Important

Return to table of contentsof continuing education in pediatric care per yearor (2) complete five hours of continuing educationin pediatric care per year, plus document 200 hoursof clinical practice per year. 201PNCB’s exam for primary care pediatric nurse practitioners(CPNP-PC) has 200 multiple-choice questions(20 of which are not scored) and runs 3.5 hours. Thebreakdown of exam content is as follows:Health restoration (52 percent)• Pathophysiological alterations, with emphasis on dermatology;eyes, ears, nose and throat; gastrointestinal;infectious diseases; and respiratory conditions• Pathopsychological conditions, addressing conditionsfrom aggression and autism to fears and phobias, aswell as eating disorders and substance abuse• Consultation/referral, teaching and clinical practiceHealth promotion and disease prevention (48 percent)• Developmental concepts, including milestones,general behavior concepts, language/speech andscreening tests• Physiological areas, covering normal physical growthand development and several body systems• Psychosocial areas, addressing behavior, familydynamics, self-esteem and other issues• Other, including consultation/referral, teaching andclinical practiceThe PNCB pediatric NP exam questions also test theexaminee on legal/ethics, family, community, pharmacology(15 percent), nutrition, age group, safety andpoisoning, therapeutic modalities (non-pharmacological),genetics, and research or laboratory knowledge. 202 In2007 the PNCB tested 793 applicants for the primarycare pediatric NP certification, and 582 (73 percent)passed. 203PNCB’s exam for acute care pediatric nurse practitioners(CPNP-AC) has 200 multiple-choice questions(20 of which are not scored) and also runs 3.5 hours.The breakdown of competencies tested is as follows:Assessing and diagnosing (49 percent)• Health history• Physical examination• Screening and diagnostic tools• Integrating assessment results leading to diagnosesPlanning, implementing and evaluating (43 percent)• Therapeutic interventions• Educating• Evaluating• Collaborating, consulting and referringProfessional practice roles (8 percent)• Research• Education• LeadershipExam questions are categorized by age groups (for neonatesto young adults), condition (acute, chronic andcritical), body systems, evidence-based practice, ethics/legal, safety, cultural/ethnic, gender issues and alternativetherapies. 204 In 2006 the PNCB tested 210 applicantsand 136 (65 percent) passed the pediatric NP acute carecertification examination. 205National Certification CorporationCertification:• Women’s health nurse practitioner (WHNP-RNC)The National Certification Corporation (NCC) offersnursing certification in the obstetric, gynecological andneonatal nursing specialties. The NCC is an independentnot-for-profit organization that certifies RNs invarious obstetrics and neonatal nursing specialties. 206201. Web. Pediatric Nursing Certification Board. www.pncb.org/ptistore/control/certs/cpn/options. Retrieved March 17, 2008.202. Web. PNCB. CPNP Primary Care Exam Content Outline. www.pncb.org/ptistore/control/exams/pnp/outline. Retrieved March 18, 2008.203. Web. PNCB. Scoring the exam. www.pncb.org/ptistore/control/exams/pnp/score. Retrieved March 18, 2008.204. Web. PNCB. CPNP Acute Care Exam Content Outline. www.pncb.org/ptistore/control/exams/ac/products. Retrieved March 18, 2008.205. Web. PNCB. Scoring the exam. www.pncb.org/ptistore/control/exams/ac/score. Retrieved March 17, 2008.206. NCC also offers an exam to RNs, physician assistants, certified nurse midwives, and physicians who seek recognition of an additional qualification inelectronic fetal monitoring.Scope of Practice Data Series: Nurse practitioners • VI. NP specialty certification41