The Certified Pediatric Nurse (CPN®)
The CPN exam validates knowledge and expertise of pediatric nurses beyond basic RN licensure. Eligible RNs may have a diploma, associate's degree, BSN, MSN, or higher nursing degree and must meet one of two pediatric nursing experience eligibility pathways.
CPN is a recognized certification for Magnet designation/redesignation.
More than 30,000 nurses actively hold CPN certification.
CPN Role
CPNs practice in a variety of roles such as direct caregiver, charge nurse, educator, consultant, advocate, care coordinator, and administrator. Depending on their specific role, CPNs may:
- assess, analyze, plan and implement nursing interventions.
- evaluate patient and population outcomes.
- educate students and nurses in the pediatric specialty.
- conduct research about patient outcomes or professional issues.
- manage, supervise, or lead teams of pediatric nurses.
CPN Competencies
Pediatric nursing includes health promotion, acute and chronic illness management and health restoration of infants, children, adolescents and their families.
To become certified as a CPN, nurses must demonstrate mastery of content tested in the areas below. For more details see the exam content outline.
- Physical and Psychosocial/Family Assessment
- Health Promotion
- Management of Illness/Clinical Problems
- Professional Role
CPN Practice Settings
CPNs provide evidence-based and family-centered care in a variety of settings.
Examples include but are not limited to children's hospitals, community hospitals, schools, home health care, military facilities, specialty clinics, special needs day care for children, public health agencies, and primary care practices. CPNs are also college or university faculty, or administrators in children's or community hospitals.
PNCB Certificant Code of Ethics
To support excellence in nursing practice, the PNCB assumes that every nurse certified by this organization will uphold and adhere to the Certificant Code of Ethics.
