The first 50 graduates of the Pediatric Nurse Practitioner Program of Washington University were surveyed to determine their role perceptions and expectations. Seventy-five percent felt that PNP's should provide well child care, manage minor illness and counsel patients and that PNP's and physicians should jointly manage episodic acute illness and chronic illness. They indicated a preference for well child care and were willing to assume the associated professional responsibilities. They wanted to manage problems without the direct supervision of a physician, but did not want to go into independent private practice. Financially, the PNP's felt they should earn more than non-PNP nurses but less than pediatricians. The graduates felt that their new role was unique in the health care system and should be recognized by the certification and accreditation processes. Eighty-four percent of the PNP's indicated they were satisfied with their jobs.