Degree Options
Master of Science in Nursing
Pediatric Clinical Nurse Specialist
The pediatric clinical nurse specialist major is a 42-credit-hour program available for part- or full-time study. It is designed to prepare advanced practice nurses to provide expert care for children with complex health problems and to enhance pediatric nursing practice. Pediatric clinical nurse specialists function in a variety of settings to plan and implement change and to enhance quality practice through the roles of clinician, educator, consultant, and researcher.
The major uses theory and research as the basis for advanced nursing practice and emphasizes an interdisciplinary approach to the health care of infants, children, adolescents, and their families. Clinical experiences are offered in a variety of inpatient and outpatient settings. Focus area courses enable students to tailor their studies to meet their career goals or emerging employment opportunities.
What is a clinical nurse specialist (CNS)?
Clinical nurse specialists are advanced practice nurses who use theory and research to guide and improve nursing care. They make important and unique contributions to health care, including:
- Developing innovative, high-quality, and cost-efficient patient care
- Collaborating with multidisciplinary teams to coordinate health care services in order to restore wellness
- Managing research protocols and developing research utilization projects that lead to innovative health care practices
Potential employment opportunities for pediatric CNS graduates:
- Clinical outcomes manager
- Clinical research nurse
- Director of nursing clinics
- Private practitioner
- Project director
- Academic clinical instructor
- Entrepreneur
- Staff development
Curriculum
| Core courses (12 credits) | Credits | |
|---|---|---|
| N502 | Nursing Theory I | 3 |
| N504 | Leadership for Advanced Practice Nursing | 3 |
| R500 | Nursing Research | 3 |
| R590 or R699 | Scholarly Project (3 credit hours) or Thesis ( 6 credit hours) | 3-6 |
| Courses in the major | Credits | |
|---|---|---|
| Courses are being updated at this time | ||
For specific questions about this major, please contact:
Janet Moon, Graduate Advisor
jakmoon [at] iupui [dot] edu
(317) 278-2205
