Pediatric Acute Care Nurse Practitioner MSN to DNP Concentration

The Pediatric Acute Care Nurse Practitioner (PNP-AC) DNP Program area of concentration is designed for Master of Science in Nursing (MSN)-prepared PNP-ACs who would like to obtain a practice-focused doctorate. PNP-AC students are prepared to provide quality health care to acutely, critically, and chronically ill children, from the newborn stage through emerging adulthood, and their families. Throughout the program, PNP-AC students develop the clinical, organizational, economic, and leadership skills to design and implement programs of care delivery that significantly impact health care outcomes and have the potential to transform health care. Graduates with this terminal practice degree are prepared for roles in direct care. PNP-ACs work in collaboration with other health care professionals.

Applicants should be MSN-prepared certified pediatric acute care nurse practitioners who wish to add the DNP to their educational preparation. The MSN to DNP is offered both onsite and online. The online option is only available to applicants with an MSN in the same focus.

Selected core courses may be transmitted to eligible students who live a distance from campus. A sample program plan for full-time study is provided below. Depending on courses completed during the previous MSN program, additional coursework may be required. Students must complete a minimum of 1000 clinical hours between the prior MSN program and the current DNP curriculum.