Seeking Peds Critical Care Grad School Program Options

[rnfostermom, BSN, RN]

I will complete my RN-BSN program this summer at a local university. I am looking for options for grad school. I live in Minneapolis, MN. I've been an RN for 10 years. I have worked in Peds/PICU for about 4 years now. Our PICU is a level 1 trauma center and most of our patients are acutely ill/injured (as opposed to chronic illnesses, congenital conditions, that sort of thing). I would like to find a grad school or other advanced certification program that would focus on advanced clinical skills in critical care. In my area, I have found Pediatric NP programs but they do not seem to have a focus on critical care. I researched some Clinical Nurse Leader programs, but they all seem to indicate that the position is generalist and I only want to focus on Peds. I do not have Peds CCRN yet, but plan to take this exam by the end of the year once I finish my BSN. Can anyone point me in the direction of any type of specialty education or grad school programs that would increase my clinical knowledge in the critical care setting? Although not my favorite, I would be willing to do on-line program if that is all I could find. Suggestions appreciated! Thanks.

[Corey Narry, MSN, RN, NP]

You might want to consider PNP-AC programs. These are Pediatric NP programs with an acute care focus so you would have critical care rotations. You would have to be interested in a provider role to like this program. It doesn't seem like MN has such a program, however.

PNCB Recognized Acute Care PNP Programs

Acute Care Exam Sample Questions

[kelseykelsey4]

Yes a lot of programs have an ACPNP program. UPenn even has one specifically for critical care.