Pediatric Nurse Practitioner (PNP)

Do you want to pursue graduate education and develop advanced expertise with a specific focus in pediatric practice? If so, a Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) degree with a major in Pediatric Nurse Practitioner will give you this education. A post-MSN option is also available.  Applicants must have two years direct clinical care experience working general pediatrics; pediatric intensive / intermediate care or other relevant experience.

This major pulls together the content from core courses in physiology, pathophysiology, pharmacotherapeutics and health assessment as a foundation for advanced practice. The roles of the nurse in advanced practice are experienced through patient care management in outpatient and inpatient facilities, private practice, school health and home health settings.

You will acquire advanced knowledge and clinical skills enabling you to provide quality comprehensive care to children, from infancy to adolescence. Extensive course work and practicum will prepare you to perform complete physical exams, take health histories, diagnose and treat common acute minor illnesses and injuries, order and interpret laboratory results and x-rays, manage stable chronic illnesses, counsel clients and provide health education.

Above courses + 11semester hours required courses for a total of 47 semester hours. In the post-MSN option, applicants are evaluated individually for the need for additional course work. The above courses are described in more detail on the reverse of this sheet.

For further information, contact: Beverly H. Robinson, PhD, RN, FAAN
Professor & Associate Dean for Graduate Nursing Program
UTHSCSA School of Nursing 7703 Floyd Curl Drive, MC # 7943, San Antonio, T X 78229-3900
(210) 567-5815
Website: www.nursing.uthscsa.edu

On-line application : http://studentservices.uthscsa.edu/publications/nursing.html

Graduates are eligible for national certification and recognition by the Board of Nurse Examiners for the State of Texas as an Advanced Practice Nurse.

“Not an Official Publication of UTHSCSA”

Major Course Descriptions:

• NURS 6307 Health Assessment Across the Lifespan for Advanced Practice Nurses
  Credit Hour Allocation: 3 semester hours
  Prerequisites: Undergraduate health assessment course/comparable experience
  
  The theoretical and clinical basis for assessment in advanced nursing practice will be developed. The process whereby the advanced practitioner utilizes comprehensive physical, psychosocial, and cultural assessment across the lifespan, to gather specific data relevant to common health problems, is demonstrated. Faculty and preceptors facilitate laboratory and clinical experiences which focus on assessment of clients and presentation of findings in a variety of settings. Major Courses



• NURS 5338 Pathophysiology for Advanced Practice Nurses
  Credit Hour Allocation: 3 semester hours
  Prerequisites: Graduate Standing
  
  This course focuses on pathophysiological processes across the lifespan. The relationship between normal physiology and specific system alterations produced by disease will be explored. Particular attention will be given to etiology, pathogenesis, developmental and environmental influences, and clinical manifestations of major health problems that affect South Texas . Portions of this course will be delivered by distance technology. Independent completion of modules is required in this course. Major Courses



• NURS 6302 Pharmacotherapeutics for Advanced Practice Nurses
  Credit Hour Allocation: 3 semester hours
  Prerequisites: NURS 5338 or concurrent
  
• This course provides advanced practice nurses the opportunity to acquire knowledge and skills in the therapeutic use of pharmacologic agents to protect, promote, and restore optimal health. Principles of pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics will be examined. The history of disease, pathophysiology, symptomatology and pharmacologic treatment of major health problems and health transitions will be explored. Potential adverse reactions of various cultural groups to prescribed agents will be emphasized, including adherence, cost of drug, cultural values and beliefs, and individual responses to therapy. Partnership with patients in comprehensive education, monitoring and adherence is stressed. The state and federal legal regulations for advanced practice nursing prescriptive authority will be addressed.Major Courses



• NURS 6308 Mental Health Concepts for Advanced Practice Nurses
  Credit Hour Allocation: 2 semester hour seminar; 1 semester hour practicum
  Clock Hour Allocation: 2 clock hours seminar; 3 clock hours practicum (45 clock hour practicum)
  Prerequisites: Graduate standing
  
• This course emphasizes the development of advanced practice nursing skills in mental health. Individually supervised practice, analysis and evaluation of the interpersonal process with culturally diverse clients experiencing life transitions that result in psychological stress and dysfunction across the lifespan is employed. Students use a holistic perspective to examine the etiology, meaning and consequences of human behavior. Biological, cultural, psychological and social aspects of mental health and mental health care are considered. A special emphasis is placed working in partnership with patients to assess and detect actual and potential mental health problems. The advanced practice nurse will provide customized care through developmental assessment, crisis intervention, pharmacological management, other biological therapies and/or consultation/referral to other mental health professionals.Major Courses



• NURS 5311 Nursing Assessment of Populations
  Credit Hour Allocation: 2 semester hour seminar; 1 semester hour practicum
  Clock Hour Allocation: 2 clock hours seminar; 3 clock hours practicum (45 clock hours practicum)
  Prerequisites: Graduate standing
  
  This course explores the acquisition of knowledge about a community of interest and its health problems. Communities of interest may include populations within organizations, neighborhoods or communities. Sources of both qualitative and quantitative information about selected populations and their health problems will be addressed. Students will be given an opportunity to gain experience in the identification of population characteristics, problem health measurement and the identification of "communities of solution." For their clinical activities, students may choose population aggregates in a variety of settings compatible with their area of interest. Major Courses



• NURS 5631 Pediatric Nurse Practitioner (PNP) Diagnosis and Management: Concepts and Theory I
  Credit Hour Allocation: 4 semester hours class; 2 semester hours clinical
  Clock Hour Allocation: 4 clock hours class; 6 clock hours clinical (90 hours clinical practicum)
  Prerequisites: NURS 5306 Nursing Science I; N5226 Nurses Role in Health Care Finance; NURS 5339 Nursing Leadership & Policy; NURS 6307 Health Assessment for APN; NURS 6302 Pharmacotherapeutics for the APN; NURS 6308 Mental Health Concepts; NURS 5338 Pathophysiology for APN; NURS 5311 Assessment of Populations (may be taken concurrently); NURS 5307 Nursing Science II ( may be taken concurrently)
  
  The focus of this course is the transition of the RN to the role of the Pediatric Nurse Practitioner in health promotion, diagnosis and management of common illnesses in primary health care practice across the life-span attending to differences in focused populations. Research and theory are used to identify strategies integral to advanced nursing practice for the promotion of health and prevention of illness. Using problem-based and integrated learning strategies, disorder of approximately one half of the physiologic systems are examined, critical thinking processes required for development of differential diagnosis are utilized, and therapeutic regimens for common diseases/disorders identified. Emphasizes collaborative partnerships among patients, families, and other health care disciplines. Student must be willing to travel. Major Courses



• NURS 5632 Pediatric Nurse Practitioner (PNP) Diagnosis and Management: Concepts and Theory II
  Credit Hour Allocation: 3 semester hours class; 3 semester hours clinical
  Clock Hour Allocation: 3 clock hours class (45 hours); 9 clock hours clinical (135 hours clinical practicum)
  Prerequisites: NURS 5306 Nursing Science I; NURS 5226 Nurses Role in Health Care Finance; NURS 6307 Health Assessment for APN; NURS 5339 Nursing Leadership & Policy; NURS 6302 Pharmacotherapeutics for the APN; NURS 6308 Mental Health Concepts; NURS 5338 Pathophysiology; NURS 5311 Assessment of Populations (may be taken concurrently); Nurs 5307 Nursing Science II ( may be taken concurrently); NURS 5631 PNP I
  
  The focus of this course is the progression of development of the Pediatric Nurse Practitioner in health promotion, diagnosis and management of common illnesses in primary health care practice across the life-span, attending to differences in focused populations. Research and theory are used to identify strategies that are integral to advanced nursing practice for promotion of health and prevention of illness. Using problem-based and integrated learning strategies, disorders of approximately one half of the physiologic systems are examined, critical thinking processes required for development of differential diagnosis are utilized, and therapeutic regimens for common diseases/disorders identified. Emphasizes collaborative partnerships among patient, family, and other health care disciplines. Major Courses



• NURS 5933 Pediatric Nurse Practitioner (PNP): Role and Preceptorship
  Credit Hour Allocation: 1 semester hour class; 8 semester hours clinical
  Clock Hour Allocation: 1 clock hour class (15 hours seminar); 360 hours clinical practicum
  Prerequisites: All coursework specific to the major
  
  This course focuses on health maintenance for patients, professionalism and ethical roles and responsibilities of Pediatric Nurse Practitioners in the health care setting; transition to an advanced practice role (marketing, negotiations, contracts); understanding the political arena of legal and social issues governing advanced practice in primary health care (including prescriptive authority); and maintaining professional partnerships within professional advanced practice nursing and health care professionals in other disciplines. It requires the student to demonstrate integration, synthesis and application of assessment, diagnosis, and management of patients with acute and/or stable chronic health conditions. Practice and mastery of these skills will occur in preceptored clinical settings specific to the population focus of specialty track (PNP) and will reflect progressive competency of the Nurse Practitioner student in health promotion, diagnosis and management of patient and family care for a culturally diverse population. The student will use problem-based integrated learning strategies and scholarship to identify and implement strategies to promote health, prevent illness, develop and implement treatment plans, and evaluate outcomes of common and complex disorders. Critical thinking processes required for development of differential diagnosis and evaluation are required, and progressive independence of practice is expected. This course emphasizes collaborative partnerships with patient, family, and other health care disciplines. Major Courses