Pediatric Nurse Practitioner Careers

Work with newborns, infants, toddlers, and adolescents. Provide specialized levels of care.

Since the stages of child development are significantly different from those of adults, pediatrics is a specialized field that requires advanced knowledge of child growth and how medical treatments may affect it. Pediatric nurse practitioners (PNPs) specialize in delivering health care to individuals younger than 21 years old.  It’s an incredibly rewarding career,  often requiring a bit of playfulness and a lot of patience. PNPs typically deliver service under physician management. However, some operate their own private practices. They diagnose illnesses, may prescribe medication in many states, and perform annual checkups, in addition to requisitioning patient testing and consulting with clients and their family members.

PNPs are in demand

The American Association of Nurse Practitioners (AANP) reports that as of May 2021, there were 325,000 licensed nurse practitioners in the U.S., however only an estimated 3.2% of NPs are educated and certified as PNPs. With a rising demand for more nurse practitioners and few certified as PNPs, there are insufficient numbers of qualified professionals to address the complex health care needs of the nation’s children.*

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the number of children living in the U.S. is projected to increase from 74 million to 76.3 million between 2016 and 2030. This increase is expected to further intensify the need for pediatric nurse practitioners.

*NAPNAP