Children with complex, high acuity health care needs are growing in numbers and their management is presenting challenges.  Acute Care Pediatric Nurse Practitioners are prepared to function in collaborative practices to provide children with special health care needs, and their families with interventions to facilitate optimum health and growth.   This formal post-masters program is designed for pediatric nurse practitioners who are nationally certified, and who are graduates of a MSN program.  The 34 credit hour program prepares them to practice in acute and chronic health care environments including critical care, emergency rooms, specialty office practices or clinics, as well as intensive rehabilitation and early intervention programs. Graduates of the program receive a certificate recognizing them as Acute Care Pediatric Nurse Practitioners and can also be recognized with the title by the Texas Board of Nurse Examiners.
 

 This program provides you a background to:

• Assume responsibility as an Acute Care Pediatric Nurse Practitioner to provide healthcare to children with complex health needs in secondary and tertiary settings and their families.  

• Utilize expertise in providing care to acutely ill children, including diagnostic reasoning, complex monitoring, and intense therapies.  

• Use research and theoretical knowledge in implementing therapies that restore health, minimize complications, reduce risk factors and improve the growth and development of the child.   

• Coordinate the acute care of the child in collaboration with other health care professionals with attention to principles of ethics, advocacy for the child and family, and an understanding of varying constructs of culture.

Job Opportunities