Academics

Pediatric Nurse Practitioner (PNP)

The University of Virginia prepares Pediatric Nurse Practitioners (PNPs) either within the master’s program or as a post-master's certificate. The PNP is an advanced practice role that provides direct patient care in a primary care setting.

Pediatric Nurse Practitioners are at the forefront of keeping our nation’s children emotionally and physically healthy. The responsibilities of a pediatric nurse practitioner include well-child care, sick/episodic examinations, health teaching and counseling to children and families, telephone management, home visits, conducting research, providing education, and impacting public policy. Students are prepared to practice in these roles autonomously, in collaboration with a physician, or as a member of an interdisciplinary team.

The curriculum builds on both the theoretical knowledge and clinical experience of the bachelor's prepared nurse.

Full-time students begin study in the fall semester, and complete the program in 20 months. Students complete only didactic courses for the first two semesters and summer - with classes on Thursday and Friday (in Year 1). In the second year of study, there are didactic course on Thursday only. During this second year you would enroll in your two preceptorships (GNUR 5690 and GNUR 5710).

Program Coordinator: Amy Boitnott, DNP, RN, FNP-BC, PNP-BC; (434) 982-1094 email: ald4p@virginia.edu.

Direct all questions on admissions and financial aid to Assistant Dean Clay Hysell (434) 924-0141, email: hysell@virginia.edu

Clinicals

Students complete 600 clinical hours in the Pediatric Nurse Practitioner program. Most of these hours are completed in two semester-long preceptorships taken in the final two semesters of enrollment (GNUR 5690 and GNUR 5710).

Clinical placement sites are assigned based upon optimal learning experiences, student requests, and availability. In order to develop experience in rural health care with underserved populations, students are assigned to at least one preceptorship site distant from Charlottesville/Albemarle County. Most of our clinical assignments are in Central, Southwest and Southside Virginia. Students seeking clinical opportunities in other areas of Virginia may be asked to locate their own clinical sites.

Certification

Students are qualified to sit for Pediatric Nurse Practitioner certification from either the Pediatric Nurses Certification Board or the American Nurses Credentialing Center.

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Admission Requirements

Admission to the School of Nursing is competitive and based on evaluation of all portions of the application. To be considered for the Master's of Science in Nursing, applicants must submit a completed application and:

  • Have a baccalaureate degree in nursing from a nationally accredited school.
  • Have a minimum cumulative grade point average of 3.0 on a 4.0 scale in undergraduate study.
  • Hold an unencumbered RN license in the state where you intend to complete your practica.  
  • Submit three satisfactory academic and professional recommendations. One of these letters should be from an APN.
  • Submit a copy of your resume or C.V.
  • Have completed an undergraduate or graduate statistics course within the past 5 years.
  • Be available for an interview if requested.
  • International applicants have additional admissions requirements.

Note: Applicants should have at least 1 year of full-time RN experience before enrolling in this program.    Experience is required for many of the classes including GNUR 6020 (Advanced Pharmacology), GNUR 6025 (Advanced Health Assessment), and the clinical practica.

Technology requirements: All graduate nursing students are required to have a laptop. Students in the Advanced Practice programs (CNS and NP) are required to have a smartphone (Apple or Android) in addition. Information on the laptop and smartphone requirements will be sent to enrolling students in the summer before classes begin.

Application deadline:

Fall entry: November 1

*Submission of scores from the Graduate Record Examination (GRE) is optional.  If you want to have GRE scores sent to the University, the Institutional Code is R-5820.  The School of Nursing accepts GRE scores that are more than 5 years old. If you have your 'older' scores, you may submit a copy of the Student Report. 

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Downloads, Program of Study, and Links

For More Information

For additional information on admission to and programs of study at the UVa School of Nursing, please fill our our online form. You are also welcome to call the Office of Admissions at (434) 924-0141 / (888) 283-8703.

Questions on admissions and financial aid should be directed to Clay Hysell, Assistant Dean for Admissions and Financial Aid, email hysell@virginia.edu

 

 

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Contact Us

University of Virginia - School of Nursing
225 Jeanette Lancaster Way
Charlottesville, VA 22903-3388
(434) 924-0141

Recognitions
"The power of nurses. The strength and quality of our caring, set against the history of health care, and the University of Virginia. We’re so proud of what’s going on here." - Dorrie Fontaine, Dean