Pediatric Nurse Practitioner
Acute Care

Scope of Practice

Overview

The Acute Care Pediatric Nurse Practitioner (PNP-AC) is an advanced practice nurse specializing in the care of hospitalized children. The PNP-AC has acquired advanced knowledge and clinical skills in child health care, enabling them to provide a broad range of services for children from birth through adolescence. The focus of these services is on physical assessment, diagnosis, disease management, patient and family education, discharge planning and the restoration of health. The PNP-AC practices in a variety of settings as a member of the interdisciplinary health care team, collaborating with other health professionals to provide comprehensive health care services to children.

 

In 2004, the National Association of Pediatric Nurse Practitioners expanded the scope of practice of the PNP to include the provision of care to acute, chronic and critically ill children and developed a specific certification exam.

 

Credentials and Certification

Graduates, who entered the program as RNs, are eligible to sit for examination for the applicable certification, and eligible for prescriptive authority in all 50 states, with restrictions as specified by each state. Visit Credentialing and Certification for specific information.

 

Functions Performed by the Pediatric Nurse Practitioner

In addition to general functions performed by the Advanced Practice Nurse, the Pediatric Nurse Practitioner may also provide these functions.

 

Primary Care PNPs

   Acute Care PNPs
  • Empower children and families.
  • Promote wellness oriented self care.
  • Provide comprehensive health education.
  • Work with children and their families in anticipation of developmental milestones, life cycle events.
  • Perform or recommend age-appropriate screening procedures.
  • Diagnose and treat common acute health problems, illnesses, and minor trauma.
  • Care for and counsel children with common identified, stable chronic conditions.
  • Coordinate and integrate multidisciplinary services for children with complex medical problems.
  
  • Diagnose and treat acute, critical, and chronic illness in children.
  • Care for and counsel children with common, identified chronic conditions.
  • Coordinate inter/ multidisciplinary team models in terms of referral, professional relationships, ethical concerns, conflict resolution and the delivery of services to children with complex medical problems.
  • Work with children and their families in anticipation of developmental milestone, life cycle events.
  • Integrate ethical principles into complex plans of care working closely with patients, families, health care workers, and interdisciplinary ethics communities.