Pediatric Nurse Practitioner-Acute Care
The Pediatric Nurse Practitioner-Acute Care (PNP-AC) specialty prepares graduates for the advanced practice role of providing complex, comprehensive care to infants, children, and adolescents. With a foundation in primary care and the study of more complex acute or chronic health conditions, there is an emphasis on integrating current evidence-based research, family-centered care, and cultural humility into clinical practice.
The Academic Experience
Coursework
During the specialty years, students may elect full time or part time study to meet the needs of the individual student to balance work, school, and home. In the first year, classes are typically held two days a week and in the second year, classes are generally on Thursdays., However, this scheduled may change as needed. Clinical assignments are scheduled throughout the week and vary depending on proximity, preceptor availability and didactic courses.
Didactic Coursework
Core courses: Students participate in several core didactic courses with their peers from all the other YSN Specialties. These courses include Pathophysiology, Pharmacology, Community Health, Statistics and Research for Evidence-Based Practice, and Transitions to Professional Practice. Several courses also include students from other specialties who will provide care to pediatric and adolescent patients and their families.
Specialty courses: Pediatric specific didactic and clinical courses begin in the first specialty year and continue throughout the four semesters. Clinical placements are intended to augment what is taught in the classroom. Students also participate in clinical conferences to discuss current practice issues and their clinical encounters.
Concentrations/Tracks: YSN provides students with the opportunity to pursue specialized training in various concentrations. Presently, these concentrations include Diabetes Care, Gender and Sexuality Health Justice, and Oncology. Additionally, the program offers two tracks: Global Health and Research. To enroll in theses concentrations/tracks the students are required to apply during their first specialty year.
YSN students are also encouraged to participate in additional courses offered at YSN and across Yale campus to augment the Yale educational experience. In the recent past, students have taken courses offered at the School of Public Health, Divinity School, Law School and Medical School. Language courses are also a popular option for students.
Specifics of the program course of study:
- Students may elect for full or part-time course of study for the MSN
- Students may enter as either a RN or as part of YSN’s Graduate Entry Pre-specialty in Nursing (GEPN) program.
- Students may choose this program as a Post-Master’s Certificate
The Clinical Experience
Each student, throughout the two years, provides acute, complex and chronic illness health care for infants through adolescence in a variety of care setting including pediatric intensive care units, inpatient settings, specialty clinics, and emergency departments. Clinical practice experiences occur at a variety of hospitals in Connecticut, New York, Massachusetts and Rhode Island. Students may also elect to complete clinical experiences, in their final semester, outside the area, if clinical sites are available. All PNP-AC students complete a minimum of 665 pediatric clinical practice hours in addition to observational experiences, clinical case discussions, simulation experiences, and physical assessment laboratory hours. The PNP Preceptor Liaison and Clinical Site Coordinator, in conjunction with the faculty, arrange all the clinical experiences to best meet the needs of each student.
Who Should Apply?
Who is the ideal candidate? What do we look for in applications?
Prospective students should have a strong interest in providing acute, complex, and chronic illness health care for infants through adolescence. This specialty is designed for RNs or accelerated GEPN students who have some experience working or volunteering in the health care system as an emergency medical technician, medical assistant, or licensed practical nurse.
Can I work as an RN while I am in the PNP-AC Specialty?
PNP-AC students are encouraged to work part-time or per diem as a RN during the program to gain inpatient hospital experience. Students may also elect to complete acute care clinical experiences during the summer.
Volunteer opportunities
• YSN Student Government Organization (SGO)
• Have Bones Will Travel
• HAVEN Free Clinic
• Neighborhood Health Project (NHP)
• Poverty Alleviation through Washing Soles (PAWS)
• Planned Parenthood
• Yale Day of Service
What are the differences in the role of a PNP-PC versus PNP-AC?
As a pediatric nurse practitioner, there are two tracks of study: acute care and primary care. Primary care providers focus on health promotion and prevention, providing well visits, management of acute illnesses and chronic health problems. Primary care providers can work in private practice, community health centers, urgent clinics, or outpatient clinics. Acute care providers focus on caring for complex chronic and critical illnesses. Acute care PNPs can work in the ED, ICU, inpatient or outpatient specialty practices.
PNP PMC
The Post-Master’s Pediatric Nurse Practitioner- Acute Care certificate option is designed for master’s or doctorally-prepared advanced practice nurses who were prepared as a pediatric nurse practitioner-primary care, clinical nurse specialist, neonatal nurse practitioner, or family nurse practitioner who desire additional education and training in caring for more acute, complex pediatric patients. Upon completion of the program, the student would be eligible to apply for pediatric nurse practitioner certification in acute care through the Pediatric Nursing Certification Board.
The plan of study includes all the required courses currently offered in the PNP-AC specialty except for the research/statistics course. For purposes of student eligibility for certification, all PNP-AC required courses must be taken at the Yale School of Nursing or challenged by either examination or demonstration of similar course content in the student’s previous master’s program. A plan of study may be obtained from the Student Affairs Office.
Certification
The PNP-AC curriculum is intended to prepare students to apply for Pediatric Nurse Practitioner Certification in acute care through the Pediatric Nursing Certification Board (PNCB).
Pediatric Nursing Certification Board, 9605 Medical Center Drive, Suite 250, Rockville, Maryland 20850. Phone: (301) 330-2921, 888-641-2767, Fax: 301-330-1504 https://www.pncb.org/ptistore/control/index.
Yale University is approved by the Washington State Nursing Care Quality Assurance Commission to conduct practice experiences in the state of Washington for the Pediatric Nurse Practitioner Master’s program.
Accreditation
The master’s degree program in nursing at Yale School of Nursing is accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education, 655 K Street, NW, Suite 750, Washington, DC 20001, 202-887-6791.
PNPAC - Faculty
specialty director:
Nancy Cantey Banasiak, DNP, PNP, PPCNP-BC, APRN