title: Reaching new heights: development of the emergency department nurse practitioner fellowship program.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  With nationwide resident shortages and decreasing resident shifts, and legislation decreasing resident work hours, the nurse practitioners (NPs) have been called upon to expand their scope of practice to encompass patients with immediate and critical conditions and to perform quick procedures. Most pediatric NP (PNP) programs do not have formal training for NP students to work in a pediatric emergency department (ED).
  
  
  METHODS
  Senior ED NPs in collaboration with an NP educator developed a comprehensive clinical program to prepare a general PNP student to practice in an ED. The fellowship committee, met with 3 local university PNP program directors. The fellowship program targeted highly motivated individuals with an interest in working in a pediatric ED at the completion of their program as recruits for the position.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Based on positive feedback, there has been overwhelming support and acceptance from the ED attending physicians, the NPs in the specialty clinics, as well as the ED staff regarding the new NP fellowship role. The NP fellow experienced less stress transitioning from student to NP.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The development of the fellowship program is a step forward in the future training of NPs. The structured fellowship will hopefully facilitate a seamless transition from student to NP.
authors.affiliation: Division of Emergency Medicine, The Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA. varghesej@email.chop.edu
authors.forename: Jane R
authors.initials: JR
authors.lastname: Varghese
authors.forename: Antonette
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Silvestri
authors.forename: Patricia
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Lopez
mesh_terms: D016529:Emergency Nursing / Q000193:education*; D004636:Emergency Service, Hospital / Q000458:organization & administration*; D005257:Fellowships and Scholarships / Q000458:organization & administration*; D006776:Hospitals, Pediatric / Q000458:organization & administration*; D006786:Hospitals, Urban / Q000458:organization & administration*; D006801:Humans; D009722:Nurse Practitioners / Q000193:education* / Q000600:supply & distribution; D010348:Patient Care Team; D015143:Philadelphia; D015397:Program Evaluation