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Child and Adolescent Health Concentration
Wright State University - Miami Valley
College of Nursing and Health
3640 Colonel Glenn Hwy.
Dayton, OH 45435-0001
Phone: (937) 775-3577
Fax: (937) 775-4571
Donna
Miles Curry, PhD, RNC
Program Director - donna.curry@wright.edu
Program Description
The Child and Adolescent Health Nursing concentration prepares graduates to
function as advanced practice nurses providing primary health care,
health promotion, health maintenance, and health restoration for case
management for children and families in a variety of settings. Students in this program select a
focus as either a pediatric clinical nurse specialist or primary or acute care pediatric nurse
practitioner.
The Pediatric Clinical Nurse Specialist
(CNS) specialty is designed to develop expertise in the nursing
care of children with acute and chronic illness and their families in a variety of health care settings. The
graduates of the Pediatric Clinical Nurse Specialist program are prepared to function as advanced
practice nurses whose roles may include the following areas: teaching, research, consultation, and
practice. Pediatric CNS students examine the role across the three spheres of CNS influence: the
nurse/nursing practice sphere, the patient/client sphere and the organization/system sphere. The
graduates are eligible for the Pediatric CNS certification examination offered by American Nurses
Credentialing Corporation (ANCC).
The Pediatric Clinical Nurse Specialist option focuses on developmental and health needs of children from birth through adolescence anywhere along the health continuum. The didactic component includes combined courses with the PNP students; first clinical course focuses on wellness and acute illness, and the second on children with chronic conditions. The student's subspecialty within pediatrics guides the clinical focus.
The Pediatric Nurse Practitioner specialty is designed to prepare advanced practice nurses to provide care for children from birth to 21 years of age, and in special situations, to individuals older than the age of 21 in a variety of pediatric care settings. Since 1965, PNPs have worked with pediatricians and other health care providers to provide comprehensive care to children and families by focusing on health maintenance and education, illness prevention and minor and chronic illness management.
Primary care PNPs offer a variety of services including:
- Provide health maintenance care for children, including well child examinations
- Perform routine developmental screenings
- Diagnose and treat common childhood illnesses
- Provide anticipatory guidance regarding common child health concerns
- Provide childhood immunizations
- Perform school physicals
Acute care and specialty PNPs offer a variety of services including:
- Provide care to children who are acutely, chronically, and critically ill
- Perform in-depth physical assessments
- Interpret results of laboratory and diagnostic tests
- Order medications and perform therapeutic treatments in a variety of settings
Both Primary Care and Acute Care PNPs may practice in a variety of pediatric speciality areas, such as cardiology, dermatology, gastroenterology, and many others.
For more information about PNPS - http://www.napnap.org
The PNP track provides a broad theoretical and research foundation in advanced concepts of parent, child and adolescent nursing. Clinical experiences occur across a variety of settings and focus on providing care to well and ill children. Pediatric clinical nurse specialists function in a variety of settings to plan and implement change, and to enhance quality practice through the roles of clinician, educator, consultant, and researcher. PNPs are qualified to perform complete physical exams, take health histories, diagnose and treat common acute minor illnesses or injuries, order and interpret lab results and x-rays, manage stable chronic illness, counsel clients and provide health education. Many may prescribe medications according to state law.
Course work aligned with clinical experiences specific to specialization focus provides the knowledge, skills, and values inherent in the development of clinical excellence as a clinical nurse specialist (CNS) or pediatric nurse practitioner (PNP). Students have course assignments and clinical experiences specific to their selected focus area. CNS students are precepted by experienced pediatric CNSs in a variety of settings. PNP students are precepted by pediatricians or PNPs with clinical experiences in a variety of primary care settings. Graduates of the program are eligible to sit for certification examinations (PNP or CNS). The program consists of advanced clinical practice and nursing science, built on a core of pathophysiology, pharmacology, and family-centered care.
We are recognized by the National Association of Pediatric Nurses and Practitioners (NAPNAP). Graduates of the CNS and PNP programs are eligible to set for the national certification exam administered by NAPNAP and ANCC. National certification is necessary to obtain advanced practice licensure in most states.
Admission Requirements for the Child and Adolescent Health Program
- A bachelor’s degree in nursing (BSN) from a NLN or CCNE accredited institution OR applicant may use the Bridge option (http://www.wright.edu/nursing/prog_info/ma_n_bridge.html) to apply if applicant possesses a RN and 4 year baccalaureate degree in another discipline
- A cumulative GPA of 3.0 or higher on a 4.0 scale for baccalaureate degree and any subsequent graduate work
- At least one year full-time experience as an RN in pediatrics
- Completion of a basic physical assessment course or its equivalent within the last 10 years.
- Current PALS certification
- Acute Care Pediatric Nurse Practitioner concentration applicants must have at least one year of acute care pediatric nursing experience
Admission Process for the Child and Adolescent Health Program
Applicants must apply to the Graduate Studies at http://www.wright.edu/gradschool/ as well as the College of Nursing Child and Adolescent concentration. Applications are processed twice a year for this concentration. Deadlines for applications to the CAH concentration are December 31 and May 31.
Applicants are considered competitively. Each applicant is reviewed by an admissions committee. Previous academic achievement, balanced academic background, employment experience, employer recommendation, and the clinical essay are required of each applicant.
To apply to our program, submit the following to the Graduate School
- Graduate School application (download application from http://www.wright.edu/gradschool/) with appropriate fee
- Transcripts from ALL colleges attended (must be sent to the Graduate School)
- Statement of professional goals. (Note this is part of the online Graduate School application form.) If you do not apply on line, this form must be separately submitted with your other forms to the Graduate School.
In addition, please submit the following documents to CONH, 160 University Hall
Attn: Director, CAH Concentration
- A copy of your unencumbered RN license for the state where you will be completing clinical
- A copy of your current PALS certification
- Your resume
- An essay about a meaningful clinical situation which helped you clarify your goals and desire to become an advanced practice nurse (maximum of 2 pages)
- Two letters of recommendation from:
- Your current and most recent supervisor
- A faculty member of your BSN program or previous employer
Please address letters to Director, Child and Adolescent Health concentration
A personal interview will be required for those applicants in the final selection pool after review of submitted documents is completed. Leadership potential, motivation, ability to express ideas and opinions, conception of advanced nursing practice, diverse work and life experiences with people of different cultures are factors considered in the essays and interviews. Compatibility between expressed career goals and program goals is weighted heavily.
Due to the extensive clinical requirements, class size is limited. Requirements for the clinical courses will necessitate the commitment by students in either the full or part-time sequence of two full days per week for clinical learning experiences. Clinical placements may require a one hour commute or more.
Students in either the full-time or part-time sequence who, for any reason are not able to continue the sequence started, will be withdrawn from the nurse practitioner concentration, but not from the graduate concentration. A withdrawal from the sequence will require reapplying to the CAH concentration.
Persons accepted into the Child and Adolescent Health concentration are required to identify their own clinical sites for all clinical courses and the final practicum. Clinical sites and preceptors must be approved by faculty who will develop a letter of agreement with the preceptor prior to the start of the course.
Curriculum
Coming Soon!
Acute Care PNP Post Masters Certificate
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