Dual Pediatric Primary Care and Acute Care Nurse Practitioner

The knowledge and skills to impact children's health, no matter the situation 

The program prepares nurses who will function at an advanced level of practice as acute care pediatric nurse practitioners. The graduate will be prepared for independent management of children and families seeking health care for complex acute and chronic pediatric health problems. All graduates will be academically eligible for certification as a Pediatric Nurse Practitioner in both acute and primary care.

Program Highlights

  • Students complete 250 hours in an individually designed clinical residency.
  • Students complete 500 primary care clinical hours and 500 acute care clinical hours.
  • Primary care sites are located across southeastern Wisconsin. Students have an opportunity to practice in a variety of clinical settings, with a special emphasis on sites serving economically disadvantaged children in the community.
  • Spend an entire semester training with the more than 200 advanced practice nurses in 33 specialties at Children’s Hospital in Wisconsin.
  • Students spend an entire semester in a 72-bed pediatric intensive care unit.
  • Participants have access to two high-fidelity simulation labs (Marquette and Children’s Wisconsin),  and the curriculum weaves leveled simulation experiences throughout the clinical experiences.

 

What degree is right for me?

Post-Master's Certificate MSN Post-BSN DNP

Credits: 12-39


MSN required


 

Credits: 48


BSN required


 

Credits: 78


BSN required


Capstone required

*Post-MSN DNP tracks also offered.

Tuition Cost Per Credit: $1,360.00
Other costs exist, see here.


View the course work

These programs are generally completed on a part-time basis (3-6 credits per term) while students are working. Personalized plans of study are created collaboratively by each student and their adviser in order to create a manageable and flexible schedule. 

Post-Master's Certificate Courses- 12-39 Credits

Post-Master's certificates may require 12-39 credits, depending on academic background.

Specialty Courses – 30 Credits

Health Promotion Across the Lifespan

Complex/Chronic Pediatric Health Conditions

Seminar in Child and Family Health

Nursing Therapeutics for Acute/Episodic Illness in Children and Adolescents

Nursing Therapeutics for Acute/Critical Illnesses in Children

Advanced Nursing Care of Children and Families Clinical 2

Acutely Ill Children - Clinical 1

Acutely/Chronically Ill Children Practicum

Critically Ill Children Practicum   

 

Foundation Courses – 9 Credits

Pathophysiological Concepts for Advanced Nursing Practice

Pharmacology for Advanced Nursing Practice

Advanced Health Assessment Across the Lifespan

MSN Courses- 48 Credits

Specialty Courses – 27 Credits

Health Promotion Across the Lifespan

Complex/Chronic Pediatric Health Conditions

Seminar in Child and Family Health

Nursing Therapeutics for Acute/Episodic Illness in Children and Adolescents

Nursing Therapeutics for Acute/Critical Illnesses in Children

Advanced Nursing Care of Children and Families Clinical 2

Acutely Ill Children - Clinical 1

Acutely/Chronically Ill Children Practicum

Critically Ill Children Practicum   

 

Core Courses – 12 Credits

Theoretical Foundations of Nursing

Ethics, Policy, and Health Care Advocacy

Organizational and Systems Leadership

Research & Evidence as a Foundation for Nursing

 

Foundation Courses – 9 Credits

Pathophysiological Concepts for Advanced Nursing Practice

Pharmacology for Advanced Nursing Practice

Advanced Health Assessment Across the Lifespan

DNP Courses- 78 Credits

Specialty Courses – 30 Credits

Health Promotion Across the Lifespan

Concepts and Interventions for Health Problems Across the Lifespan

Complex/Chronic Pediatric Health Conditions

Seminar in Child and Family Health

Nursing Therapeutics for Acute/Episodic Illness in Children and Adolescents

Nursing Therapeutics for Acute/Critical Illnesses in Children

Advanced Nursing Care of Children and Families Clinical 2

Acutely Ill Children - Clinical 1

Acutely/Chronically Ill Children Practicum

Critically Ill Children Practicum   

 

Core Courses – 12 Credits

NURS 6000   Theoretical Foundations of Nursing

NURS 6007   Ethics, Policy, and Health Care Advocacy

NURS 6009   Organizational and Systems Leadership

NURS 6010   Research & Evidence as a Foundation for Nursing

 

Foundation Courses – 9 Credits

NURS 6030   Pathophysiological Concepts for Advanced Nursing Practice

NURS 6032   Pharmacology for Advanced Nursing Practice

NURS 6035   Advanced Health Assessment Across the Lifespan

 

DNP Core Courses - 27 Credits

Quality & Patient Safety in Health Care

Health Care Informatics, Technology and Professional Issues

Translational Research

Epidemiology

Applied Statistics for Health Sciences

Professional Issues in APN/DNP Practice

Residency for DNP with Acutely Ill Adults

Doctor of Nursing Practice Capstone 1

Doctor of Nursing Practice Capstone 2

Take the next step towards your future

  • Contact Us
  • Application Requirements
  • Qualifications
  • Faculty
  • Financial Aid

*required field

Loading...

Apply and submit all application requirements

Application Deadlines:

Fall 2023: Rolling Admission (August 1, 2023)

Spring 2024: Application deadline of June 1, 2023

Fall 2024: Application deadline of December 1, 2023

  • Transcripts:
  • Three completed recommendation letters prepared by previous or present employers and teachers familiar with graduate education in nursing.
  • A resume and written statement of professional goals, including reasons for pursuing graduate study.
  • An interview may be required.
  • International applicants only: TOEFL score or other acceptable proof of English proficiency.
  • All applicants must be registered in the United States as a professional nurse. Graduates of nursing schools in foreign countries must successfully complete the certification program administered by the Commission on Graduates of Foreign Nursing Schools and must be licensed in Wisconsin.
  • GRE not required.
  • Two years of full-time (or part-time equivalent) of pediatric acute care RN experience is required prior to admission to the program.
  • Applicants to the BSN to Doctor of Nursing Practice (D.N.P.) program should have graduated with, or be about to graduate with, a bachelor’s degree in nursing from a nationally accredited program with an upper division major in nursing.
  • The required minimum undergraduate GPA of 3.000 on a 4.000 scale is required for the M.S.N. For graduates of foreign nursing schools, a formal evaluation of their nursing program of study documenting equivalency to a U.S. Bachelor of Science in Nursing degree must be submitted.
  • Prior to or during the first term of study, all Master of Science in Nursing applicants must have taken undergraduate nursing research and a statistics course which included inferential analysis (must be completed within 5 years of program start date). If the time period of 5 years has been exceeded for the statistics course, it may be possible for applicants to demonstrate proficiency by examination through an approved testing source (list of approved examinations available from the College of Nursing). Applicants who select an advanced practice nursing specialization must have taken an undergraduate course in health assessment.
  • Unencumbered Registered Nurse license to practice in the United States. A Wisconsin or eNLC license is required at the time of admission.
  • BCLS from the American Heart Association, which must be maintained during all programs. Additional certifications:  pediatric acute care - PALS prior to clinical; pediatric primary care – optional PALS prior to clinical.

Christine Schindler, PhD, RN, CPNP-PC, AC (Program Director)

Kristin Haglund, PhD, RN, FNP, PNP- BC

Norah Johnson, PhD, RN, CPNP

Jaime Fox, DNP, CPNP-AC/PC, CCTC

Jill Kuester, MSN, RN, CPNP-AC

Amanda Kotowski, DNP, RN, CPNP-PC/AC, AGNP-BC

Katie McDermott, MSN, RN, CPNP-AC

Jennifer Pfister, MSN, RN, CPNP-AC, C-NPT

Norah Johnson, PhD, RN, CPNP

Theresa Bullis, MSN, RN, CPNP-PC

Amanda Kotowski, DNP, RN, CPNP-PC/AC, AGNP-BC

For a comprehensive listing of merit-based aid (graduate assistantships/fellowships), visit the departmental financial aid webpage. U.S. citizens and permanent residents may be eligible to apply for need-based federal aid (loans) to help fund their educational expenses as well.

Tuition information for the Master of Science in Nursing — Second Degree Direct Entry for Non-Nurses program can be found in the , as it differs from other graduate programs.

 

 

Program Contact

Taylor Rose Pamperin, M.Ed.

Graduate Student Success Advisor

Email Taylor