<iframe src="//www.googletagmanager.com/ns.html?id=GTM-TJCKC2" height="0" width="0" style="display:none;visibility:hidden"></iframe> MSN in Pediatric Acute Care Nurse Practitioner | Drexel Online

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  • MSN Pediatric Acute Care Nurse Practitioner

    The accredited online MSN Pediatric Acute Care Nurse Practitioner program prepares students for advanced nursing roles as clinicians, educators, researchers, and leaders in Pediatric Acute Care. Students will also become experts in delivering care to infants, children, and adolescents with acute, critical and complex health conditions. 

    The program's curriculum emphasizes evidence-based practice, interdisciplinary collaboration, and the critical use of new technology, while preparing nurses to practice in an inpatient and outpatient acute or specialty clinical setting. The program follows the curricular guidelines approved by the National Taskforce on Quality Nurse Practitioner Education (2008) and follows Pediatric Nurse Practitioner Competencies (NONPF, 2002) and Critical Care Nurse Practitioner Competencies (NONPF, 2004.) Graduates are qualified to sit for certification examinations for acute care (PNCB) pediatric nurse practitioners.

    Program Features

    • Ranked #41 in 2020's Best Online Graduate Nursing Programs by U.S. News & World Report
    • Ranked #16 in 2020's Best Online Graduate Nursing Programs for Veterans by U.S. News & World Report
    • The master's degree in nursing at Drexel University is accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education
    • Courses taught by experienced and board certified faculty from Drexel's acclaimed College of Nursing and Health Professions (CNHP)
    • Access to our state-of-the-art patient simulation lab
    • Graduates of the Acute Care Pediatric Nurse Practitioner program are eligible for the Acute Care Pediatric exam offered by the PNCB
    • Synchronous online lectures offer a highly interactive learning format that challenges and engages students

    On-Campus Requirements

    This high-quality program demands a major commitment of time, including multiple on-campus visits that are essential for transition into the NP role. During your time in the program, you will participate in mandatory on-campus and/or virtual intensives. The required intensives will be held during clinical courses. Exact dates and times will be confirmed with students prior to the term.

    Pennsylvania RN licensure is required prior to the start of your clinical components. While this is not a requirement for admission, we recommend starting the process immediately after admission.

    Clinicals

    The nurse practitioner programs in the Department of Advanced Practice Nursing at Drexel University provide you the flexibility of finding and coordinating your own clinical site and preceptor. The department also offers resources to assist you in this process. Accessibility to clinical sites and preceptors varies from state to state, and you may be required to travel to access clinical sites/preceptors and achieve the necessary clinical hours.

    Online Open Houses

    Learn more about this and other nursing programs from our previously recorded online open house webinar series.

    Questions? We're here to help!

    For application related questions:
    enroll@drexel.edu

    For program related questions:
    College of Nursing and Health Professions Program Team
    CNHPGraduateDivision@drexel.edu


    Online Nurse Practitioner programs are offered only on a part-time basis.
    Drexel University offers a variety of Graduate Minors that can be added to any master's degree program.
    State restrictions may apply to some programs.
    The MSN Pediatric Acute Care Nurse Practitioner program at Drexel University is accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education.

    Curriculum

    This program is organized into four 10-week quarters per year (as opposed to the traditional two semester system) which means you can take more courses in a shorter time period. One semester credit is equivalent to 1.5 quarter credits.

    Core Courses  
    NURS 500 Confronting Issues in Contemporary Health Care Environments 3.0
    NURS 502 Advanced Ethical Decision Making in Health Care 3.0
    NURS 544 Quality and Safety in Healthcare 3.0
    RSCH 503 Research Methods and Biostatistics 3.0
    RSCH 504 Evaluation and Translation of Health Research 3.0
      Elective 3.0
    Support Courses  
    NURS 548 Advanced Pathophysiology 3.0
    NURS 549 Advanced Pharmacology 3.0
    NURS 550 Advanced Clinical Assessment & Diagnostic Reasoning 4.0
    NURS 646 Pharmacology for the Pediatric Nurse Practitioner 3.0
    NURS 664 Professional Issues for Nurse Practitioners 1.0
    Clinical Courses  
    NURS 642 PNP I: Primary Care of Infants, Children and Adolescents 5.0
    NURS 643 PNP II: Episodic Care of Infants, Children and Adolescents in Primary Care 5.0
    NURS 649 Ped Nurse Pract AC I: Acute-Chronic Care of Infants, Children and Adolescents Management 5.0
    NURS 650 Ped Nurse Pract AC II: Acute-Chronic Care of Infants, Children and Adolescents Management 5.0
    NURS 651 PNP Management of the Medically Fragile and Technology Dependent Child in the Community 5.0
    Total Credits 57.0

    View a Sample Plan of Study
    View Course Descriptions

    Admissions Criteria

    • Bachelor of Science in Nursing
      • BSN degrees must be from an institution accredited by CCNE (Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education), ACEN (Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing), or NLN CNEA (NLN Commission for Nursing Education Accreditation)
    • Cumulative GPA of 3.0 or above from your BSN
    • A minimum of one year nursing experience in a pediatric acute care setting
    • A current, unrestricted United States RN license
    • Current PALS certification

    Required Documents

    With multiple ways to submit documents, Drexel makes it easy to complete your application. Learn more by visiting our Completing Your Application Guide.

    • A completed application
    • Official transcripts from all universities or colleges and other post-secondary educational institutions (including trade schools) attended
    • Two professional letters of recommendation from either previous or immediate supervisors or former nursing faculty members who can attest to your clinical knowledge, skill and potential aptitude for graduate study
      • References will not be accepted from colleagues or family members
    • Personal statement (under 1,000 words) that will give the admissions committee a better understanding of:  
      • Why you are choosing this particular program of study,
      • Your plans upon completion of the graduate degree, and
      • How your current work experience will enhance your experience in this MSN program
    • Resume including specific details of your responsibilities and job experiences
    • A copy of your United States RN license (License verification from your nursing license registry website is acceptable)
    • A copy of your current PALS certification
    • Additional requirements for International Students

    Tuition

    The tuition rate for the academic year 2023-2024 is $1101 per credit. (A 10% tuition savings off Drexel's regular tuition rate of $1223 per credit)

    For the academic year 2023-2024, students enrolled in an online graduate academic program will be charged a graduate online program fee of $125 per year.

    • This program is eligible for Financial Aid.
    • Special tuition rates available for Drexel University AlumniMilitary members, and members of our Partner Organizations.
      • These rates apply only to new online students and students being readmitted.
      • These rates apply only to fully online courses. Hybrid or on-campus courses may have different rates.
      • Tuition rates are subject to increase with the start of each academic year in the fall term.
      • All students must contact applyDUonline@drexel.edu within the first two weeks of the term to request tuition savings for which they qualify.
      • Special rates cannot be combined. If you qualify for more than one special rate, you'll be given the one with the largest savings.
      • When receiving special tuition plans with Drexel University Online, you may not combine them with other tuition benefits that may be available from Drexel University.

    Additional Equipment/Lab Fees

    Scholarship Opportunities

    At Drexel, we understand that developing a plan to finance your education is a critical step in your decision-making process. That's why we encourage students who require financial aid to fill out the FAFSA as early in the application process as possible. Learn more about Drexel's financial aid policies. In addition, nursing students are encouraged to visit the AACN to review the many scholarship opportunities that exist through the organization.

     

    Academic Calendar

    2023-2024 Academic Year

    Term

    Classes Begin

    Classes End

    Exams Begin

    Exams End

    Fall 2023

    September 26, 2023

    December 9, 2023

    December 11, 2023

    December 16, 2023

    Winter 2024

    January 8, 2024

    March 16, 2024

    March 18, 2024

    March 23, 2024

    Spring 2024

    April 1, 2024

    June 8, 2024

    June 10, 2024

    June 15, 2024

    Summer 2024

    June 24, 2024

    August 31, 2024

    September 3, 2024

    September 7, 2024

     

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