Pediatric Acute Care Nurse Practitioner, Advanced Graduate Certificate

Program Learning Outcomes

Students will be able to:

• Create a systematic approach to clinical reasoning based on best evidence, research, and knowledge from nursing and other disciplines to make decisions which optimize the health of populations and the delivery of care across a range of sociocultural settings.
• Role model communication strategies and teamwork to intentionally collaborate with interprofessional teams, individuals, groups, and populations across a range of sociocultural settings to advocate for diverse, equitable, and inclusive care in professional environments.
• Evaluate quality improvement principles, standards, methods, and strategies to identify health and systems problems and translate evidence-based change in practice settings.
• Analyze systematic processes across settings using evidenced-based strategies and standards, to promote a just culture of safety, and to prevent or minimize risk to self, patients, and environment.
• Appraise health care technology, data, and information literacy, while considering risks and ethical requirements, to plan, implement, and evaluate person and population-centered care and assist in system-wide best practice decisions in a variety of settings.
• Integrate person and population centered care that is respectful of differing sociocultural needs based on best evidence, clinical judgment, and sound legal/ethical principles to maximize health for diverse individuals, groups and populations.
• Expand professional identity through leadership and advocacy that promotes the needs of self, individuals, groups and populations and the nursing profession while improving the healthcare system.

Contact Information

Stephanie S. DeBoor, PhD, APRN, ACNS-BC, CCRN
Associate Dean for Graduate Programs
Associate Professor
University of Nevada, Reno
Orvis School of Nursing
1664 N. Virginia Street MS 0134
Reno, NV 89557
775-682-7156
deboors2@unr.edu

Admission Requirements

Admission requirements for the Orvis School of Nursing Pediatric Acute Care Nurse Practitioner, Advanced Graduate Certificate program include:

• Successful completion of a Master’s of Science in Nursing from a CCNE or NLN academic institution with a GPA of 3.0 or better.
• Current unrestricted/unencumbered licensure as an RN in Nevada or eligible for licensure in Nevada.

Applicants must meet both the University’s Graduate School requirements and the Orvis School of Nursing MSN requirements. Applicants should begin by completing an application to the University’s Graduate School.
The following must be submitted along with the application:

• A resume that includes education, professional and community service experience.
• A letter of intent should be single spaced, 12 point font, and no longer than 1,000 words. Explain why you have chosen the University of Nevada, Reno, Orvis School of Nursing for your graduate studies.
• Identify which track (AGACNP, PACNP, FNP, PMHNP, EDU, or CNL) you have chosen to pursue and describe how you envision functioning in this role as part of an inter-professional team.
• 3 Letters of Recommendation.

The deadline for fall admission is March 1 and the spring admission deadline is Oct. 1. Admission for the AGACNP, PMHNP and FNP Advanced Degree (Post-Master’s) Certificate vary depending on entry plan.

I. Program Requirements

A sample curriculum follows.  Additional courses may be required depending upon previous coursework completed. Students must have completed the “3 Ps” (Advanced Pathophysiology, Advanced Pharmacology, and Advanced Physical/Health Assessment) as part of an accredited (CCNE, NLN, NLNAC, and ACEN) nurse practitioner program.