Education of Pediatric Nurse Practitioner

What’s an NP

A nurse practitioner is a registered nurse who has additional education and training in a specialty area such as family practice or pediatrics. Pediatric and family practice NPs can provide regular health care for kids. Nurse practitioners have a master’s degree in nursing and board certification in their specialty. A pediatric NP has advanced education, skills, and training in caring for infants, children, and teens. Licensed as nurse practitioners and registered nurses, NPs follow the rules and regulations of the Nurse Practice Act of the state where they work.

If accredited through the national board exam, the NP will have an additional credential such as Certified Pediatric Nurse Practitioner or Certified Family Nurse Practitioner Task performed by a pediatric nurse practitioner.

• Diagnosing, treating, evaluating and managing acute and chronic illness and disease  obtaining medical histories and conducting physical examinations
• Ordering, performing, and interpreting diagnostic
• Prescribing physical therapy and other rehabilitation treatments
• Prescribing pharmacologic treatments and therapies for acute and chronic illness
• Providing prenatal care and family planning services
• Providing well-child care, including screening and immunizations
• Providing primary and specialty care services, health-maintenance care for adults, including annual physicals
• Providing care for patients in acute and critical care settings
• Counseling and educating patients on health behaviors, self-care skills, and treatment options
  
  

Education requirements

An advanced degree in nursing is required for pursuing a career as a pediatric nurse practitioner. Before a student enrolls in a master’s degree program, completion of an undergraduate degree program in nursing is necessary.

While many students complete a Bachelor of Science in Nursing, other students may choose to complete an associate degree in nursing program followed by an ADN-MSN bridge program Regardless of undergraduate degree choice, the curriculum prepares students for careers as nurses. Undergraduate degrees programs include general education courses and nursing-specific courses and clinical. The clinical experience places students in a live health care setting, such as a hospital or health clinic. Core nursing classes include topics, such as:

• Community nursing
• Health assessment
• Nursing ethics
• Anatomy and physiology
• Complex health problems

Schools that provide programs in this career:

• USF
• UCF
• UF

Salary

The salary for this career ranges from experience; the more experienced you are the higher your pay the less experienced you are the lower your pay.

• Average – $92,250
• High – $109,688
• Low – $81,509

Sources

1. http://www1.salary.com/Nurse-Practitioner-Salary.html
2. http://www.graduatecatalog.ucf.edu/programs/program.aspx?id=1362&tid=708 http://health.usf.edu/nursing/academics/pediatric/index.htm
3. http://admissions.nursing.ufl.edu/degrees/graduate/master-of-science-in-nursing/family-nurse-practitioner/
4. http://kidshealth.org/parent/system/doctor/nurse_practitioner.html http://education-portal.com/pediatric_nurse_practitioner.html
5. http://wiki.answers.com/Q/What_task_performed_by_nurse_practitioners