Pediatric Nursing Colleges in District of Columbia - Washington, DC

By Susan Maphis, allied health world contributing writer
Published: December, 14 2010

Find the right school for you

Degree:

Subject:

Program:

The District of Columbia’s Board of Nursing approves pediatric nurse practitioner programs in within the district and throughout the United States. Education for PNPs must be beyond the undergraduate, basic level. A graduate nursing degree such as a master’s degree or post-basic PNP certificate is required for all PNPs who wish to practice in the District of Columbia. For students who currently have an RN license but not an undergraduate degree, accelerated programs to help them reach the MSN (Masters of Science in Nursing) level is available.

Currently, six professional schools of nursing throughout the District of Columbia have been approved by the Board of Nursing. In addition, online programs and nursing schools that are approved by other state Boards of Nursing are acceptable for those who wish to become licensed to practice in the District. Certain courses are required at all of these schools, with one of the main requirements being a course in advanced pharmacology. Other courses common to pediatric nurse practitioner programs include pathophysiology, primary care of adolescents, newborn primary care, moral and ethical issues in health care, children and adolescents with special needs, as well as clinical practicums. Some PNPs choose to specialize even further within the PNP field and take additional courses to become either Primary Care Pediatric Nurse Practitioners or Acute Care PNPs.