MSN/DNP - PNP FAQS

Pediatric nurse practitioners provide primary care for children from birth through age 21. The MSN and DNP PNP programs at Cedarville University prepare the graduate nurse for advanced nursing practice. Both the MSN and DNP degree options provide in-depth professional and advanced practice study for nurses to expand their knowledge of healthcare delivery, clinical expertise, leadership, and use of evidence-based practice grounded in biblical truth.

Cedarville University School of Nursing is uniquely positioned to provide a rigorous academic graduate program while maintaining a low student-to-faculty ratio and affordable price.  The faculty is dedicated to the integration of a biblical worldview into the MSN curriculum, which prepares graduates to use nursing as a ministry for Jesus Christ. 

PNP students are qualified to seek national certification through the Pediatric Nursing Certification Board (PNCB) or American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC).

If you reside outside of Ohio and considering the PNP Area of Focus, contact your state Board of Nursing to obtain licensure requirements and additional guidance before beginning the MSN/PNP program.

The majority of PNP students will maintain full-time employment.  However, once you begin the clinical courses, anticipate two days a week to meet the 200-hour clinical requirement for each of the three clinical semesters.  If you have flexibility with self-scheduling, 12-hour shifts, or working weekends, this will be more conducive to maintaining full-time employment.  We recognize that you are balancing many life demands and your decision to apply to graduate school implies you have determined that you will be able to balance work, school, and life demands.

The PNP area of focus coordinator and the MSN Clinical Placement Coordinator (CPC) will partner with you to secure clinical site placement.  The CPC will initiate contact with you early in your program to establish goals and map out a tentative clinical plan.  PNP students need the knowledge and skills to care for patients from birth through the age of 21.  Mapping out a clinical plan that includes the majority of hours in a primary care setting with a mix of preceptors (MD, APRN) in a variety of clinical sites will provide optimal preparation for practice and the national certification exam.  

There are many variables that impact clinical placement choice including desired hours, geographic location, career goals, previous background, and preceptor/clinical site availability.  An approved site has an educational affiliation agreement in place, has been evaluated by the PNP area of focus coordinator, and has a verbal commitment by the preceptor.  Preceptors must be qualified to provide clinical supervision in the population focus (MD, DO, APRN, PA). 

Travel is often necessary during the clinical courses.  While the CPC will work with you to secure clinical site placement as close to your geographical location it may be necessary to travel to obtain required clinical hours.

The on-campus experiences are intentionally designed to meet course and program objectives and enhance curriculum delivery through teaching-learning practices for every learner.  There are four required on-campus experiences for PNP students (eight days during the full-time or part-time year round plan of study).

The on-campus experiences include Clinical Enrichment following NSG 6170 Advanced Health Assessment and Diagnostic Reasoning for Advanced Nursing Practice, Fall Enrichment, Spring Enrichment, and Summer Enrichment.  The Fall/Spring/Summer Enrichments are typically two days (Thursday and Friday) during the sixth week of the semester for each clinical course.