About the Program:
This advanced course of study is designed to prepare nurses for a career as a Pediatric Nurse Practitioner (PNP) in primary care. Pediatric Nurse Practitioners provide comprehensive health promotion services to ambulatory pediatric clients, including infants, children, and adolescents. Pediatric Nurse Practitioners evaluate problems during the child’s and family’s initial contact with the primary care system, and also provide continuing care to children with acute illness and stable chronic illness. Students are prepared to provide care that is evidence-based, collaborative, and reflective of an understanding of current health care delivery, as well as, economic, ethical, and professional issues.
What Will I Gain From Completing the Program?
Students who satisfactorily complete the PNP program are eligible for approval by the Joint Committee of the North Carolina Board of Nursing and North Carolina Board of Medical Examiners to practice as a Pediatric Nurse Practitioner in North Carolina. Students are also eligible to sit for the certification examination of the National Pediatric Certification Board to become certified as a PNP in primary care.
Who May Apply?
Individuals who have earned a master’s degree in nursing from accredited programs, are currently licensed as RNs, and have at least one year’s clinical experience are eligible to apply.
Application Materials
You will be asked to submit the following documents with your application:
- Request for an official review of prior MSN coursework
- Official transcript indicating completion of master’s degree in nursing (or equivalent degree)
- Minimum of one year of clinical work experience as a Registered Nurse is required, preferably in area of specialization.
- One employee letter of recommendation from a current, immediate supervisor
- Curriculum vita or resume, detailing experience since completion of entry nursing degree
- Cogently written professional statement (3-5 pages) addressing all elements requested as detailed in Application Instruction
- Current unencumbered license as a registered nurse in the state in which the student will do clinical course work. Note: an “unencumbered license” means neither the license, the licensee’s practice, nor the licensee is associated with any type of restriction, encumbrance, or probationary limitations imposed by the applicable Board of Nursing or any judicial entity.
How Does the Program Work?
Students in this program take approximately 18-26 graduate credits depending on prior coursework. Transcripts of post-master’s candidates are reviewed by the Advanced Practice Coordinator in the selected area of study. Additional or alternative coursework may be recommended based on this evaluation, specifically in the areas of health promotion, health care policy and the advanced practice role. Post-master’s students who are not nationally certified as master’s prepared nurse practitioners and have not maintained their clinical practice will be required to take additional coursework and consequently a longer program of study. Courses are taken with graduate students in the Master of Science in Nursing program. Students are expected to complete the program as planned. Student’s who drop out must competitively reapply for the next academic year.
Pediatric Nurse Practitioner faculty members are sensitive to students’ learning needs by employing a variety of instructional modalities including seminar or classroom settings, on-line and/or Web-enhanced instruction. As a result, the courses may be offered in traditional classroom settings and/or via distance technologies.
How Long Does it Take to Complete the Program?
The program takes up to two academic years plus one intervening semester to complete.
How Much Does the Program Cost?
Under revision. Please check back soon for updates.
When Should I Apply?
Admission to the Post-Master’s Certificate Program is offered only once per year (Fall). The deadline for applying for fall admission is January 8th, 2013.
What Will I Gain From Completing the Program?
Upon satisfactory completion of this program, students are eligible to sit for national certification as a Pediatric Nurse Practitioner/Primary Care and apply for approval by the joint committee of the North Carolina Board of Nursing and North Carolina Board of Medical Examiners to practice as a nurse practitioner in North Carolina
Additional Information:
Suggested Plans of Study:
FOR MORE INFORMATION
School of Nursing
The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
Carrington Hall, CB #7460
Chapel Hill, NC 27599-7460
For general information on the School of Nursing and application materials, contact:
Office of Admissions and Student Services
(919) 966-4260
nursing@unc.edu
Updated June 2012