DNP Pediatric Nurse Practitioner - Primary Care

Students who pursue the Pediatric Nurse Practitioner area of study will be prepared as primary pediatric nurse clinicians providing comprehensive healthcare from birth through young adulthood by assessment, diagnosis, management, and evaluation of care. Special emphasis is placed on the knowledge, skills, and expertise to emphasize health promotion, injury and disease prevention, and management in coping with chronic illness among children.

Career Opportunities

As the health care system rapidly evolves, the Bureau of Labor Statistics predicts 45% more demand for nurse practitioners, anesthetists and midwives between 2020 and 2030.

A range of health care entities focusing on children and adolescents seek out pediatric nurse practitioners with a primary care specialty, including family practices, school health programs, specialty care, public health organizations, teen clinics and youth-focused rehabilitation, outpatient centers and home health agencies. Potential job titles include:

  • Primary care provider for children and youth
  • Health care services coordinator
  • Institutional health care consultant
  • Research nurse
  • Clinical instructor

Certification as a Pediatric Primary Care Nurse Practitioner

The American Association of Critical-Care Nurses (AACN) and the Pediatric Nursing Certification Board (PNCB) offers certification as a Pediatric Primary Care Nurse Practitioner (PPCNP-BC).

The University of Missouri is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission, one of six regional institutional accreditors in the United States. The DNP at the Sinclair School is accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education.

Plan of Study

Once you begin the PNP sequence, you’ll learn about:

  • Health maintenance, promotion and diagnostic techniques for newborn through adolescent patients
  • Reproductive and sexual health relevant to this population
  • Conducting psychiatric, developmental and physiological assessments, including for chronically ill children
  • Advanced assessment, diagnostic and procedural skills
  • Identifying and responding to pediatric patient safety issues
  • Leadership and policy change in advanced nursing practice