Pediatric Nurse Practitioner Concentration

Education

• Baccalaureate degree or equivalent in nursing from an accredited institution.

Academic Performance

• Minimum GPA of 3.0, both cumulative and in nursing coursework.

Licensure

• Current unencumbered United States RN license at the time of application.
• California RN license must be obtained before the start of classes and maintained throughout the program.

Experience

• Minimum of one year of full-time RN experience is required before matriculating into clinical courses (applies to most programs).

Certification

• Current American Heart Association Basic Life Support (CPR) certification.
• Pediatric Advanced Life Support (PALS) certification required before matriculation and must be maintained until program completion.

Recommendations

Two electronic recommendations following:

• Required: Recent nurse manager or director
• Additional may be either of the following:
  • Nursing peer
  • Spiritual advisor

Interview Process (if granted by the Admissions Committee)

• Completion of the Emotional Intelligence Interview Process, which includes a meeting (in person or via Zoom) with the program coordinator and another Graduate Nursing Program faculty member.

Private Pediatric Clinics: Many PNPs work in outpatient clinics, offering routine checkups, vaccinations, and managing common childhood illnesses.

Community Health Centers: These centers serve diverse populations and often rely on PNPs to provide accessible care to underserved communities.

School-Based Health Centers: PNPs may work directly in schools, addressing student health concerns, managing chronic conditions like asthma or ADHD, and promoting wellness.

Urgent Care Clinics: Some PNPs handle acute illnesses and minor injuries in walk-in settings.

Hospitals: While more common for acute care PNPs, some primary care PNPs may work in outpatient departments or specialty clinics within hospitals.

Telehealth Services: Increasingly, PNPs are providing virtual care, especially for follow-ups, chronic condition management, and health education.

Primary Pediatric Nurse Practitioners:

• Conduct well-child visits and developmental screenings
• Diagnose and treats common pediatric illnesses
• Manage pediatric mental health conditions
• Manage chronic conditions like diabetes, allergies, and behavioral disorders
• Educate families on nutrition, safety, and preventive care
• Collaborate with other healthcare providers to ensure holistic care

Our Hybrid model combines the convenience of online learning with the irreplaceable value of face-to-face clinical mastery. Clinical/Lab/Simulation courses will be hybrid to allow students to have hands-on practice, preparing them for their clinical practice setting.  Schedules will be provided to students for required meetings during the quarter in advance.  This allows you to refine your practical expertise in person and graduate with exceptional skills that set you apart from other Advanced Practice Nurses.

NGRD 624 Advanced Health Assessment 4u
This course has mandatory synchronous lab meetings 4-6 meetings during the quarter. The schedule will be given in advance for planning.

All clinical and practicum courses

1. Direct Clinical Hours: 630-750 hours, depending on the specialty.
   Students in the CNS and NP clinical courses will be assigned clinical rotations within Southern California (within a 90-mile radius of Loma Linda).
2. DNP Project: The DNP Project can be done in the workplace, allowing students to collect evidence-based research data.

Sample Schedule
Full-time: 3 years, 9 months (15 academic quarters).
Part-time options are available.