The pediatric nurse practitioner program herein described is a new educational and training program in pediatrics for professional nurses which has been developed to provide increased health care for children in both rural and urban areas. The program prepares nurses to furnish comprehensive well child care to well children, to identify and appraise acute and chronic conditions, and to evaluate and temporarily manage emergency situations until medical assistance is available. The details of the educational and training program and its implications in improving the utilization of scientific manpower are described.