Primary Care Pediatric Clinical Nurse Specialist graduates promote health, prevent illness, identify illness risk and provide acute and chronic care of children from birth to age 21. Pediatric clinical nurse specialist students are prepared to plan and individualize care for children and groups of children within the context of their families and communities to improve the quality of their lives. The clinical nurse specialist advanced practice role differs from the nurse practitioner role in that the focus is population-focused care family management and education and nursing staff support, rather than direct treatment. Pediatric clinical nurse specialists often provide education and support to staff nurses regarding implementation of evidence-based practice and new technology.

Graduates from the M.S.N. program will be able to:

• Acquire educational eligibility to meet standards for advanced practice certification or other advanced professional distinction.
• Acquire competencies based on professional standards to assume advanced roles in nursing and for leadership and career advancement, including doctoral study.
• Communicate, integrate and apply advanced nursing knowledge and skills to provide evidence-based, culturally sensitive nursing care and promote quality outcomes in nursing and health care.