Acute Care Pediatric Nurse Practitioner

PNP-AC Program Contacts

Lead Faculty

Kristina Banks, DNP, MSN, APRN-CPNP
216.368.1906
klb29@case.edu

Office of Admissions

216.368.4700
admissionsfpb@case.edu

PNP-AC Brochure

picture of a nurse comforting a young boy in a hospital.

Providing Care for Acutely and Critically Ill Children

Acute Care Pediatric Nurse Practitioners (ACPNP) are responsible for promoting the overall health of chronic, acute or critically ill children. In this program, you will discover best practices to diagnose and treat acute, critical, and chronic illness in children. You will also learn to coordinate interdisciplinary models of referral, relationships, ethical behavior, conflict resolutions and the implementation of health plans for critically or acutely ill children.

The acute care pediatric nurse practitioner major, as part of the Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) program, requires 45 hours of coursework, plus over 600 clinical hours. Graduates are eligible for the certification exam conducted by the Pediatric Nursing Certification Board.

  • A dual major in Primary Care Pediatric Nurse Practitioner and Acute Care Pediatric Nurse Practitioner is available by taking only one additional course and 200 additional clinical hours.
  • Post graduate certificates can be obtained, crafted according to individual needs and background education.
  • One year of recent acute care pediatric nurse experience required for admission.

Sample Full-­Time Curriculum: Beginning Fall 2015

Fall Semester I
NURS 405* Inquiry I - Theoretical Foundations 2
NURS 453 Advanced Pathophysiology 4
NURS 459 Advanced Physical Assessment 3
NUNP 410* Health Promotion Across the Life Span 2
NUNP 401 Development and Health Promotion in Children and Adolescents 3
Total 14
Spring Semester I
NURS 425* Inquiry II - Research Process 3
NURS 430 Advanced Pharmacology 3
NUNP 402^ Common and Acute Health Problems of Children and Adolescents 6
NURS 444B* Health Care Delivery and Finance in Advance Practice 1
Total 13
Summer Semester I
NURS 502* Inquiry III - Evidence-Based Practice 2
NURS 451* Leadership for Quality Healthcare within Organizations and Systems 3
NURS 444A* Ethical Issues in Advanced Nursing Practice 1
Total 6
Fall Semester II
NUNP 455^ Management of Complex Acute Problems in Children and Adolescents I 4
NURS 444C* Health Policy, Legislation and Legal Issues in Advanced Practice 1

NURS 431*

Psychosocial and Spiritual Dimensions of Advanced Nursing Practice

2

NUNP 403^ (Dual Program) Advanced Management in Pediatric Primary Care 5
Total 7-12
Accumulated Total Hours 40-45
Spring Semester II: Post-MSN
NUNP 456^ Management of Complex Acute Problems in Children and Adolescents II 5
 Total 5

Post-MSN tract will be offered to anyone who is primary care PNP certified. A gap analysis will be performed on students from other programs to assure consistency. The post-MSN Student will be required to take the acute care courses and additional clinical if needed.

Note: The above curriculum is full-time; part-tie plans are also available. The Advanced Practice Core courses (NURS 430, 453, 459) are co-requisites or pre-requisites for the clinical nursing courses. Clinical nursing courses must be taken in the semester and sequence listed above. Clinical course availability is based upon enrollment.

* = Intensive Course, see MSN Intensives general schedule online for more information
^ = Clinical Course


Sample Full­-Time Curriculum: Prior to Fall 2015

Fall Semester I
NURS 405 Inquiry I: Theoretical Foundations 3
NURS 453 Advanced Pathophysiology 3
NURS 459 Assessment for Advanced Practice 4
NUNP 410 Health Promotion 2
NUNP 401 Pediatric Development and Health Promotion 3
Total 15
Spring Semester I
NURS 425 Inquiry II: The Research Process 3
NURS 430 Pharmacology and Therapeutics for the Advanced Practice Nurse 3
NUNP 402 Acute and Common Problems of the Pediatric Patient 6
Total 14
Summer Semester I
NURS 502 Inquiry III Evidenced Based Nursing Practice 2
NURS 443A Collaboration and Consultation 1
NURS 443B Professionalism in Advanced Practice: Role Development 1
NURS 443C Professionalism in Advanced Practice: Teaching and Learning 1
NUNP 445 Management of Complex Acute Problems in Children I 5
Total 10
Fall Semester II
NURS 503 Inquiry Practicum 1
NUNP 446 Management of Complex Acute Problems in Children II
NURS 444A Health Care Delivery, Legal and Ethical Issues in Advanced Practice: Ethical Issues 1
NURS 444B Health Care Delivery, Legal and Ethical Issues in Advanced Practice: Finance 1
NURS 444C Health Care Delivery, Legal and Ethical Issues in Advanced Practice: Policy and Legal 1

Total

8

Dual Program: NUNP 403

  5
Accumulated Total Hours: 45-50

The Advanced Practice Core courses are co-requisites or pre-requisites for the clinical nursing courses. Clinical nursing courses must be taken in the semester and sequence listed above. Clinical course availability is based upon enrollment.

Post-MSN tract will be offered to anyone who is primary care PNP certified. A gap analysis will be performed on students from other programs to assure consistency. The post-MSN Student will be required to take the acute care courses and additional clinical if needed.