Pediatric Primary Care Nurse Practitioner
A lifetime journey into wellness begins at birth, and the nursing profession is always in need of nurses who devote their skills to caring for the smallest patients as they grow and develop. For these nurses, we offer our Pediatric Primary Care Nurse Practitioner program.
Program modality
Although this program is in-person, to accommodate the busy schedules of our students some courses will be offered in an online or hybrid format. All clinical experiences for this program are in-person on Penn’s campus or at affiliated clinical sites.
Our program
Penn is a nationally recognized leader in training excellent nurse practitioners for primary care practice. As you study with us, you’ll learn all of the pediatric nurse practitioners’ responsibilities, including well-child care, sick exams, health counseling, telephone management, behavioral issues, conducting research, providing education, and impacting public policy. The goal will be for you to be able to practice these roles in an autonomous fashion, in collaboration with a physician or as a leader of an interdisciplinary team.
Coursework
Coursework for the NP program includes core graduate courses, electives, and a group of clinical courses that must be taken together. As an added benefit for Penn Nursing students, all clinical experiences and preceptors are arranged and coordinated by the School.
Study options
We offer full-time as well as two part-time tracks (two- and three-year). Our full-time graduate program is one calendar year in length, comprising a fall semester, spring semester, and two summer sessions.
Certification
Upon graduation, you are eligible to become certified by the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania as a Pediatric Certified Registered Nurse Practitioner (CRNP). Successful completion of the program also qualifies you to apply for national certification from the Pediatric Nursing Certification Board (PNCB), as well as recognition, certification and/or licensure by other states.