Acute Care Pediatric Nurse Practitioner, MSN
Degree: Master of Science in Nursing (MSN)
Field of Study: Acute Care Pediatric Nurse Practitioner
Program Overview
Acute Care Pediatric Nurse Practitioners 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.
Path to the MSN
The Master of Science in Nursing program prepares registered nurses for advanced practice either as a nurse practitioner or nurse midwife. Students in the MSN program choose from several different majors, but virtually all students must take at least ten core courses. Students must complete a required number of credit hours as well as clinical hours. Most majors require an average of 40 credit hours, usually completed in three or four semesters (including summer for some majors). MSN majors also require at least 600 or more clinical hours depending on major.
Students can choose either a part-time or full-time program, with full-time consisting of 9 or more credit hours per semester and part-time being anything less. Post-graduate APRN certificates can be provided for most programs and are crafted according to individual needs and background education. Dual degree programs are offered in Bioethics (MSN/MA), Anthropology (MSN/MA), and Public Health (MSN/MPH).
Course Grades
Progression in the MSN program is contingent on a cumulative GPA of 3.0 and passing grades in all courses (A, B, C, P, or S). If the cumulative GPA falls below 3.0 during any semester, the student will be placed on academic probation. In addition, Advanced Practice Registered Nurse (APRN) students in the MSN program must maintain an APRN GPA of 2.5 or higher in all APRN core courses (advanced pathophysiology, advanced pharmacology, and advanced physical assessment) and APRN clinical courses.
The grade of Incomplete (I) can only be assigned by the discretion of the instructor when: 1) There are extenuating circumstances, explained to the instructor before the assignment of the grade, which clearly justifies an extension of time beyond the requirements established for and met by other students in the class, and 2) The student has been passing the course and only an evaluative component of the course, such as a term paper, final exam, or project remains to be completed. The "Arrangement to Resolve a Grade of Incomplete" form must be completed prior to the end of the semester, or the instructor may assign a grade of U or F. The instructor shall enter a final evaluative grade if and when the completed work has been submitted. A grade of Incomplete must be removed by the 11th week of the semester following the one in which the courses were taken. If the student does not complete the required work by the date established, the Registrar will convert the I to an F when the deadline for completion has passed. Students may not sit in the same course in a later semester to complete the work required for the original course. Please see the School of Graduate Studies Incomplete Policy.
A student who receives a grade of F or U for a required course must register for the course the next semester it is offered to continue in the MSN program. If the grade of U or F is in a course that is not required for the MSN program, the student may register for the same course or a substitute course and achieve a passing grade to continue in the MSN program. MSN students who receive 2 failing grades (F, U, NP) will be separated from the Frances Payne Bolton School of Nursing.
Majors and Sample Full-Time Curriculum
Virtually all MSN students must take at least ten core courses in Professional Development, Scientific Inquiry, and Nursing Practice. Although the MSN program itself requires a minimum of 36 credit hours to graduate, most majors require an average of 40 credit hours, usually completed between 18 and 30 months depending on the MSN major. Students are required to complete 600 or more clinical hours depending on MSN major. Post-Graduate Certificates can be provided for most programs and are crafted according to individual needs and background education. Sample full-time curriculum are listed for each major.
Program Requirements
The pediatric nurse practitioner major in acute care, as part of FPB’s 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 Pediatric Nurse Practitioner-Primary Care and Acute Care Pediatric Nurse Practitioner is available by taking only one additional course and 200 additional clinical hours.
- Post-master’s 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 Plan of Study
| First Year | ||
|---|---|---|
| Fall | Credit Hours | |
| 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 | Pediatric Growth, Development, and Health Supervision | 3 |
| Credit Hours | 14 | |
| Spring | ||
| NURS 425 | Inquiry II - Research Process | 3 |
| NURS 430 | Advanced Pharmacology | 3 |
| NUNP 402 | Common and Acute Health Problems of Pediatric Patients | 6 |
| NURS 444B | Health Care Delivery and Finance in Advanced Practice | 1 |
| Credit Hours | 13 | |
| Summer | ||
| 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 |
| Credit Hours | 6 | |
| Second Year | ||
| Fall | ||
| NUNP 403 | Advanced Management in Pediatric Primary Care | 5 |
| NUNP 455 | Management of Complex Acute Problems in Children and Adolescents I | 4 |
| NURS 431 | Psychosocial and Spiritual Dimensions of Advanced Nursing Practice | 2 |
| NURS 444C | Health Policy Legislation and Legal Issues in Advanced Practice | 1 |
| Credit Hours | 12 | |
| Spring | ||
| NUNP 456 | Management of Complex Acute Problems in Children and Adolescents II | 5 |
| Credit Hours | 5 | |
| Total Credit Hours | 50 | |