The University of Pennsylvania's School of Nursing offers several masters programs for aspiring pediatric nurse practitioners. Beyond the standard pediatric nurse practitioner program, Penn also has master's programs to train pediatric oncology, critical care, acute/chronic care, and neonatal nurse practitioners. Potential students must apply by April 1st to be considered for fall semester admission. In order to be admitted, students generally must have at least a 3.0 undergraduate GPA, a combined math and verbal score of at least 500 on the GRE, and at least two years of pediatric work experience. All five programs can be completed in 12 months of full time study or two years of part-time study, although it is recommended that students devote themselves to the program full-time if possible. Each program has four components: core courses, theory courses, electives, and clinical work. The three core courses required for all programs deal with research methods, pediatric pharmacology, and physiology/pathophysiology. Theory courses differ depending on the program as these classes are where students delve more deeply into their specific area of study. Electives are chosen in consultation with an adviser to round out the classroom portion of the program. Clinical time is split between on-campus laboratory exercises and internships where students work alongside a current nurse practitioner or physician. Upon graduation, students are eligible to become certified as nurse practitioners by the state of Pennsylvania.
University of Pennsylvania
School of Nursing
Claire M. Fagin Hall
418 Curie Boulevard
Philadelphia, PA 19104
215-898-4271
nursing.upenn.edu/academic_programs/
Yale University's School of Nursing offers a master's degree program leading to licensure as a pediatric nurse practitioner. New students are admitted each fall, and prospective students are encouraged to submit their application by November 1 of the prior year for best consideration. Like at Penn, applicants to Yale's program are judged on their undergraduate GPA, letters of recommendation, and test scores. Prior work experience is not a requirement, but students must have a current valid nursing licence in at least one state. Students who already have a bachelor's degree in nursing can complete the program in two years of full-time study, but students with an undergraduate degree in another discipline generally need another year to complete the necessary prerequisites. In the first semester, students take required courses such as statistics and research methods while beginning their clinical observations of infants and children in primary care settings. The second semester continues with more required core courses and a clinical rotation working with adolescents. In the third semester, students take classes in pharmacology and psychopathology while beginning a school health practicum and gaining clinical experience in a chosen specialty field. Students in the final semester continue working in a school setting and finish their clinical specialty hours. For students with a special interest in treating diabetic children, an optional concentration in diabetes management can be added to the program.
Yale University
School of Nursing
PO Box 9740
New Haven, CT 06536
203-785-2389
nursing.yale.edu/Academics/Masters/pediatric.html
The University of Colorado Denver offers a master's in nursing with a pediatric nurse practitioner emphasis. Applicants must have a bachelor's degree in nursing and a current nursing license to be considered for admission, and they must submit a completed application by April 1 for fall admission or September 1 for spring admission. As part of their undergraduate degree, applicants must have completed courses in research methods and statistics with grades of C or better. Once admitted, students can generally finish the program in two to three calendar years. Many of the lecture courses are offered both on campus and online, allowing for some flexibility in scheduling, but some classes and all clinical experiences must be completed in the Denver area. Core courses required of all students include classes in technology, health policy, and nursing ethics. Twelve credits of clinical experience are also required, equaling about 540 hours in areas such as well child care, acute care, and treating children with chronic illnesses or disabilities.
University of Colorado- Denver
College of Nursing
Mail Stop C288
13120 East 19th Avenue
Aurora, CO 80045
303-724-1812
ucdenver.edu/academics/colleges/nursing/programs-admissions/masters-programs/Pages/masters-programs.aspx