The Pediatric Nurse Practitioner (PNP) Program is designed to prepare advanced practice registered nurses to deliver primary and acute care to children (birth to ~ 21 years of age) across practice settings and institutional boundaries.
The overall objective of the PNP Program is to provide the foundation and scaffolding for students to become competent and caring pediatric nurse practitioners, scholars, and leaders. The program includes both didactic and clinical courses, beginning with foundational coursework and advancing to specialized clinical applications. In addition to providing direct care to children, graduates are prepared as lifelong learners, leaders, and advocates for children and their families.
In addition to meeting the DNP student learning outcomes, upon graduation, it is expected that PNP graduates will be able to:
- Demonstrate safe care of children and their families in primary and acute care settings.
- Provide individualized, culturally sensitive management using quality improvement strategies where applicable.
- Use effective communication skills and technologies to provide collaborative care.
- Integrate professional leadership skills in delivery of care.
- Synthesize and translate relevant, current and scientific knowledge and evidence based research findings into practice.
- Employ advocacy strategies to influence health care policy.
The PNP program is Portland-based, using both hybrid course delivery and an executive model for class times and pediatric clinical practicums to allow working and/or distance students to participate.
PNP graduates are eligible to sit for national certification exams in Pediatric Primary and Acute Care offered through the Pediatric National Certification Board (PNCB).