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How Do I Become a Pediatric Nurse Practitioner?

Choose an accredited Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) program to launch your specialty nursing career.

If you’re called to a career in pediatric nursing, you may have considered earning an MSN with a specialization in Pediatric Nurse Practitioner Primary Care online. Nurse practitioner is an in-demand career choice,1 so now may be just the right time to pursue that advanced education.

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If you’re wondering how to become a pediatric nurse practitioner, here are some pointers to help guide you.

Step 1: Choose the Best University for Your Degree Program
Get started by finding the online nursing program that meets you where you are. Walden University’s online nursing school, for example, gives you a choice of two tracks to earn a Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) with a specialization in Pediatric Nurse Practitioner Primary Care. If you are a registered nurse (RN) with a hospital diploma or an associate degree in nursing, Walden offers an online RN to MSN program. If you are an RN with a Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) degree, you can follow the online BSN to MSN track.

Step 2: Choose the Right Specialization
Next, you’ll want to make sure the online nursing degree program you’re considering offers the pediatric nurse practitioner specialization that fits your career goals. Walden University, for example, offers an MSN program specialization in Pediatric Nurse Practitioner Primary Care.

Step 3: Confirm the Curriculum Standards
As you plan your pediatric nurse practitioner educational journey, you’ll want the most expert and relevant content and curriculum possible. Find out if the content in the online nursing program you’re considering is consistent with the standards of the National Association of Pediatric Nurse Practitioners (NAPNAP) and the National Organization of Nurse Practitioner Faculties (NONPF).

Step 4: Learn About Certification and Licensure Requirements
After graduating from your MSN pediatric nurse practitioner program, your next step is to pursue licensure and certification. Each state has its own requirements, but the majority of states require individuals to be certified by a national certification board. Your master’s-level pediatric nursing education should help give you the expertise and confidence to sit for your certification exam, which is competency-based and tests clinical knowledge in specific focus areas.

Step 5: Launch Your Career
As a pediatric nurse practitioner, you may work in a private primary care practice, including your own; community pediatric practices; school-based health clinics; health departments; or ambulatory settings. And according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, nurse practitioners can expect an expanding job market through 2029, with employment projected to grow 52%.1

Ready to Begin?

Now that you know more about how to become a pediatric nurse practitioner, does it sound like the career path for you? If so, Walden’s MSN program with a specialization in Pediatric Nurse Practitioner Primary Care may be just the right fit. No other university in the U.S. graduates more nurses with MSN degrees than Walden.2

Walden’s MSN program is accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE), an autonomous accrediting agency contributing to the improvement of the public’s health. In addition, the MSN Pediatric Nurse Practitioner Primary Care curriculum is consistent with NAPNAP and NONPF standards.

Since the didactic coursework in Walden’s nursing program is entirely online, you can earn an MSN while you continue to work. With your desire to provide top-notch healthcare to children and young adults, and projected strong employment prospects,1 you’ve got a roadmap to a rewarding career.

Walden University is an accredited institution offering an MSN with a specialization in Pediatric Nurse Practitioner Primary Care online degree program. Expand your career options and earn your degree in a convenient, flexible format that fits your busy life.


1Source: www.bls.gov/ooh/healthcare/nurse-anesthetists-nurse-midwives-and-nurse-practitioners.htm#tab-6

2Source: National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) IPEDS database. Basedon themost recent year of completions survey data available, using CIP code family 51.38 “RegisteredNursing,Nursing Administration, Nursing Research, and Clinical Nursing” for master’s degrees (Awardlevel 7).Available at https://nces.ed.gov/ipeds/use-the-data. (Retrieved February 2020; may consist of orincludeprovisional release data.)

Walden University is accredited by The Higher Learning Commission, www.hlcommission.org.

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