Pediatric Nurse Practitioner (PNP/ACPNP)
Program Information
Meet the Program Directors
Terry Witherington, MSN, RN, CS
Terry Witherington received her undergraduate degree in chemistry from Union University in 1980. She followed her undergraduate studies by pursuing research for the National Cancer Institute and later toxicology research at University of Tennessee. She decided to pursue a career in nursing and received both her BSN and MSN from the University of Tennessee. She received her certification as a PNP and began her primary care experience in 1994. She has directed a rural health clinic in Middle Tennessee and has worked in primary for over ten years. She has teaching experience on the graduate level for the past eight years. She co-directed the Family Nurse Practitioner Program at Tennessee State University before coming to Vanderbilt University School of Nursing in 2002. She was recently awarded the alumni award from Union University. She has had the experience of serving in medical mission teams to South America, and she feels strongly that the nursing profession should provide health care to the underserved populations of the world. Her motivation for nursing education is related to her passion and devotion to improving the health care of children.
Acute Care PNP Program
Sheree Haselton Allen, MSN, APN, CPNP-AC
Sheree Haselton Allen is the Subspecialty Director for the Pediatric Acute Care Nurse Practitioner program. Sheree recieved her undergraduate degree in 1977 from the University of Tennessee. Her 30 years as an RN have been spent in the care of critically ill adults and children as well as nursing management and administration. She recieved her CCRN in pediatrics in 1994 and recieved the Morton Samuels Award for Nursing Excellence in 1996.
Sheree returned to the Vanderbilt School of Nursing and earned an MSN in 2003 with a specialty in pediatrics. She is currently board certified in both primary and acute care pediatrics. She is a member of the Iota Chapter of Sigma Theta Tau Honor Society of Nursing. She has been employed by Vanderbilt Childrens Hospital for 10 years. Sheree has been a nurse practitioner with the Division of Pediatric Critical Care and Anesthesia for four years and will maintain her practice with the Pediatric Sedation service. She holds membership in NAPNAP, AAP and SCCM.
Faculty Who Practice
Faculty in the primary care and acute care Pediatric Nurse Practitioner programs at Vanderbilt School of Nursing are experienced educators and clinicians. All of the faculty hold joint teaching and active clinical practice positions. Their up-to-date, evidenced-based practices provide rich “real-world” experiences for the classroom.
Modified Class Schedule for Nurses and Non-Nurses
Whether you have a nursing background or not, you will complete your PNP primary or acute care specialty program through a modified learning (block) format that includes: (1) courses offered in concentrated blocks of time on campus, including weekends, up to four times per semester, (2) on-line conferencing and (3) distributed course delivery methods which allow for continued faculty contact between sessions.
Students with a Background in Nursing
(ADN/Diploma RN, BSN, MSN)
The modified learning format provides flexibility for working nurses and others. Students need not relocate or give up their employment while completing their MSN at Vanderbilt. You may choose to attend weekly lectures on-campus or to access these lectures from a remote site through:
- Live video-streamed lectures broadcast over the Vanderbilt School of Nursing website at the specified class time,
- Archived video-streamed lectures available for one week after the live lecture, and/or
- CD recordings which are mailed to your home.
In addition, students are required to attend courses in concentrated blocks of time on campus, up to four times per semester over an extended weekend of approximately five days. Clinical practicum placement is arranged in your home area provided a suitable agency and preceptor are available. Sites and preceptors are subject to Vanderbilt faculty approval.
Students without a Background in Nursing
(PNP Primary Care Track Only)
Students who enter Vanderbilt School of Nursing without a nursing background are traditional students and, during their pre-specialty year, are required to attend live weekly lectures and complete clinical hours in Nashville. In the following specialty year, the entire PNP program is delivered in a blocked format.
Pediatric Nurse Practitioners with an MSN
Students who are interested in the Acute Care Pediatric Nurse Practitioner track as a post-master’s certificate may complete the program in 2 part-time semesters. Students will enter the program in the spring semester and finish in the summer semester. The specialty curriculum will be held in the blocked format already described with 3 one-week visits to campus in the spring, and 2 one-week visits in the summer. Clinical will be conducted at Vanderbilt Children’s Hospital or arranged in the student’s home area.
