Program Description
The pediatric acute nurse practitioner (AC-PNP) role is designed to meet the specialized physiologic and psychological need of children with complex acute and chronic health conditions. AC-PNPs respond to rapidly changing clinical conditions, including the recognition and management of emerging health crises, organ dysfunction and failure. In accordance with this practice focus, AC-PNP role activities encompass a wide range of NP practice strategies including contributions to the management of children’s illness/health states, the client-nurses relationship, the teaching-coaching function, the professional role, managing and negotiating healthcare delivery systems, monitoring and ensuring the quality of health care practice, providing family centered care, and demonstrating cultural competency. The short-term goal of care is stabilization of the child, minimizing complications, and providing physical and psychological care measures. The long-term goal of care is to restore maximal health potential through implementation of NP strategies to reduce health risks. The continuum of care spans the geographic settings of the home, emergency departments, hospitals, sub-specialty clinics, and intensive care units.
The Pediatric Acute Care Nurse Practitioner BS to DNP hybrid program is 3 years and 9 months full-time. Part-time option is 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 for part-time
Possible Careers
AC-PNPs are prepared for careers in a variety of settings, including emergency departments, hospitals, sub-specialty clinics, and intensive care units.Application Deadlines
- Fall – April 15 (quarter begins in September)
- Winter – October 1 (quarter begins in January)
Admissions Requirements
Education
- Baccalaureate degree or equivalent in nursing from an accredited institution.
Academic Performance
- Minimum GPA of 3.0, both cumulative and in nursing coursework.
Licensure
- Current unencumbered United States RN license at the time of application.
- California RN license must be obtained before the start of classes and maintained throughout the program.
Experience
- Minimum of one year of full-time RN experience is required before matriculating into clinical courses (applies to most programs).
Certification
- Current American Heart Association Basic Life Support (CPR) certification.
- Pediatric Advanced Life Support (PALS) certification required before matriculation and must be maintained until program completion.
Recommendations
Two electronic recommendations following:
- Required: Recent nurse manager or director
- Additional may be either of the following:
- Nursing peer
- Spiritual advisor
Interview Process (if granted by the Admissions Committee)
- Completion of the Emotional Intelligence Interview Process, which includes a meeting (in person or via Zoom) with the program coordinator and another Graduate Nursing Program faculty member.
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 Pediatric Nursing Certification Board (program approval pending).
State Accrediting Agency
Loma Linda University is accredited by the Western Association of Schools and Colleges (WASC).
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 2026-2027
Other Educational Costs
Non-required costs that can be funded with scholarships/loans.
Notes
- 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.