Pediatric Nurse Practitioner Area of Concentration

The Pediatric Nurse Practitioner (PNP) is prepared as a principal provider of primary health care to children and adolescents in a variety of settings. The concentration provides students with course work and clinical experiences related to health promotion, child development, developmental and health issues, and the management of well, acutely, and chronically ill children and adolescents in ambulatory and subspecialty settings. The PNP curriculum also prepares students to participate in research and provide leadership in mobilizing health care resources for children in the community. Graduates are eligible for professional PNP certification through the Pediatric Nurse Certification Board (PNCB) and the American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC). Pass rate of University of Pittsburgh PNPs is consistently 100% with scores above the national average. Graduates are also eligible for legal certification as a Certified Registered Nurse Practitioner (CRNP) and prescription authority by the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania.

The nationally ranked PNP concentration offers both full-time and part-time study on the Pittsburgh campus. Selected core courses may be transmitted to the Bradford and Johnstown campuses via satellite. The curriculum focuses on health promotion, child development, physical diagnosis and the management of well, acutely, and chronically ill children and adolescents in ambulatory settings. Clinical experiences may be in a variety of community settings working with PNPs and pediatricians. The experiences are designed to provide students with an opportunity to care for children from the newborn period through adolescence.

PNP graduates are prepared to work in a variety of settings, such as hospital outpatient clinics, community health centers, schools, private pediatric practices, and pediatric subspecialty services. PNPs are increasingly involved in coordinating and managing care for children with chronic conditions by providing continuity for these children from home to hospital or school.

For further information or to receive an application packet, please contact Student Services:

• Phone: (412) 624-4586 or 1-888-747-0794
• E-Mail: sao50@pitt.edu