Frequently Asked Questions
1. How do I distinguish between the Acute Care role and the Primary Care role?
The PNCB's role delineation research regarding the acute care PNP role determined that
there was indeed shared content between primary care and acute care pediatric nurse practitioners.
This shared content centers around knowledge and skills associated with well child growth and development
and chronic care issues. The essential focus of care for the Acute Care PNP is restorative care.
Acute Care CPNPs® respond to rapidly changing clinical conditions, including the recognition and management
of emerging health crises, organ dysfunction and failure. The descriptions below should assist you to determine
if your practice includes a majority focus on the primary care or the acute care needs of the child and their family.
Acute Care PNP
The Acute Care CPNP® role is designed to meet the specialized physiological and psychological needs of children with complex acute and chronic health conditions. CPNP-AC's respond to rapidly changing clinical conditions, including the recognition and management of emerging health crises, organ dysfunction and failure. In accordance with this practice focus, CPNP-AC role activities encompass a wide range of NP practice strategies including contributions to the management of children's illness/health states, the client nurse relationship, the teaching - coaching function, the professional role, managing and negotiating health care delivery systems, monitoring and ensuring quality of health care practice, providing family-centered care, and demonstrating cultural competency. The short-term goal of care is stabilization of the child, minimizing complications and providing physical and psychological care measures. The long term goal of care is to restore maximal health potential through implementation of NP strategies to reduce health risks. The continuum of care spans the geographical settings including but not limited to emergency departments, hospitals, subspecialty clinics and intensive care units.
Primary Care PNP
The Primary Care CPNP® role is designed to meet the specialized physiologic and psychological needs of children in the areas of health maintenance and promotion and management of disease process. The CPNP-PC provides wellness management of children and their families incorporating competencies related to health promotion, protection, disease prevention and the treatment focus of pediatric nurse practitioner practice to maximize wellness and assist children and families in the prevention and management of common pediatric acute and chronic conditions. The goal of care is to achieve optimum quality of life and/or prevent a condition or illness from occurring. Activities of the Primary Care PNP in this role include conducting wellness-focused history and physical examination, ordering, performing and interpreting age-appropriate screening test; prescribing vaccines and medications; and developing a wellness management plan. In the role of health maintenance and management, the primary care PNP diagnoses and manages common pediatric problems of pathophysiological and pathopsychological origins. The CPNP-PC® prescribes a comprehensive therapeutic treatment plan including pharmacological strategies, patient and family education and admission to the emergency room or hospital. The functions of the primary care PNP are conducted through clinical practice, teaching, consultation and/or referrals. The PNP-PC role contributes to the well being of children and families through the client-nurse relationship, teaching coaching function, professional role, managing and negotiating health care delivery systems, monitoring and ensuring the quality of health care practice, providing family centered care and demonstrating cultural competency. The CPNP-PC practices in a variety of health care settings including, but not limited to, the home, ambulatory and school based clinics, private practice and subspecialty clinics.
2. I am a nationally certified
FNP, currently licensed in my state as an APRN and I practice as an acute
care PNP. Am I eligible to sit for the Acute Care CPNP® Exam?
Unfortunately not. Your FNP preparation does not include curriculum or pediatric clinical
hours to equal that of a PNP program. You will need to complete a PNCB-recognized Acute Care PNP educational program in order to be eligible
for the exam.
3.
I am enrolled in
a primary care PNP program as a first year student. I really want to function
as an acute care PNP. How can I get access to the exam?
To be eligible for the
Acute Care CPNP® Exam, you will need to graduate
from a PNCB recognized Acute Care PNP graduate educational program.
Click here for a current list of programs recognized by the PNCB.
In order for the graduates of an acute care pediatric nurse
practitioner program to be recognized by the PNCB as qualified to sit
for the exam, the program must complete the program review process as
described in FAQ #3.
4. Do Acute/Chronic
and Critical Care PNP programs count as Acute Care PNP programs?
The curriculum of the educational program you attended
will need to be reviewed by the PNCB's Program Review Committee in order
to determine if the curriculum was primarily designed to prepare you to
function as an acute care PNP. It is expected that many of the current
Acute/Chronic PNP Programs and Critical Care PNP programs will meet the
necessary requirements for recognition by the PNCB.
For a current list of programs recognized by the PNCB, click here.
As a graduate from a recognized Acute Care PNP program, you will have
access to the Acute Care CPNP® Exam through Pathway I (graduate within the past
24 months) and Pathway II (graduate more than 24 months ago). With Pathway
II, additional documentation of clinical practice hours (1000) as an acute
care PNP within the past 2 years and documentation of current acute care
PNP skills are required to assure eligibility for the exam.
5. I don't have a masters in nursing.
Will I be eligible for this exam?
A masters in nursing is required for national nursing certification as
an advanced practice nurse practitioner. Candidates who do not
hold a masters degree in nursing will not be eligible for this exam.
6. I am a NP working in an emergency
room. Will I be eligible for this exam?
The curriculum of the educational program you attended
will need to be reviewed by the PNCB's Program Review Committee in order
to determine if the curriculum was primarily designed to prepare you to
function as an acute care PNP. See FAQ #3.
7. I am a certified Primary Care PNP
and hope to achieve Acute Care PNP certification. Will I be able to maintain
both certifications?
Yes, you will be able to maintain both primary care and acute care certification
through the PNCB. The recertification process will include a minimum of
four Self Assessment Exercises offered by PNCB within a seven-year cycle
(one in primary care, one in pharmacology, and two in acute care).
For the remaining three years of your seven-year cycle, you may take additional SAEs or select from our contact hour
documention options..
8. My state currently does not require
the Acute Care CPNP® Exam. Why should I get this certification?
The National Council of State Boards of Nursing has recommended that all
states require nurse practitioners to have congruence between education,
national certification and clinical practice. While some states may not
require national certification for licensure, you are encouraged to add
this credential to attest to your competence as an acute care PNP.
9. I graduated from an Acute Care
PNP program 10+ years ago. I am not sure faculty can attest to the NP
competencies or verify my hours of clinical practice? What do I do?
The PNCB staff will work with you and the faculty in your program to complete
the program review process in order to determine your eligibility for
the Acute Care CPNP® Exam.
10. Why must the PNCB complete "program review" of my graduate
acute care PNP program to determine my eligibility for the Acute Care CPNP Exam?
The Acute Care CPNP® Exam is a reflection of the national education and practice
standards for the acute care PNP role. The PNCB is dedicated to ensuring
that all exam candidates have been educated in graduate programs that
meet these national standards. These standards are described in the documents
listed below. The PNCB was an active participant in the development of
these documents.
11. How can I prepare for the Exam? Can you recommend a particular text or review course?
The PNCB cannot endorse a particular text or review course, but visit our
Resources Page for possible suggestions and a
list of questions to consider when selecting courses or books. We also offer the PEDs Exam Prep, which can help you become familiar
with the presentation and structure of the computer-based exam. This learning activity also earns users continuing education hours.
12. I've lost my CPNP® lapel pin. How do I get another?
Simply email us and we'll be glad to send out a replacement.
13. I've would like a duplicate CPNP®-AC wall certificate. Can you mail me one?
We'll be glad to send you another copy. Click here to order a duplicate.
14. May I extend or have my 90-day testing period reassigned?
Yes, one time only. An email request for exam extension
or reassignment must be received by the PNCB office five business days before the end of the
candidate's 90-day testing period. Please note that at no time will your testing period
be more than 90 days. Once you apply for the extension, your 90-day testing window will begin according
to the day your request for an extension is approved. Many people incorrectly interpret this to mean
that applying for an extension grants them 180 days.
An additional registration fee is required
for an extension or reassignment. No fees will be refunded if a candidate
fails to test within the assigned 90-day testing period. Candidates must
cancel any scheduled testing time and date with with AMP with two business days'
notice. Click here to apply for an extension.
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