses. (3 credit hours) | ||
NURS 652 | Pediatric Assessment and Diagnosis Practicum I | 3 Credits |
Under the supervision of clinical preceptors, working with the pediatric population in primary care and other settings begin to develop the competences needed for a nurse practitioner. Develop an understanding of pathophysiology concepts in the pediatric population. Understand case management, collaboration and referral for specialist for evaluation and community resources. (3 credit hours) |
NURS 653 | Pediatric Assessment and Diagnosis II | 3 Credits |
This course broadens the pediatric nurse practitioner student's primary care role and expands the interprofessional team involvement. Course content focuses on advanced nursing management of the pediatric population who present with disease processes seen in a primary care setting along with continued development of health promotion and disease prevention competencies. (3 credit hours) | ||
NURS 654 | Pediatric Assessment and Diagnosis Practicum II | 3 Credits |
Under the supervision of clinical preceptors, students will work to assume a more autonomous role in initiating physical assessments, determining pathophysiological processes, interpreting diagnostic findings, initiating pharmacologic and non- pharmacologic therapies, providing patient education, and developing disease management and health promotion strategies for the pediatric population. (3 credit hours) |
Online BSN to DNP PNP Concentration
Online Master of Science in Nursing — Pediatric Nurse Practitioner (MSN PNP)
You can complete your MSN PNP in as few as 40 months. Begin your coursework the semester after you enroll with three entry points per year (January, May, and August ).
MSN | Core Courses
NURS 600 | Theoretical Foundations of Nursing Practice | 3 Credits |
A master's-prepared nurse is expected to critique, evaluate and utilize appropriate theory within his/her practice. This course focuses on the application of theoretical and conceptual frameworks to guide decision making that enhances health for culturally diverse populations. A variety of theories, e.g., developmental, systems, psychodynamic, physiological, and nursing theories relevant to health and illness care and organizations are explored. (3 credit hours) | ||
NURS 601 | Evidence-Based Practice in Nursing | 3 Credits |
Evidence-based practice is the deliberate use of current best practice in making informed decisions about patient care. This course emphasizes evidence-based practice as it relates to changing and improving nursing practice. Students systematically explore and evaluate current nursing knowledge for scientific and clinical merit. (3 credit hours) | ||
NURS 602 | Health Care Policy | 3 Credits |
The advanced practice nurse needs to understand the complexities and functioning of health care delivery systems, health care financing systems, and the development and implications of health care policies that guide those systems. The philosophical and sociocultural underpinnings of health care policy are examined. (3 credit hours) | ||
NURS 610 | Health Promotion/Disease Prevention | 3 Credits |
The master's-prepared nurse is in a key position to influence the health practices of individuals, groups and communities. Health screening, risk assessment, targeted needs assessment, and health promotion are emphasized. Health care goals at the local, regional, and national levels are implemented to direct program planning, development, implementation, and evaluation. (3 credit hours) | ||
NURS 603 | Professional Role Development | 3 Credits |
Advanced Practice Nurse This course provides a theoretical foundation for exploring, analyzing, and evaluating the advance practice nursing roles within the health care system. The legal and ethical context in which the advanced nurse practices is addressed. (3 credit hours) |
NURS 619 | Leadership and Quality | 3 Credits |
This course focuses on preparing the graduate nursing student to assume leadership roles on interprofessional teams that effectively implement patient safety and quality improvement initiatives. The course explores using a complexity science and systems theory approach to analyze organizations and the provision of health care within those organizations, as well as plan change strategies to improve the care environment. Budget and marketing principles will also be discussed. (3 credit hours) | ||
NURS 611 | Advanced Pathophysiology | 3 Credits |
Provides the basis for understanding the pathophysiology of diseases and the changes in normal function that result in manifestations indicative of illness. Emphasis is on correlating manifestations of illness with pathophysiological processes in order to formulate diagnoses and health care goals. (3 credit hours) | ||
NURS 612 | Advanced Health Assessment | 5 Credits |
Advanced practice nurses perform comprehensive health assessments in a variety of settings. Advanced health assessment integrates health history, physical and psychological changes and psychosocial variations. The assessment is used to determine health and risk status, develop health promotion strategies, and establish priorities of care. Differences between a complete health history and a history for an episodic event are examined. This course incorporates documented clinical experience with a preceptor focusing on health history and physical assessment. Students will apply concepts related to advanced health assessment and health promotion to problems of adults in rural and/or urban health settings and will begin their clinical logs. (5 credit hours) | ||
NURS 615 | Advanced Pharmacotherapeutics | 3 Credits |
Nurse practitioners diagnose and prescribe treatment regimens for persons with common acute and/or chronic health problems. This course focuses on the pharmacological foundation for safely prescribing medical regimens for illnesses that affect individuals. Also included are illness prevention and non-pharmacological primary care for individuals and populations at risk. Selection of appropriate therapies, patient education and evaluation parameters are stressed. (3 credit hours) |
For the PNP concentration you will need:
NURS 650 | Health Promotion of the Pediatric Population | 3 Credits |
Focus on growth and development for stages of pediatric development using theory and evidence based practice; learn anticipatory guidance techniques. Understand appropriate health promotion and illness prevention within the pediatric population incorporating individual, cultural, ethnic, and spiritual preferences into health care. (3 credit hours) | ||
NURS 651 | Pediatric Assessment and Diagnosis I | 3 Credits |
This course introduces pediatric nurse practitioner students to advanced nursing management of the pediatric population in a primary care setting. Content on how to perform comprehensive history and physical examination and use diagnostic testing and screening tools for the pediatric population in addition to interpretation of data and understanding differential diagnosis for common pediatric illnesses. (3 credit hours) | ||
NURS 652 | Pediatric Assessment and Diagnosis Practicum I | 3 Credits |
Under the supervision of clinical preceptors, working with the pediatric population in primary care and other settings begin to develop the competences needed for a nurse practitioner. Develop an understanding of pathophysiology concepts in the pediatric population. Understand case management, collaboration and referral for specialist for evaluation and community resources. (3 credit hours) |
NURS 653 | Pediatric Assessment and Diagnosis II | 3 Credits |
This course broadens the pediatric nurse practitioner student's primary care role and expands the interprofessional team involvement. Course content focuses on advanced nursing management of the pediatric population who present with disease processes seen in a primary care setting along with continued development of health promotion and disease prevention competencies. (3 credit hours) | ||
NURS 654 | Pediatric Assessment and Diagnosis Practicum II | 3 Credits |
Under the supervision of clinical preceptors, students will work to assume a more autonomous role in initiating physical assessments, determining pathophysiological processes, interpreting diagnostic findings, initiating pharmacologic and non- pharmacologic therapies, providing patient education, and developing disease management and health promotion strategies for the pediatric population. (3 credit hours) |
Online MSN Post-Master's Nurse Practitioner Certificate PNP Concentration
Post-Master’s Nurse Practitioner Certificate — Pediatric (Primary Care) Nurse Practitioner
You can complete your certificate in 32 credits. You can begin your coursework the semester after you are accepted, with six entry points either in spring, summer, or fall.
Graduate Nursing Core Courses
NURS 603 | Professional Role Development | 3 Credits |
Advanced Practice Nurse This course provides a theoretical foundation for exploring, analyzing, and evaluating the advance practice nursing roles within the health care system. The legal and ethical context in which the advanced nurse practices is addressed. (3 credit hours) |
NURS 610 | Health Promotion/Disease Prevention | 3 Credits |
The master's-prepared nurse is in a key position to influence the health practices of individuals, groups and communities. Health screening, risk assessment, targeted needs assessment, and health promotion are emphasized. Health care goals at the local, regional, and national levels are implemented to direct program planning, development, implementation, and evaluation. (3 credit hours) |
Nurse Practitioner Core Courses
NURS 611 | Advanced Pathophysiology | 3 Credits |
Provides the basis for understanding the pathophysiology of diseases and the changes in normal function that result in manifestations indicative of illness. Emphasis is on correlating manifestations of illness with pathophysiological processes in order to formulate diagnoses and health care goals. (3 credit hours) | ||
NURS 612 | Advanced Health Assessment | 5 Credits |
Advanced practice nurses perform comprehensive health assessments in a variety of settings. Advanced health assessment integrates health history, physical and psychological changes and psychosocial variations. The assessment is used to determine health and risk status, develop health promotion strategies, and establish priorities of care. Differences between a complete health history and a history for an episodic event are examined. This course incorporates documented clinical experience with a preceptor focusing on health history and physical assessment. Students will apply concepts related to advanced health assessment and health promotion to problems of adults in rural and/or urban health settings and will begin their clinical logs. (5 credit hours) |
NURS 615 | Advanced Pharmacotherapeutics | 3 Credits |
Nurse practitioners diagnose and prescribe treatment regimens for persons with common acute and/or chronic health problems. This course focuses on the pharmacological foundation for safely prescribing medical regimens for illnesses that affect individuals. Also included are illness prevention and non-pharmacological primary care for individuals and populations at risk. Selection of appropriate therapies, patient education and evaluation parameters are stressed. (3 credit hours) |
For the PNP concentration you will need:
NURS 650 | Health Promotion of the Pediatric Population | 3 Credits |
Focus on growth and development for stages of pediatric development using theory and evidence based practice; learn anticipatory guidance techniques. Understand appropriate health promotion and illness prevention within the pediatric population incorporating individual, cultural, ethnic, and spiritual preferences into health care. (3 credit hours) | ||
NURS 651 | Pediatric Assessment and Diagnosis I | 3 Credits |
This course introduces pediatric nurse practitioner students to advanced nursing management of the pediatric population in a primary care setting. Content on how to perform comprehensive history and physical examination and use diagnostic testing and screening tools for the pediatric population in addition to interpretation of data and understanding differential diagnosis for common pediatric illnesses. (3 credit hours) | ||
NURS 652 | Pediatric Assessment and Diagnosis Practicum I | 3 Credits |
Under the supervision of clinical preceptors, working with the pediatric population in primary care and other settings begin to develop the competences needed for a nurse practitioner. Develop an understanding of pathophysiology concepts in the pediatric population. Understand case management, collaboration and referral for specialist for evaluation and community resources. (3 credit hours) |
NURS 653 | Pediatric Assessment and Diagnosis II | 3 Credits |
This course broadens the pediatric nurse practitioner student's primary care role and expands the interprofessional team involvement. Course content focuses on advanced nursing management of the pediatric population who present with disease processes seen in a primary care setting along with continued development of health promotion and disease prevention competencies. (3 credit hours) | ||
NURS 654 | Pediatric Assessment and Diagnosis Practicum II | 3 Credits |
Under the supervision of clinical preceptors, students will work to assume a more autonomous role in initiating physical assessments, determining pathophysiological processes, interpreting diagnostic findings, initiating pharmacologic and non- pharmacologic therapies, providing patient education, and developing disease management and health promotion strategies for the pediatric population. (3 credit hours) |
Online DNP-NP Program PNP Concentration
Doctor of Nursing Practice Foundation Courses (15 credit hours)
NURS 700 | Principles of Epidemiology and Biostatistics | 3 Credits |
This course introduces students to the purpose, content, and methods of epidemiology and biostatistics. The fundamental concepts and techniques of descriptive and inferential statistics are explored with particular emphasis on applications in epidemiology, public health, global health, disease surveillance and outbreak analysis, health care administration, and the social and biological sciences. Basic statistics, including exploratory data analysis, descriptive statistics, hypothesis testing, correlation, regression, and ANOVA methods are presented. Evaluating and using output from statistical computing software are also addressed. (3 credit hours) | ||
NURS 701 | Foundations of Clinical Scholarship | 3 Credits |
As the first course in the DNP program, this course is designed to refine students' scholarly writing skills through a variety of strategies. Along with important works in nursing, literature in other disciplines is also explored. The process of concept analysis is emphasized. (3 credit hours) | ||
NURS 702 | Integrating and Synthesizing Research | 3 Credits |
This course emphasizes an objective approach to the integration and synthesis of knowledge according to scientific principles and rules. The conceptual consequences imposed by science on philosophies of knowledge are also discussed. Manuscript preparation and practical use of evidence are incorporated in an effort to prepare students for the design of research proposals. (3 credit hours) |
NURS 612 | Advanced Health Assessment | 5 Credits |
Advanced practice nurses perform comprehensive health assessments in a variety of settings. Advanced health assessment integrates health history, physical and psychological changes and psychosocial variations. The assessment is used to determine health and risk status, develop health promotion strategies, and establish priorities of care. Differences between a complete health history and a history for an episodic event are examined. This course incorporates documented clinical experience with a preceptor focusing on health history and physical assessment. Students will apply concepts related to advanced health assessment and health promotion to problems of adults in rural and/or urban health settings and will begin their clinical logs. (5 credit hours) | ||
NURS 710 | Graduate Statistics | 3 Credits |
Understanding the measurement of phenomena is a critical component of the research process. Procedures for selecting, applying and interpreting the correct statistical application to a research problem will be presented with students processing the results. (3 credit hours) |
Doctor of Nursing Practice Capstone Courses (18 credit hours)
NURS 703 | Ethics For Advanced Nursing Practice | 3 Credits |
This course is designed to present ethical principles and decision-making models for the highest level of nursing practice. Evidence-based nursing and interprofessional literature are used to analyze ethical dilemmas that arise in professional practice. (3 credit hours) | ||
NURS 704 | Quality and Patient Safety in Advanced Nursing Practice | 3 Credits |
This course is designed to provide students with the foundation of process improvement (PI) and quality improvement (QI) concepts. Theoretical perspectives of quality and patient safety factors and the use of selected process improvement tools will be examined. Evidence-based practice and change management will be integrated with concepts of PI and QI. Systems thinking will be emphasized. (3 credit hours) | ||
NURS 705 | Clinical Inquiry I | 3 Credits |
In this course, students design an evidence-based research study that will guide clinical practice. The feasibility of conducting this research initiative is explored. Potential funding sources and budget issues will be examined. Students complete the human subjects training and write a proposal. (3 credit hours) |
NURS 706 | Clinical Inquiry II | 3 Credits |
In this course, students implement their clinical project and complete data collection. Students apply integrated research concepts as they pertain to their clinical project. Utilization of various methods of data analysis and data management systems will be explored. (3 credit hours) | ||
NURS 707 | Clinical Inquiry III | 3 Credits |
In this course, students complete data analysis of the clinical project. Based upon the results of data analysis, students disseminate their evidence-based research through written and oral delivery. (3 credit hours) | ||
NURS 708 | Organizations Theory and Systems Leadership | 3 Credits |
Organizational, management and social science theories are analyzed in the context of organizational leadership and change management. Systems thinking is emphasized. (3 credit hours) |
Graduate Nursing Core Courses (6 credit hours)
NURS 603 | Professional Role Development | 3 Credits |
Advanced Practice Nurse This course provides a theoretical foundation for exploring, analyzing, and evaluating the advance practice nursing roles within the health care system. The legal and ethical context in which the advanced nurse practices is addressed. (3 credit hours) |
NURS 610 | Health Promotion/Disease Prevention | 3 Credits |
The master's-prepared nurse is in a key position to influence the health practices of individuals, groups and communities. Health screening, risk assessment, targeted needs assessment, and health promotion are emphasized. Health care goals at the local, regional, and national levels are implemented to direct program planning, development, implementation, and evaluation. (3 credit hours) |
Nurse Practitioner Core Courses (11 credit hours)
NURS 611 | Advanced Pathophysiology | 3 Credits |
Provides the basis for understanding the pathophysiology of diseases and the changes in normal function that result in manifestations indicative of illness. Emphasis is on correlating manifestations of illness with pathophysiological processes in order to formulate diagnoses and health care goals. (3 credit hours) | ||
NURS 612 | Advanced Health Assessment | 5 Credits |
Advanced practice nurses perform comprehensive health assessments in a variety of settings. Advanced health assessment integrates health history, physical and psychological changes and psychosocial variations. The assessment is used to determine health and risk status, develop health promotion strategies, and establish priorities of care. Differences between a complete health history and a history for an episodic event are examined. This course incorporates documented clinical experience with a preceptor focusing on health history and physical assessment. Students will apply concepts related to advanced health assessment and health promotion to problems of adults in rural and/or urban health settings and will begin their clinical logs. (5 credit hours) |
NURS 615 | Advanced Pharmacotherapeutics | 3 Credits |
Nurse practitioners diagnose and prescribe treatment regimens for persons with common acute and/or chronic health problems. This course focuses on the pharmacological foundation for safely prescribing medical regimens for illnesses that affect individuals. Also included are illness prevention and non-pharmacological primary care for individuals and populations at risk. Selection of appropriate therapies, patient education and evaluation parameters are stressed. (3 credit hours) |
Pediatric Nurse Practitioner (15 credit hours)
NURS 650 | Health Promotion of the Pediatric Population | 3 Credits |
Focus on growth and development for stages of pediatric development using theory and evidence based practice; learn anticipatory guidance techniques. Understand appropriate health promotion and illness prevention within the pediatric population incorporating individual, cultural, ethnic, and spiritual preferences into health care. (3 credit hours) | ||
NURS 651 | Pediatric Assessment and Diagnosis I | 3 Credits |
This course introduces pediatric nurse practitioner students to advanced nursing management of the pediatric population in a primary care setting. Content on how to perform comprehensive history and physical examination and use diagnostic testing and screening tools for the pediatric population in addition to interpretation of data and understanding differential diagnosis for common pediatric illnesses. (3 credit hours) | ||
NURS 652 | Pediatric Assessment and Diagnosis Practicum I | 3 Credits |
Under the supervision of clinical preceptors, working with the pediatric population in primary care and other settings begin to develop the competences needed for a nurse practitioner. Develop an understanding of pathophysiology concepts in the pediatric population. Understand case management, collaboration and referral for specialist for evaluation and community resources. (3 credit hours) |
NURS 653 | Pediatric Assessment and Diagnosis II | 3 Credits |
This course broadens the pediatric nurse practitioner student's primary care role and expands the interprofessional team involvement. Course content focuses on advanced nursing management of the pediatric population who present with disease processes seen in a primary care setting along with continued development of health promotion and disease prevention competencies. (3 credit hours) | ||
NURS 654 | Pediatric Assessment and Diagnosis Practicum II | 3 Credits |
Under the supervision of clinical preceptors, students will work to assume a more autonomous role in initiating physical assessments, determining pathophysiological processes, interpreting diagnostic findings, initiating pharmacologic and non- pharmacologic therapies, providing patient education, and developing disease management and health promotion strategies for the pediatric population. (3 credit hours) |
To ensure the best possible educational experience for our students, we may update our curriculum to reflect emerging and changing employer and industry trends. Professional licensure and certification regulations vary from jurisdiction to jurisdiction. Students are encouraged to visit the National Council of State Boards of Nursing for the state in which they intend to practice to verify specific licensure requirements which includes ensuring the program of interest meets the licensure requirements prior to enrolling. Students may visit the professional licensure page or reach out to our team of enrollment advisors for guidance.