1267 Employment Charactyeristics of Recent Pediatric Nurse Practitioner Graduates in the Usa: A Workforce for the Health Care of Children

Abstract

Aims: Describe the characteristics of employment, children cared for, frequency of role functions by practice setting (primary care, specialty practice), and interest in doctoral education of recent PNP graduates. Method: A 92-item multiple choice and short answer survey tool was sent to graduates from a convenience sample of universities. Results: The surveys were sent to over 280 graduates with a return rate of 53% (range 28% - 86% by university). Of those responding 95% were employed with 80% employed full-time. Thirty-two percent were employed in primary care settings with an additional 10% in school-based clinics. Fiftythree percent were employed in specialty practice in either inpatient or outpatient settings. They often cared for children with acute conditions (60%) and chronic health conditions (53%) irrespective of clinical setting. Role functions varied by practice setting with provision of preventive health interventions, growth and development counseling, lifestyle behavior counseling, and initiation of referrals being performed more frequently (p<.05) by PNPs in primary care or school-based settings. Provision of case management, staff development, policy and program development, writing for publication, participation in research, system change activities, delegation of care and supervision of students was performed more often (p<.05) by PNPs in hospital settings. Forty-six percent indicated they were interested in doctoral education with 22% indicating interest in a PhD and 78% indicating interest in the Doctorate of Nursing Practice. Conclusion: Pediatric Nurse Practitioners are highly educated and skilled additional pediatric health care providers and should be utilized to their fullest potential.