CPNP-AC study plan
CPNP-AC · Give each week a clear focus.
8 weeks · About 8 hours per week
Advanced assessment, diagnosis, and clinical decision-making for acute and complex pediatric conditions
Construct a systems-based differential diagnosis grid for 10 high-acuity pediatric presentations (respiratory distress, shock, altered mental status, seizure, abdominal pain, dehydration, cyanosis, limp, rash with fever, head injury)
Interpret arterial and venous blood gases, basic metabolic panels, CBCs, and lactate values, stating the primary acid-base or hematologic derangement for 25 practice lab sets
Map age-specific normal vital signs, weight-based thresholds, and developmental milestones onto a single reference sheet covering neonate through adolescent
Complete a timed 40-item baseline diagnostic-reasoning set and categorize every missed item by underlying knowledge gap
Your checkpoint
One-page age-based normal-values and differential-diagnosis grid plus a scored baseline assessment (40 items) with a written gap inventory
Advanced assessment, diagnosis, and clinical decision-making for acute and complex pediatric conditions & Management and evaluation of care for acutely and critically ill infants, children, and adolescents
Apply a structured diagnostic framework to respiratory and cardiovascular emergencies, justifying the top three diagnoses in each of 8 written cases
Contrast hemodynamic and management priorities across hypovolemic, distributive, cardiogenic, and obstructive shock in a comparison table
Calculate 15 weight-based emergency medication and fluid orders (including infusions) with dose ranges and safety checks documented
Write 8 complete SOAP-style assessment and plan notes for acutely ill infants, children, and adolescents
Your checkpoint
Eight case-based written assessment-and-management plans scored against a self-built rubric, each with a correct weight-based dosing calculation
Management and evaluation of care for acutely and critically ill infants, children, and adolescents
Sequence time-critical management steps for diabetic ketoacidosis, status asthmaticus, septic shock, and elevated intracranial pressure
Interpret ventilator settings, waveforms, and hemodynamic monitoring data to recommend two adjustments per scenario across 10 practice cases
Titrate vasoactive and sedation infusions in 6 simulated scenarios, documenting reassessment parameters and escalation triggers
Evaluate response to therapy by selecting appropriate serial monitoring and disposition decisions for 12 cases
Your checkpoint
Four one-page bedside emergency pathway cards plus a 30-item domain-2 quiz scored at 80% or higher
Management and evaluation of care for acutely and critically ill infants, children, and adolescents & Health promotion, disease prevention, and family-centered care within acute care settings
Integrate family-centered communication into acute and critical care plans by drafting 3 shared decision-making dialogues
Identify psychosocial, financial, and social-determinant barriers in 6 cases and match each to a concrete resource or escalation pathway
Demonstrate developmentally appropriate explanation of a procedure or diagnosis for a toddler, school-age child, and adolescent
Compare management adjustments required for children with chronic/complex conditions, technology dependence, or prolonged hospitalization
Your checkpoint
Simulated family-conference script for a critical-care discussion, scored against a 10-item communication checklist plus mid-point mixed assessment (75 items) at 75% or higher
Health promotion, disease prevention, and family-centered care within acute care settings
Reconstruct the immunization schedule and adolescent and infant screening recommendations from memory for the age groups most likely to present acutely
Design anticipatory guidance for 5 common chronic pediatric conditions managed in acute care settings
Apply injury-prevention and health-promotion counseling to acute encounters with 4 families across different developmental stages
Outline transition-of-care planning for an adolescent with a chronic condition moving toward adult services
Your checkpoint
A family-facing teaching handout on one chronic condition plus a 20-item health-promotion and prevention quiz scored at 80% or higher
Professional role, systems of care, quality improvement, and advocacy
Describe the scope of practice, credentialing, and collaborative role boundaries of the acute care pediatric NP in 3 different care models
Apply a Plan-Do-Study-Act cycle to a pediatric safety or quality problem, defining measures and a test-of-change
Draft a policy or advocacy position on one pediatric access, safety, or reimbursement issue with supporting evidence
Analyze care-coordination and billing/coding implications of a complex inpatient or emergency encounter
Your checkpoint
Two-page quality-improvement and advocacy proposal with aim statement, measures, PDSA test, and references
Advanced assessment, diagnosis, and clinical decision-making for acute and complex pediatric conditions & Management and evaluation of care for acutely and critically ill infants, children, and adolescents & Health promotion, disease prevention, and family-centered care within acute care settings & Professional role, systems of care, quality improvement, and advocacy
Complete 150 mixed, timed practice items spanning all four domains while maintaining a pace of about 1.5 minutes per item
Rank the three weakest content areas from error data and remediate each with targeted reading and 25 focused items
Maintain an error log that records the reasoning flaw, not just the correct answer, for every missed item
Re-derive the differential and management plan for 6 previously missed case types without notes
Your checkpoint
Completed error log with remediation notes for all missed items and a timed 150-item set scored at 75% or higher
Advanced assessment, diagnosis, and clinical decision-making for acute and complex pediatric conditions & Management and evaluation of care for acutely and critically ill infants, children, and adolescents & Health promotion, disease prevention, and family-centered care within acute care settings & Professional role, systems of care, quality improvement, and advocacy
Re-test the three previously weakest areas and score 85% or higher on each targeted set
Consolidate high-yield pharmacology, fluid and electrolyte, and weight-based dosing facts into a single review sheet
Simulate full-length exam conditions, including timing, breaks, and question-flagging strategy
Finalize a test-day plan covering logistics, anxiety management, and guessing strategy for uncertain items
Your checkpoint
Full-length 175-item practice exam scored at 80% or higher plus a one-page final high-yield review sheet
Milestones
Week 2: Eight written case plans completed with correct weight-based calculations on at least 13 of 15 dosing items
Week 4: Mid-point mixed assessment (75 items across domains 1-3) scored at 75% or higher, with domain-2 items at 80% or higher
Week 6: Quality-improvement and advocacy proposal completed and reviewed against a self-scored rubric; all four domains now covered at least once
Week 8: Full-length 175-item practice exam scored at 80% or higher, with no individual domain below 75%