Pediatric Nurse Practitioner

Pediatric nurse practitioners are healthcare professionals who are responsible for providing nursing care to infants. They work closely with physicians and other health care professionals to care for these patients and conduct diagnoses in addition to treating chronic diseases, infections and injuries. These professionals are registered nurses who obtain a graduate degree in nursing with focus on pediatric nursing. A number of regular and online schools offer programs for these professionals, allowing them to become a Pediatric Nurse Practitioner (PNP).
 
How to Become a Nurse Practitioner Pediatric
The first step to become a pediatric nurse practitioner is to earn a diploma, associate or bachelor’s degree in nursing. An associate’s degree can be completed in 2 years while a bachelor’s program requires 4 years for completion. Nurses must pass the NCLEX-RN (the National Council Licensing Examination for Registered Nurses) to become an RN.
 
Master’s program in nursing can be completed in 2-3 years. Some of the courses students will cover in these programs include nursing theories, pharmacology and pathophysiology, research methods in nursing and advanced practice nursing. Other courses may include stress health promotion, pediatric theory and disease prevention. Students are also required to complete a thesis and clinical experiences.
 
Career Prospects 
Career prospects for RNs are very bright as job opportunities for these professionals are expected to increase by 22% between 2008 and 2018. Earning an advanced degree such as a master’s degree in pediatric nursing can help students find the most rewarding jobs. These professionals can work in hospital, clinics and other medical settings and earn around $59,000 to $101,000 on an annual basis.
 
Online Programs
Professionals who are into part time or full time jobs and are looking to make a career switch alongside their existing tenure can enroll in online pediatric nurse practitioners programs. These programs allow students to study from the comfort of their home. Students can enroll in these degrees from any location and complete this advanced program at their own pace and convenience. The flexibility of online programs makes them a great learning option for RNs seeking to improve their career prospects and becoming a PNP.