The post-master’s Advanced Certificate in Pediatrics NP Acute Care offers Primary Care Pediatric NPs and Family NPs (who are employed within the pediatric specialty) the opportunity to be prepared to care for infants, children, adolescents, and young adults with acute, complex, critical, and chronic illness across a variety of care settings. Academic subject matter includes care of infants, children, adolescents, and young adults who present with acute illnesses in hospital settings, including the emergency department and pediatric intensive care units (PICU), requiring high-level preparation in acute and emergency care expertise.
FNPs are eligible to apply to the program if they have a minimum of one year of pediatric experience as an NP in a pediatric acute care setting.
The 11-13-credit advanced certificate in pediatric acute care is primarily a distance learning program with two 2.5-day intensives on campus. The program meets the requirements of the New York State Office of the Professions and the Pediatric Nursing Certification Board (PNCB) for eligibility to take the Certified Pediatric Nurse Practitioner - Acute Care (CPNP-AC) exam. A gap analysis will determine the exact number of credits a student must take in order to meet all competencies.
The five main courses are:
- Pediatric Nurse Practitioner Acute Care Nursing I (2 credits)
- Pediatric Nurse Practitioner Acute Care I: Advanced Nursing Procedures (2 credits)
- Pediatric Nurse Practitioner Acute Care Nursing II (2 credits)
- Pediatric Nurse Practitioner Acute Care II: Advanced Nursing Procedures (2 credits)
- Pediatric Nurse Practitioner Acute Care Practicum (1-3 credits)
Highlights
- The Pediatrics Acute Care courses are presented using a hybrid model with online interactive, synchronous educational instruction and two on-campus meetings at mid-semester and at the end of each semester.
- The post-master’s Pediatrics NP Acute Care advanced certificate can be completed in one year.
- Entrance to the program is in the Spring semester.
- Direct contact and interactions with expert pediatric faculty throughout the program.
- Interactive educational experiences supported by the principles of problem-based learning to develop critical thinking and case analysis skills.
- Clinical placements with expert certified PNPs in specialty care and acute settings.
- Individualized attention to develop personal strengths and goals.
- Engage in clinical simulation experiences with Standardized Patients to assure mastery of core competencies relevant to pediatric clinical practice.
- Opportunities for interprofessional education and clinical practice.
- Graduates have entry-level expertise in the delivery of evidence-based healthcare
Goals
- Promote the highest quality of care for all infants, children, adolescents, and young adults regardless of the acuity level of care needed.
- Analyze, implement, and evaluate the outcomes of evidence-based practices for infants, children, adolescents, and young adults for all acuity levels of care required.
- Implement the findings of quality improvement (QI) to continuously improve the care offered to infants, children, adolescents, and young adults for all acuity levels of care.
- Apply the principles of population health and culturally sensitive health care to all pediatric/adolescent populations with emphasis on meeting the needs of the medically underserved urban and rural communities for all acuity levels of care.
Practicum opportunities
- Clinical placements are arranged by faculty for each student to achieve their personal and professional practice goals.
- For students living outside of the NY Metropolitan area, students may identify a clinical site and NYU Meyers will work with the students to establish the clinical placement agreement.
- Students have one-to-one experiences in clinical settings with expert pediatric nurse practitioners who guide and evaluate student learning in conjunction with the Program Director to assure individual student success in each clinical course and upon graduation.
Program outcomes
- Preparation to successfully sit for the acute care Pediatric Nurse Practitioner national certification examinations offered by the Pediatric Nursing Certification Board.
- Meet NYS and all state requirements for licensure as a Pediatric Nurse Practitioner.
- Meet State and Federal requirements to obtain a DEA number upon graduation.
- Meet State requirements to obtain prescription privileges upon graduation.
- Prepared to practice as a PNP within the licensure authority of any individual state board of nursing: evaluating patients; diagnosing, ordering, and interpreting diagnostic tests; and initiating and managing treatment plans, including prescribing medications.