| Pediatric Nursing |  |
Program Benefits
This online graduate program prepares nurses with the knowledge and skills needed to meet the health care needs of infants, children, and adolescents in the contemporary health care system. The focus of the program is on evidence-based pediatric care that is delivered in a variety of pediatric settings. The Pediatric Nurse Practitioner (PNP) option prepares advanced practice nurses to provide primary care to children with an emphasis on assessment, diagnosis, treatment, and evaluation of care of individuals and families. The PNP program is fully approved by the National Certification Board of Pediatric Nurse Practitioners and Nurses. It prepares graduates to function as effective care providers in collegial relationships with all those who influence the health environment of children. Graduates of the program are eligible to seek national certification in pediatrics as a Nurse Practitioner (PNP). Graduates are eligible to seek state prescriptive authority. Career Opportunities Nurse Practitioners have the opportunity to be employed in a wide variety of settings such as community health clinics, rural health clinics, physician offices, public health departments, hospitals, home health agencies, urgent care/emergency rooms, specialty areas, Armed Forces and Veterans’ Administration facilities and schools of nursing. Admission Options Post BSN
Registered nurses (RN) with a BSN degree are admitted to the Masters Program and graduate with a MSN. Post MSN
Registered nurses (RN) with a BSN and MSN degree are admitted to the Masters Program and graduate with a second Masters in a new area of specialization. Sample Plan of Study |
Post BSN - Prior to Fall 2009
(Full Time) | NP | Fall | View Plan | Post BSN - Beginning Fall 2009
(Full Time) | NP | Fall | View Plan | | Post BSN - Beginning Fall 2009 (Part Time) | NP | Fall | View Plan | | Post MSN - Beginning Fall 2009 | NP | Fall | View Plan | Post MSN - Part Time (Fall 2009) RN/MSN (Prior to 2009) | NP NP | Fall Fall | View Plan View Plan |
Clinical Experiences Precepted clinical experiences are individually arranged. Pediatric Nurse Practitioner students complete a minimum of 540 hours with an assigned local clinical preceptor. Students may complete a selected number of hours in a specialty area if desired. Students may have to travel to clinical sites if a local preceptor is not available. | 
About the College
Effective November 1, Teresa Kelechi will assume the role of Department Chair. Employed at MUSC for 22 years, Teresa joined the College of Nursing faculty in 2001. She is a board certified gerontological clinical nurse specialist and a certified wound care nurse. Teresa takes over the reins of Department Chair from Elizabeth Erkel who will retire at the end of the year.
