Inside Pediatric Nurse Practitioner Online Programs

Becoming a PNP requires advanced training in the form of a master’s or a doctorate degree in the field, which can be a real barrier for RNs and other working professionals. Fortunately, quality online degree programs for PNPs provide substantial flexibility to students as they begin their training and help them to overcome these hurdles. When combined with in-person practical experience, online learning components can offer the didactic understanding necessary for students to succeed in this field; it just takes some research to find the right PNP program for your goals and needs.

Finding the Online PNP Program that Works for You

Every online PNP program is different, each with its own unique style, content emphasis, and student expectations. Decide on the right one by determining your own educational needs and career priorities. Then, carefully examine each program’s features, both in terms of content (degree levels offered, subjects emphasized, specializations available, etc.) and delivery (course format, in-person and practicum requirements, program length, cost, etc.). Once you’ve narrowed your list of potential programs, it’s a good idea to speak with counselors, faculty members, and (if possible) students at each school to get a complete picture of what to expect.

How Online PNP Programs Work

Types of Pediatric Nurse Practitioner Degrees Offered Online

Understanding the Online PNP Curriculum

PNP degree program curriculums typically consist of two basic components: didactic coursework (case-based learning commonly presented through lectures and writings) and practical training (in-person, with hands-on active participation by students, including a substantial clinical experience requirement). First-year MSN students can expect to focus on a core curriculum for nurse practitioners geared toward the development of pediatric care knowledge, while second-year study will introduce courses covering a range of pediatric-specific topics.

Consider a Subspecialty

Knowledge and skills focused on a particular area of practice can greatly increase the value of your services, enhance your marketability, and may qualify you to obtain a corresponding professional certification. The availability of subspecialties should be an important factor in your choice of a PNP degree program. Most schools offer several subspecialty options for NPs, but be advised not all subspecialties are available specifically to PNP students specifically. Therefore, if you plan on pursuing a particular subspecialty with your PNP degree, be certain that it is available with the degree programs you’re considering.

Below are three of the subspecialties most commonly pursued by PNP students:

Emergency Medicine: This type of training for a nurse practitioner prepares a PNP to manage injured and acutely ill pediatric patients in diverse emergency care settings. Working conditions can be particularly stressful, calling on the nurse to make immediate critical decisions and diagnoses. Emergency PNPs are also typically required to work evening and graveyard shifts as needed, and may also need to be on-call. But, working in an emergency environment can also be one of the most rewarding for the nursing professional. Potential certification: Emergency Nurse Practitioner Specialty Certification (AANPCB).

Nephrology: This area of specialty deals with issues concerning the kidneys. The majority of kidney-related health ailments are found in older adult patients often suffering from a number of complex health problems. Nevertheless, children may also suffer from kidney-related issues, including kidney or urinary tract disease, kidney stones, high blood pressure, and bladder problems. Nurses with specialized nephrology expertise assist in the care of pediatric kidney patients in need of a range of treatments, such as dialysis and even kidney transplantation. Potential certification: Certified Nephrology Nurse – Nurse Practitioner (CNN-NP).

Surgery: Surgical PNPs perform a variety of tasks related to the care of pediatric surgery patients, including assessment of new patients, consultation regarding surgical options, administering medications, and performing tests both before and after surgery, as well as assisting surgeons and medical staff during the surgery itself. As with the emergency room environment, working in a surgical setting can be stressful and involve long, demanding hours in practice. Potential certification: Certified Medical-Surgical Registered Nurse (CMSRN);

National PNP Certification

After completing their graduate or post-graduate degree, most PNPs seek a national certification, as most states require national certification as a prerequisite for state licensure. The role of such certification is to recognize and validate the knowledge and skills attained by certification holders while earning their PNP degrees and completing additional area-focused practice, as well as by passing the certification exam. Until recently, there were two associations offering national PNP certification: the American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC) and the Pediatric Nurse Certification Board (PNCB). However, the ANCC is now in the process of phasing out its Pediatric Primary Care Nursing Certification, leaving the PNCB as the only current association offering PNP certification.

There are two types of PNP certification available from the PNCB:

Mental and Behavioral Health Certifications for PNPs

Primary care PNPs are eligible to apply for the Primary Care Mental Health Specialist (PMHS) credential, also offered by the PNCB. The PMHS credential recognizes and validates the additional knowledge and skills of the certification holder in the care of children and adolescents with mental and behavioral health concerns. Receiving the credential requires taking and passing the PMHS exam. Requirements for taking the exam include a master’s or doctoral primary care PNP degree, current APRN PNP certification, 2,000 hours of clinical practice experience in pediatric developmental, behavioral and mental health, and completion of either one graduate-level DMBH course or 30 hours of DMBH continuing education within the past three years.

Funding Your Online Pediatric Nurse Practitioner Program

PNP degree students have a range of financial aid options to help pay for their educations, including scholarships, grants, and student loans. For more information on strategies and resources for obtaining financial aid for your PNP degree, check out EduMed’s Pay Less for Education: How to Take Charge of Your Financial Aid webpage.

Here are two organizations that sponsor scholarships specifically aimed at PNP degree students:

Ranking the Top Online PNP Programs

To help you find the right opportunity, we’ve researched and showcased the top online PNP programs. Our data scientists have factored in considerations such as affordability, accessibility, and student outcomes (for full details on our ranking methodology, click “About the Ranking”). See which programs stand above the rest by reading on to explore the schools that made it onto our list.

Helpful PNP Resources

1. American Association of Colleges of Nursing (AACN) – Resources for Students: A clearinghouse of information and resources for nursing students, including its Graduate Nursing School Academy, which provides a range of programs, services, and resources for graduate students enrolled in AACN-member nursing schools.
2. American Association of Nurse Practitioners (AANP): The website for the 96,000-member national organization, including an excellent Student Resources page.
3. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) – Occupational Outlook Handbook: This is the BLS information site for nurse practitioners, which includes data on pay, job outlook, work environment, and much more.
4. National Association of Pediatric Nurses (NAPNAP): This is a great resource for education, advocacy, and networking for PNPs.