Program Description
The Primary Care Pediatric Nurse Practitioner program at the Loma Linda University School of Nursing prepares health care providers to work in the community and ambulatory setting. It is designed to prepare the Pediatric Nurse Practitioner (PNP) to exercise independent judgment in assessment, supervision, and management of the primary health care needs of pediatric patients in consultation and collaboration with primary-care physicians and other allied health professionals.
The PNP track prepare nurses for advanced training in quality nursing care for newborns through adolescents, with the focus on improving health care outcomes through leadership in the nursing field. The program emphasizes preventative care in addition to ongoing healthcare maintenance of acute and chronic diseases in the pediatric population. Upon completion of the PNP program, graduates will be equipped with the appropriate skills and knowledge to act as a primary care provider for patients 0-21 years of age. Skills that PNP graduates will acquire through the program includes writing prescriptions, performing various outpatient procedures, as well as ordering and interpreting specific labs and diagnostic tests, such as x-rays, blood tests, etc. This program will also prepare the graduate to function as a leader through healthcare policy and advocacy, application of evidence-based practice, quality improvement and to build organizational leadership qualities.
Pediatric Nurse Practitioners get great satisfaction knowing that they make a difference, by identifying and managing their patient problems in addition to counseling and educating the whole family during stressful and difficult situations. PNPs are trained to use data received from diagnostic tests, clinical exams, verbal communication, medical records and other sources to make decisions that are evidence based. PNP graduates will be prepared to manage various acute and chronic health problems in the primary health care setting, and be the coordinator of care for their pediatric patients.
The Primary Care Pediatric Nurse Practitioner BS to DNP program is 3 years and 9 months full-time. Part-time option is also available.
The program is divided into 4 parts:
1- Core Courses- Most of the DNP Program Core courses and the prerequisite clinical courses require that students participate on-campus for 4 to 8 hours during Seminar Week in the middle of each quarter. Students are also required to be on campus to take all course exams including the midterm and final exams.
- NGRD 657 – Intermediate Statistics – has four mandatory synchronous class meetings during each quarter and students are required to participate in them either face-to-face or by Zoom. Students must attend take the midterm exam and the final exam on campus during scheduled face-to-face meetings. Additional optional group sessions held both face-to-face and by Zoom are available for students enrolled in NGRD 657.
- NGRD 624 – Advanced Health Assessment – has mandatory synchronous lab meetings every two weeks during the quarter. Students must attend each of these sessions. The faculty coordinate the course exams including the midterm and final exams so that they are scheduled when the student is on campus for a scheduled lab session.
2- Concentration Courses: Pharmacology I & II, and Advanced Pathophysiology meet up to four times a quarter.
3- Clinical Experience: The clinical experience is a combination of clinician hours and DNP Project hours to total at least 1000 hours. Students in the CNS and NP clinical courses will be assigned clinical rotations in the Inland Empire (IE) region of Southern California (Riverside and San Bernardino Counties). The CNS and NP Program faculty members arrange all clinical rotations for students as required by the California Board of Registered Nursing Regulations (Sections 1484, h (11) of Division 14 of Title 16 of the California Code of Regulations). The CNS and NP clinical courses meet at least four (4) times per quarter face-to-face on campus and all exams are administered on campus. The NP Program skills courses meet weekly during the quarter that the skills course is scheduled. Attendance at each of the assigned labs is mandatory for students enrolled in the skills course.
4- DNP Project: The DNP Project can be done in the workplace allowing students to collect evidence-based research data.
Program Length
3 years and 9 months full-time; 5 years part-timePossible Careers
Private practice, clinics, nursing homes, school districts, and any environment where primary care is given.Application Deadlines
There are currently no published application deadlines.Prerequisites
- Baccalaureate degree in nursing from an accredited program
- GPA of 3.0, both cumulative and in nursing courses
- Current United States RN license before application*
- One year of RN experience in the area of desired clinical concentration is strongly advised for application competitiveness
- Application with personal statement
- Three electronic recommendations (recommenders will receive an email once application is submitted) – preferred: professor, current work supervisor
- Official transcripts for all college credits
- Shadowing highly recommended (4 to 8 hours)
- Interview by faculty members in the School of Nursing
*California RN license required before start of classes
Discipline Accrediting Agency
The program is accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE). Graduates are prepared for certification by the State of California and the American Nurses Association as a Nurse Practitioner.State Accrediting Agency
Loma Linda University is accredited by the Western Association of Schools and Colleges (WASC).The California Board of Registered Nursing granted continuing approval in 2010 to the School of Nursing.
Expected Cost of Attendance
The following estimated cost of attendance is based on full-time attendance for the number of months enrolled per academic year. Estimated amounts may vary based on a number of factors. Students may use these estimates when applying for financial aid.
Required Program Costs
Academic Year 2024-2025
Other Educational Costs
Non-required costs that can be funded with scholarships/loans.
Notes
Tuition/Fees is an estimation based on 3 quarters with an average of 10 units (2 classes) per quarter. Living Expenses is calculated for financial aid purposes and is based on 3 quarters (9 months). Actual amounts may vary.70-75% of LLU Nursing students receive financial aid.
- Estimated amounts are for the academic year specified only. Amounts are based on full-time attendance for the number of months enrolled per academic year. International students need to calculate 12 months of living expenses based on these amounts.
- Amounts are expected to increase each year consistent with inflation in the professional education sector.
- To qualify for financial aid, most students must be enrolled at least half time in an aid eligible program and be taking degree requirements. Half time is 6 units in a quarter for undergraduate programs and 4 units in a quarter for graduate programs.