What Does a Pediatric Nurse Practitioner (PNP) Do?

PNP general job duties

Pediatric nurse practitioners perform a variety of duties including perform exams, diagnose illnesses, prescribe medication, and develop treatment plans. Because their patients range in age from infants to young adults, PNPs have the skills to work with both the patient and their family to provide the right resources and care, including education and emotional support.

Many patients see the same PNP for a long time—months or even years—so PNPs must also be attentive and proactive to address any potential health issues as their patients mature.

Other duties a PNP may perform include:

• Assess and evaluate growth patterns
• Screen for and manage mental illness in children
• Educate patients and families about specific conditions related to children’s development
• Evaluate developmental milestones and educate parents about normal growth and development
• Order and interpret laboratory diagnostic tests
• Care for and provide treatment for acute illnesses (such as cough/flu)
• Care for and provide treatment for chronic conditions (such as asthma or diabetes)
• Prescribe medication and order immunizations
• Perform physical examinations, including well-child exams, school, and sports physicals
• Perform preventive care and developmental check-ups
• Act as a liaison between patients, their families, and doctors
• Refer patients and their families to specialists, community resources and communicate follow-up steps
• Document and report concerns, such as abuse, neglect, or developmental delays
• Provide teen birth control counseling
• Provide patients and their loved ones with emotional support and advice

Primary vs. acute pediatric nurse practitioners

The two main focuses for pediatric nurse practitioners are primary care and acute care. Both provide care for pediatric patients from infant to young adult, but there are key differences:

• Primary care pediatric nurse practitioners (PNP-PC) are trained to support children’s health through well-child visits, preventive care and management of common pediatric illnesses and common chronic conditions, such as asthma or diabetes. They partner with the patient and his or her family to emphasize health promotion, disease prevention and treat minor acute and chronic health problems. PNP-PCs may work in a hospital, urgent or walk-in care clinic, or school-based health center.
• Acute care pediatric nurse practitioners (CPNP-AC) provide specialized care to patients with complex, critical and chronic illnesses or injuries. They must possess an understanding of how these illnesses, injuries and disorders affect children and their development. CPNP-ACs often work in emergency departments, intensive care, or trauma units, and as part of critical care transport teams.

PNP vs. related jobs in pediatrics

Pediatric nurse practitioners share some commonalities with other healthcare professions. The groups work together to ensure the best care for their patients; however, there are key differences between the roles.

PNP vs. pediatric RN

Both PNPs and pediatric registered nurses provide medical care for children from birth through their late teens, sometimes up to age 21. Both PNPs and pediatric RNs are specially trained to provide care to young patients, while working closely with the family to communicate care plans, address their concerns, and educate them on treatment options.

Nurse practitioners and RNs have different education requirements, however. Pediatric RNs must possess an undergraduate degree, while PNPs must have a master’s degree in addition to the RN designation.

Additionally, PNPs may be the primary source of care for an individual or family, while a nurse has more limited care options. (For example, PNPs can prescribe medication to patients without oversight from a doctor in many states.)

PNP vs. Family Nurse Practitioners (FNP)

FNPs and PNPs see patients and develop various strategies to treat acute illnesses and manage chronic diseases. However, the main difference between PNPs and family nurse practitioners (FNPs) is that PNPs care for patients from birth to young adulthood, while FNPs provide care to patients across the lifespan.

While both PNPs and FNPs are trained to care for young patients, PNPs typically have more in-depth knowledge of pediatrics. In contrast, an FNP has knowledge to treat both young and older patients. For example, an FNP may provide a well-child exam and then develop a treatment plan for an elderly person with a heart condition.

PNP vs. pediatrician

Both PNPs and pediatricians can diagnose and treat various illnesses. They can perform medical exams, order and interpret laboratory tests, and develop treatment plans.

However, a pediatrician is a medical doctor who is authorized to diagnose and treat illnesses in children. As a medical doctor, they can perform more advanced duties than a PNP, such as:

• Prescribe medications and vaccines in all states where they are licensed
• Perform surgery
• Research new medical treatments

PNP vs. Pediatric Physician Assistant (PA)

PNPs and pediatric PAs are trained to treat young patients from infancy to adolescence. Both PNPs and pediatric physician assistants can examine patients, order diagnostic tests, diagnose illnesses, prescribe medication, and provide treatment.

Two key differences between PNPs and pediatric physician assistants are the training approach and the amount of schooling.

PNPs are trained using a more holistic nursing approach to patient care. This means they focus on specific populations, such as children, rather than focus on a specific type of medicine.

Physician assistants are trained using a medical model, meaning they specialize in a specific field of medicine and provide care through disease management and prevention.

PNPs must possess RN certification and a master’s degree, while physician assistants must complete a PA program from an accredited school, which typically takes about two years. After this, students must pass the Physician Assistant National Certifying Exam (PANCE) to become certified.