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Master of Science in Nursing: Pediatric Acute Care Nurse Practitioner Concentration

ATTENTION WASHINGTON RESIDENTS

Disclaimer:

Drexel University is authorized by the Washington Student Achievement Council and meets the requirements and minimum educational standards established for degree-granting institutions under the Degree-Granting Institutions Act. This authorization is subject to periodic review and authorizes Drexel University to offer field placement components for specific degree programs. The Council may be contacted for a list of currently authorized programs. Authorization by the council does not carry with it an endorsement by the council of the institution or its programs. Any person desiring information about the requirements of the act or the applicability of those requirements to the institution may contact the Council at P.O. Box 43430, Olympia, WA 98504-3430.

**Drexel University is approved by the Washington State Nursing Care Quality Assurance Commission to provide practice experiences in Washington State for MSN/Clinical Nurse Leader, MSN/Clinical Trials Research, MSN/Leadership in Health Systems Management, MSN/Nurse Educator and Faculty Role, MSN/Adult Gerontology Acute Care NP, MSN/Adult Gerontology Primary Care NP, MSN/Family Individual Across the Lifespan NP, MSN/Pediatric Acute Care NP, MSN/Pediatric Primary Care & Pediatric Acute Care NP, MSN/Pediatric Primary Care NP, MSN/Psychiatric Mental Health NP, and MSN/Women’s Health Gender Related NP programs. For more information, go to the following website.

State Regulations

ATTENTION NEW YORK RESIDENTS

Disclaimer:

Drexel University accepts New York residents into this program. Clinical Rotations, however, cannot be in New York State. This will not affect New York certification and licensure.

State Regulations

 

State restrictions may apply to some programs

Program

The Drexel Online Pediatric Acute Nurse Practitioner (PNP-AC) program is designed to prepare practitioners for professional practice in the management of medical, surgical, and critical-care patient populations. Students will also become experts in delivering care to infants, children, and adolescents with acute, critical and complex health conditions.

Upon completing the program, graduates pursue practice roles across the continuum of acute care services ranging from high-acuity hospital based emergency or intensive care settings to specialty-based practices. Graduates are eligible to sit for the PNCB's Pediatric Acute Care Nurse Practitioner Certification Examination.

What you'll learn

This MSN degree's curriculum provides a knowledge base for the management of pediatric complex acute, critical, and chronic health care conditions. Clinical practicum rotations allow students to put the principles they have learned into practice in medical, surgical, and critical care settings.

This is a high-quality program that demands a major commitment of time by advanced practice nurses. Because students are being educated to diagnose and treat patients, the program was designed to combine the convenience of online learning with the necessary rigor to become a highly competent and confident Pediatric Acute Care Nurse Practitioner upon graduation.

During your time in the program, you will participate in a mandatory on-campus and/or virtual intensive. The required intensive/s will be held during clinical courses. Exact dates and times will be confirmed with students prior to the term.

What makes the PNP-AC program unique?

  • Synchronous online lectures are offered in a highly interactive, e-learning method that challenges and engages students.
  • Experienced and board certified faculty committed to student achievement.
  • Simulated clinical learning experiences conducted in our new state of the art multidisciplinary patient simulation lab
*The nurse practitioner programs in the Division of Graduate Nursing at Drexel University provide students the flexibility of finding and coordinating their own clinical site and preceptor. The Division of Graduate Nursing offers students resources to assist in this process. Accessibility to clinical sites and preceptors varies from state to state. Students may be required to travel to access clinical sites/preceptors and achieve the necessary clinical hours.

COMPLIANCE

The College of Nursing and Health Professions has a compliance process that may be required for every student. Some of these steps may take significant time to complete. Please plan accordingly.

Visit the Compliance pages for more information.

Application Deadline

Fall 2023 Application Deadline: July 1, 2023

Admission Requirements

Technical Standards - Nursing 

Degree:
Must have a Cumulative GPA of 3.0 or above from your BSN.

Standardized Tests:
N/A

Transcripts:

  • Official transcripts must be sent directly to Drexel from all the colleges/universities that you have attended. Transcripts must be submitted in a sealed envelope with the college/university seal over the flap. Please note that transcripts are required regardless of number of credits taken or if the credits were transferred to another school. An admission decision may be delayed if you do not send transcripts from all colleges/universities attended.
  • Transcripts must show course-by-course grades and degree conferrals. If your school does not notate degree conferrals on the official transcripts, you must provide copies of any graduate or degree certificates.
  • If your school issues only one transcript for life, you are required to have a course-by-course evaluation completed by an approved transcript evaluation agency
  • Use our Transcript Lookup Tool to assist you in contacting your previous institutions

Prerequisites:
A minimum of one year nursing experience in a pediatric acute care setting.

References:
Two professional references required from previous or current supervisors, managers, nursing faculty members or program directors who can attest to applicant's clinical knowledge, skill, and potential aptitude for graduate study. References will not be accepted from colleagues or family members.

  • You may use our electronic letter of recommendation service 
  • If a recommender prefers to submit an original, hard copy letter, please remind them that it must include an ink signature and be submitted in a sealed envelope.

Personal Statement/ Essay:
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 degree
  • How your current work experience will enhance your experience in this program

Interview/Portfolio:
Admissions interview may be required

CV/Resume:
Required.

Licenses:

  • A copy of your current, unrestricted United States RN license or eligibility for licensure as a registered nurse and any advanced practice nursing licensure and certification documents.
  • License verification from your nursing license registry website is acceptable.
  • A copy of your current PALS certification

Clinical/Work/Volunteer Experience:
A minimum of one year nursing experience in a pediatric acute care setting.

International Students:
Requirements can be found here

Tuition and Fee Rates
Please visit the Drexel Online MSN in Pediatric Acute Care Nurse Practitioner tuition page

Application Link (if outside organization):
N/A

 

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.

Graduate students who utilize student loans (FAFSA) must maintain a minimum enrollment of 4.5 credits per term.

For Full List of courses, please visit Drexel Online.

Accreditation

The baccalaureate degree program in nursing, master's degree program in nursing, Doctor of Nursing Practice program and post-graduate APRN certificate program at Drexel University are accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education, 655 K Street, NW, Suite 750, Washington DC 20001, 202.887-6791.

These programs and the Post Graduate APRN certificates are also approved by the Pennsylvania State Board of Nursing.