Online DNP - Pediatric NP Track
Fulfill the Need for Children's Primary and Acute Care
The Doctor of Nursing Practice Pediatric Nurse Practitioner Track (DNP PNP) is the optimal pathway for those seeking to provide primary and acute healthcare needs of pediatric patients in a variety of care environments.
Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP)Pediatric Nurse Practitioner Track
[em]Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP)[/em]Pediatric Nurse Practitioner Track
Fulfill the Growing Need for Children’s Primary and Acute Care
As children’s health needs become more complex, and more communities experience limited to no pediatric care, nurse practitioners have a unique opportunity to fulfill important, high-demand roles.
Baylor University’s online Doctor of Nursing Practice – Pediatric Nurse Practitioner program offers both a Primary Care track and a dual Primary/Acute track in order to prepare versatile, specialized nursing professionals for a variety of care environments.
Expand Your Scope through a Dual-Track PNP Program
Prepare for a role as a pediatric nurse practitioner in both primary and acute environments, which gives you advanced knowledge and a wide range of opportunities.
Pediatric Primary Care Track
Address primary healthcare needs of children and adolescents by utilizing patient-and-family centered care within the context of the family unit
Build knowledge on the normal growth and development, health promotion, health maintenance, and management of children from birth to adolescence
Understand the health promotion, health maintenance, and management of common pediatric health issues
Learn how to identify and address potential and actual chronic health needs of pediatric patients
Examine the relationship between genes, environment, and health in a pediatric context
Pediatric Primary/Acute Care Track
Provide care for pediatric patients that have complex acute, critical, or chronic illness in settings including hospitals, intensive care units, and emergency departments
Develop clinical judgment, decision-making skills, and procedural skills for delivering complex acute, critical, and chronic healthcare to ill or injured children
Learn how to identify and address potential and actual healthcare needs of the acutely ill or injured child
Master essential competencies to meet the specialized needs of infants and children with complex acute, critical, and chronic health conditions
At Baylor University’s Louise Herrington School of Nursing, we strongly believe in setting our students up for success. That's why we collaborate with you to identify clinical sites and preceptors for clinical rotations. Additionally, clinical placement sites may be potential locations for future employment opportunities upon graduation. If you already have a placement site or preceptor in mind, we encourage you to refer them to our placement team to secure. Get your DNP-PNP guide for more information.
DNP-PNP Admissions Requirements
The requirements to apply for the online DNP-PNP program are:
BSN from a regionally accredited school of nursing
3.0 cumulative GPA
One (1) year of full-time experience as a practicing professional nurse caring for pediatric patients by the first day of class
Current unencumbered RN license
Complete an acceptable written personal statement
Three letters of recommendation, as follows: one must be from an immediate supervisor, one must be from a peer nurse, and one must be from an MSN, DNP, or PhD prepared nurse
90% of clinical placement sites provided to DNP students were within 125 miles of their home.
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100% certification pass rate for FNP and Nurse-Midwifery graduates.
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Baylor University is ranked higher than 94% of Best Colleges in the Nation in 2021 - U.S. News and World Report .
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Baylor’s DNP program is ranked higher than 88% of the Best DNP Programs in Texas in 2021 - dnpprograms.com.
DNP-PNP Program Features At-A-Glance
Earn your Doctor of Nursing Practice degree from the Louise Herrington School of Nursing (LHSON), ranked No. 60 (Top 10%) in U.S. News & World Report’s 2022 Best Graduate Schools: DNP
Main coursework is online with on-campus immersions throughout the program
Practicum requirement total: 1,125 hours for Primary Care, with an additional 600 hours for Acute Care track
Courses are 15 weeks long, with three terms per year
Students learn from a nationally recognized faculty
Clinical placement support provided
Total credits: 75 for Primary Care track; 14 for the additional Acute Care track
Accreditation & Rankings
Baylor University is distinguished in healthcare and business, preparing students with the skills and knowledge to stand out in the industry.
The Louise Herrington School of Nursing is nationally recognized and:
Accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE)
Approved by the Texas Board of Nursing
Member of the American Association of Colleges of Nursing
Recognized as one of the top educational institutions in the nation, ranking at #76 in National Universities on U.S. News & World Report 2021 list
Ranked by Best-Nursing-Colleges.com as the #10 Best Nursing College in Texas.
Curriculum At-A-Glance
The online DNP-PNP program offers primary and acute tracks to prepare versatile, specialized nursing professionals for a variety of care environments. The advanced curriculum focuses on primary healthcare needs of children and adolescents, utilizing patient-and-family centered care within the context of the family unit, and complex acute, critical, or chronic illness for pediatric patients.
Important Dates
Now Accepting Applications. Seating is limited.
Next Start Date: January 9th, 2023
NUR 5305 Advanced Pediatric Health Care Management I: Primary Care
Designed to prepare the pediatric nurse practitioner student to address the primary health care needs of children and adolescents by utilizing patient-and-family centered care. The focus is on normal growth and development, health promotion, and health maintenance of children from birth to adolescence, within the context of the family.
NUR 5307 Advanced Pediatric Health Care Management II: Acute and Common Health Needs
Designed to prepare the pediatric nurse practitioner student to address acute and common health care needs of children and adolescents by utilizing patient-and-family centered care. The focus is on health promotion, health maintenance, and management of acute and common health issues in children from birth to adolescence, within the context of the family.
NUR 6309 Pediatric Acute Care Nurse Practitioner I
Designed to prepare the acute care pediatric nurse practitioner student to identify and address potential and actual health care needs of the acutely ill or injured child. The focus is on clinical judgment, decision-making, and procedural skills for delivering complex acute, critical, and chronic health care to ill or injured children, within the context of the family.
Earning a DNP degree now puts you ahead of the curve. Steps are currently being taken to transition to the DNP degree as the standard for entry-level advanced practice registered nurses (APRNs). While the profession is not quite there yet, the DNP is a terminal degree that prepares nurses for leadership, given the constantly changing demands of a complex U.S. healthcare system.
According to AANC, nurses desiring an APRN education with a choice between a DNP or a master's level preparation would find it far more cost effective to spend the additional time for the DNP and be prepared for future practice. And according to a 2019 Medscape survey, DNP-prepared APRNs make an average of 5% more than MSN-prepared APRNs. Additionally, "Job opportunities are far greater, and it provides you with the knowledge and expertise to have a seat at the board table," according to Angela Renee Stewart, DNP, APRN, ACNP-BC, AOCNP, TTS, Clinical Assistant Professor at Baylor University, Louise Herrington School of Nursing.
Frequently Asked Questions
How long will it take to complete the online DNP program?
Students typically complete the DNP program in the following timeframe. Please note that actual length to program completion will vary depending on the student's background and selected track.
BSN holders typically complete our DNP program in three (3) years and four (4) months, skipping the Master’s degree program entirely
Students in our Pediatric Primary/Acute Care track typically complete the program in four (4) years
What are the required clinical courses for the online DNP-PNP
Baylor University’ Online DNP-PNP program requirements for clinical hours are:
Primary Care Track
NUR 5100 - Advanced Pediatric Health Care Management I: Practicum
NUR 5200 - Advanced Pediatric Health Care Management II: Practicum
NUR 5309 - Advanced Pediatric Health Care Management III: Practicum
NUR 5400 - PNP Primary Care Residency
NUR 6V76 - Advanced Practice Nursing Residency
Acute Care Track
NUR 6310 - Pediatric Acute Care Nurse Practitioner I: Practicum
NUR 6406 - Pediatric Acute Care Nurse Practitioner II: Practicum
Do I qualify for the online DNP program as a Post-Graduate Candidate?
Unfortunately, the online DNP-Pediatric Nurse Practitioner program is not currently available at the Post-Master’s level. Please check back again as this may change.
Is financial aid available to online students?
A variety of financial aid is available to online students. Find more information on our Tuition & Financial Aid page.
Why Get a DNP Instead of an MSN?
A Doctor of Nursing Practice is the optimal pathway for registered nurses who are seeking preparation at the highest level of nursing practice. As a terminal degree, a DNP degree is the highest level of education in the field and represents the most advanced nursing degree available. There is no further opportunity for educational advancement within this profession. Graduates of Baylor’s online DNP program are prepared as exemplary nursing leaders and visionary nurses who can actively shape and improve patient outcomes, policy, process,es and the future of nursing.
DNPs earn a higher average salary than an MSN (on average) and have more overall options for career goals. Many DNP graduates enter into positions with more responsibility to care for both individual and population health needs as nursing team leads and other expanded roles. The career outlook for DNPs is anticipated to be very strong as the AACN is advocating to require a DNP for all APRN roles by the year 2025.
The Baylor University Online Experience
Find out why Baylor University’s Online DNP degree program is the best choice for registered nurses seeking preparation at the highest level of nursing practice:
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