New PNP Competency Framework Resource
Throughout 2022 and 2023, Pediatric Nurse Practitioners certified in Acute Care and Primary Care helped validate PNCB’s Competency Framework for PNPs. Our goal was to better understand how PNPs progress in their professional role over time. This research will also support our Continuing Competence Initiative as we explore links between continuing competence and recertification activities.
In the Framework study, we asked pediatric nurse practitioners to validate professional growth related to 7 role-based competency areas:
- Clinician
- Collaborator
- Advocate
- Educator
- Scholar
- Leader
- Innovator
Each competency area includes several exemplars of ways that the competency is manifested in practice.
Developmental progressions associated with each exemplar reflect progressions of increasing proficiency that may be achieved over time and with experience based on interests and aptitudes, as well as organizational facilitators and barriers. Potential uses of this document include:
- providing a basis for consideration of future updates to PNCB’s Pediatric Nurse Practitioner recertification program requirements, which is one goal of PNCB’s multi-year Continuing Competence Initiative.
- establishing benchmarks for individual PNPs when engaging in self-assessment and self-reflection during their personal career journeys;
- assisting PNP faculty and clinical educators in explaining career progression in the two roles; and
- providing information that may be of interest to employers, hospitals, organizations, and human resources personnel for staff development purposes.
This framework is intended to be a guideline, not a standard. It is not expected that all PNPs will attain Level 3 milestones in all competency areas or exemplars during their careers. Read and share the executive summary: The Development & Validation of a Competency Framework for Pediatric Nurse Practitioners.
