The PNCB Reference List for the Primary Care CPNP Exam

The PNCB recommends that in reviewing for the examination, you use a pediatric textbook you are familiar with and one that focuses on the subject areas covered by the Primary Care PNP Content Outline. Other candidates have found the most current edition of the following references useful for their review. The PNCB, does not endorse nor have any proprietary relationship with any of the below mentioned textbooks or handbooks, but we do offer a list of questions to consider when making your selections.

• American Academy of Pediatrics - 2006 Red Book
• American Academy of Pediatrics - Care of the Young Athlete
• Behrman, Kliegman & Jenson - Nelson Textbook of Pediatrics
• Burns, Brady, Dunn, & Barber-Starr - Pediatric Primary Care, 4th Edition
• Dixon and Stein - Encounters with Children: Pediatric Behavior and Development
• Emans & Goldstein - Pediatric & Adolescent Gynecology
• Green (Ed.) - National Center for Education Bright Futures - Guidelines for Health Supervision of Infants, Children in Maternal & Child Health and Adolescents
• Hay - Current Pediatric Diagnosis and Treatment
• Jackson Allen, P. & Vessey, J. A. - Primary Care of the Child with a Chronic Condition
• Levin, Carey & Crocker - Developmental-Behavioral Pediatrics
• Osborn, Dewitt, First & Zenel - Pediatrics
• Neinstein - Adolescent Health Care
• Richardson - Practice Guidelines for Pediatric Nurse Practitioners
• Taketomo, Hodding, & Kraus - Pediatric Dosage Handbook
• Weston, Lane & Morelli - Color Textbook of Pediatric Dermatology
• Zitelli & Davis - Atlas of Pediatric Physical Diagnosis

Websites: AAP, ACOG, MMWR, CDC, Safekids - Injury Prevention

Selecting a Review Course or Book

What review course should I take? Which books are the best? Do you offer a review course?

We hear these questions often and can't conduct an actual review course because this would be a conflict of interest. We also can't endorse a specific review course or book, but we do recommend you consider the following when selecting a course or title:

1. How are the instructors or authors prepared? Do they have rigorous academic credentials? Do they hold the credential you seek? What about their practice experience?


2. Are the topics covered consistent with the exam's content outline?


3. Do the books offer practice questions after each chapter?


4. Does the course offer testimonials? If so, evaluate the comments offered by your peers.


5. Does the review course ask for feedback? Do they post survey results on their website?


6. Talk to others who have taken a specific review course. Were they satisfied?

You may also want to check your membership organization website for books that are recommended. We hope this gives you an idea of things to look for as you make your decisions.