COURSE CURRICULUM

The Child and Adolescent Health Nurse Practitioner – Primary/Acute Care track is a specialized graduate program designed to prepare nurses for advanced practice roles in caring for children and adolescents with complex, acute, critical, and chronic health conditions. The curriculum begins with a nursing core of 11 credit hours covering essential topics such as information management in advanced nursing practice, health policy, pathophysiological concepts, and evidence-based practice, providing a foundation for advanced clinical decision-making. Students must earn a grade of B- or higher in core courses to maintain good academic standing and progress in the program. Building on this foundation, the Child and Adolescent Health Nurse Practitioner track comprises 38 credit hours, emphasizing advanced assessment, pharmacology, and progressive clinical practicum experiences across multiple levels of care. Courses include advanced pediatric and adolescent assessment, child and adolescent health nursing across four sequential levels, and specialized acute care courses with integrated practicum experiences in hospital units, intensive care, emergency departments, and sub-specialty clinics. The program integrates evidence-based knowledge with practical skills to develop clinical judgment, diagnostic reasoning, and interprofessional collaboration. Graduates are equipped to assume leadership roles in pediatric and adolescent healthcare, provide expert care in complex clinical settings, and meet the growing demand for advanced practice nurses in both primary and acute care contexts.