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What is the path on becoming a Pediatric Nurse Practitioner?

Do I need to become a registered nurse first? or what do I need to do

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Becky’s Answer

Hi Katherine,
First of all, I highly recommend and encourage the career path of becoming a pediatric nurse practitioner. While I am an adult NP, the process is the same. The first step is to get a nursing degree and a registered nurse license. To qualify for the license, a candidate must have an associate's or a bachelor's in nursing. After getting a license as a registered nurse, gain experience working with a pediatric population: infancy to adulthood, preferably for about one to five years. After gaining some experience, apply to get accepted to an accredited nurse practitioner program that offers programs in pediatric nursing. Nurse practitioner programs will either be a master's or a doctorate program, and depending on the track, it will be an additional two to three years. After completing the nurse practitioner program, one must sit for the certification exam offered by the Pediatric Nursing Certification Board. I have attached this link for your interest: https://nurse.org/resources/pediatric-nurse-practitioner/what-is-a-pediatric-nurse-practitioner

Becky recommends the following next steps:

Volunteer to work at a hospital with children
Shadow a Pediatric Nurse Practitioner
Thank you comment icon Thank you so much! Katherine
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Marie’s Answer

A Pediatric Nurse Practitioner requires a masters degree in nursing. So yes,you will need to get your RN license. If you do a 2 year degree track, they do have RN to MSN programs. With these programs it takes 3 year, but you do not receive a bachelor’s degree. If you went the BSN route, then it will be 2 years for your masters degree. Nurse practitioner are able to care for people through all life spans, whereas Pediatric Nurse Practitioner can only care for patients newborn through age 18. I would investigate differences between both tracks, before choosing one. Opportunities for both are very different. Settings from office ,emergency room and hospital are there to choose from. Best of luck in your journey.
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Cristina’s Answer

Hi, Katherine! This is exciting to hear that you know you live Pediatrics and are strongly considering a career as a Pediatric Nirse Practitioner (PNP). Yes, you do need to become a registered user first. I would suggest going to a four-year university to earn a baccalaureate degree. During nursing school, you’ll have the opportunity to follow a RN at a hospital; hopefully the hospital you do your clinical rotations has a pediatric unit where you can see what it’s like to be a pediatric nurse. After a few years of experience, you’ll need to apply to a university program that offers an advanced nursing program for PNP. Your program may have the option of specializing in acute care (works in the hospital seeing patients, kind of like what a doctor does); or the track for Primary Care, which is seeing patients in a outpatient office (think doctor’s office or NP practice). I hope this helps; good luck with your future!
Thank you comment icon Thank you for sharing your perspective. Katherine
Thank you comment icon You are most welcome! Cristina Fore
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