Employment Characteristics and Role Functions of Recent PNP Graduates
Employment Characteristics and Role Functions of Recent PNP Graduates
The role of pediatric nurse practitioner (PNP) was initiated in the late 1960´s with baccalaureate pediatric nurses trained and educated to provide well care, screening, and common illness management to essentially healthy children in rural areas not adequately served by physicians (Silver & Ford, 1967). Nurse practitioner educational programs have evolved to the graduate level with doctoral preparation proposed for entry into practice by 2015 (American Association of Colleges of Nursing [AACN], 2004). A current survey monitors the change in practice settings and role functions of PNPs to determine trends of professional practice and appropriateness of educational programs in preparing new graduates for the contemporary work place.
The pediatric nurse practitioner (PNP) role was started over 35 years ago with baccalaureate pediatric nurses trained and educated to provide well care, screening, and common illness management to essentially healthy children in rural areas not adequately served by physicians (Silver & Ford, 1967). Educational programs for PNPs are now all at the graduate level for nurse practitioners with doctoral preparation proposed for entry into practice by 2015 (American Association of Colleges of Nursing [AACN], 2004).
It is important that change in practice settings and role functions of PNPs be monitored to determine trends of professional practice and appropriateness of educational programs in preparing new graduates for the contemporary work place. This current survey of recent graduates of PNP programs is modeled after previous surveys of PNP graduates (Jackson, Kennedy, & Slaughter, 2003) and family nurse practitioner (FNP) graduates (Allen & Viens, 2006). Although descriptive surveys have limitations and the response rate to this survey varied from 28% to 80% by program (mean 53%), the findings are an attempt to assess the current practice type, characteristics of clients served, role functions, skills performed, participation in professional organizations, lobbying efforts, involvement in economic decisions regarding their practice, and interest in doctoral education of recent PNP graduates.
The role of pediatric nurse practitioner (PNP) was initiated in the late 1960´s with baccalaureate pediatric nurses trained and educated to provide well care, screening, and common illness management to essentially healthy children in rural areas not adequately served by physicians (Silver & Ford, 1967). Nurse practitioner educational programs have evolved to the graduate level with doctoral preparation proposed for entry into practice by 2015 (American Association of Colleges of Nursing [AACN], 2004). A current survey monitors the change in practice settings and role functions of PNPs to determine trends of professional practice and appropriateness of educational programs in preparing new graduates for the contemporary work place.
The pediatric nurse practitioner (PNP) role was started over 35 years ago with baccalaureate pediatric nurses trained and educated to provide well care, screening, and common illness management to essentially healthy children in rural areas not adequately served by physicians (Silver & Ford, 1967). Educational programs for PNPs are now all at the graduate level for nurse practitioners with doctoral preparation proposed for entry into practice by 2015 (American Association of Colleges of Nursing [AACN], 2004).
It is important that change in practice settings and role functions of PNPs be monitored to determine trends of professional practice and appropriateness of educational programs in preparing new graduates for the contemporary work place. This current survey of recent graduates of PNP programs is modeled after previous surveys of PNP graduates (Jackson, Kennedy, & Slaughter, 2003) and family nurse practitioner (FNP) graduates (Allen & Viens, 2006). Although descriptive surveys have limitations and the response rate to this survey varied from 28% to 80% by program (mean 53%), the findings are an attempt to assess the current practice type, characteristics of clients served, role functions, skills performed, participation in professional organizations, lobbying efforts, involvement in economic decisions regarding their practice, and interest in doctoral education of recent PNP graduates.