The University of Akron, Akron Children’s Hospital partner to accelerate pediatric nurse practitioner workforce

The University of Akron School of Nursing and Akron Children's Hospital have launched a dual faculty appointment designed to streamline clinical training and move pediatric nurse practitioners into the workforce more quickly, helping meet growing pediatric health care needs across Northeast Ohio.

The jointly supported position directly links the University of Akron's Master of Science in Nursing pediatric nurse practitioner program with one of the region's leading pediatric health care systems. The role was created to address a long-standing bottleneck in nursing education: students were previously responsible for securing their own clinical placements, a process that could delay training and graduation. Under the new model, students are centrally matched with available pediatric clinical openings, reducing delays and accelerating entry into practice.

Across Ohio and nationwide, demand for pediatric care continues to rise as more children live with chronic and complex health conditions. At the same time, nursing programs face enrollment constraints due to limited access to qualified clinical preceptors. By creating a direct bridge between academic preparation and clinical practice, the dual faculty appointment removes barriers that slow the pipeline of new pediatric providers.

An added benefit of the dual faculty model is real-time alignment between education and current pediatric practice. Jenny Michel '12 '18, who is a senior lecturer in the School of Nursing and was the first to hold the joint appointment, serves as director of advanced practice nursing at Akron Children's and is actively involved in clinical policy development. Her leadership role and direct engagement in pediatric practice help ensure that the University of Akron pediatric nurse practitioner curriculum reflects current best practices, emerging trends in pediatric health, and the evolving needs of children and families.

"We can do so much more together as a team," said Michel, who earned master's and doctorate degrees along with a Child and Adolescent Health Nurse Acute Care certificate from the School of Nursing. "This partnership will strengthen the education the students in the PNP track are receiving, providing students with instructors and preceptors who specialize in pediatrics across the care continuum, and supports a pediatric APP pipeline locally. Akron Children's has seen continued growth of APPs over the last decade, and I anticipate that will continue in the years ahead. It's a fantastic opportunity to work alongside the University of Akron's leadership team to create this collaborative partnership, and I'm so excited to see the positive outcomes as a result."

By strengthening relationships with clinical preceptors and community providers, the dual role expands the number of pediatric clinical placements available, supports increased enrollment, and reduces administrative and scheduling burdens that can delay student progression and graduation. Centralized coordination also enhances program quality, consistency and compliance.

Together, the University of Akron School of Nursing and Akron Children's are advancing a partnership-driven approach that shortens the path from education to practice, grows the pediatric workforce and expands access to pediatric care for children and families throughout Northeast Ohio and beyond.

About Akron Children's Hospital

Akron Children's Hospital is an independent, nonprofit pediatric health care system that has been caring for children since 1890. With two hospital campuses, seven regional health centers and more than 50 primary and specialty care locations throughout Ohio, it is the only health care system in northeast Ohio fully dedicated to pediatric care. Its vast network of Akron Children's Pediatrics offices offers convenient access to expert pediatric primary care for patients from infancy through young adulthood. From School-Based Health Care to Quick Care Online virtual visits and Akron Children's Anywhere app, Akron Children's makes it easy for today's busy families to find the high-quality care they need. In 2024, the health care system provided nearly 1.5 million patient encounters and employed more than 7,300 employees. Learn more at akronchildrens.org.

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