Pediatric Acute Care Nurse Practitioner
Use your expertise to provide care in managing seriously ill children with complex conditions, bridging advanced medical expertise with compassionate family support.
Program overview
An Acute Care Pediatric Nurse Practitioner (PNP-AC) is an advanced practice registered nurse who specializes in the management of infants, children and adolescents with acute, complex and critical illnesses. PNP-ACs blend advanced clinical expertise, rapid decision-making and a family-centered approach to care for pediatric patients experiencing sudden, severe or rapidly evolving health conditions. They practice in high-acuity environments such as pediatric intensive care units, intermediate and step-down units, inpatient units, emergency departments and pediatric specialty clinics. PNP-ACs work closely with interdisciplinary teams to stabilize patients, manage complex treatment plans and support families during challenging moments in their child's care.
At Ohio State, you’ll train within one of the nation’s top comprehensive health sciences centers, gaining clinically rigorous, evidence-based experience guided by world-class faculty and dedicated mentors. You’ll build skills across diverse settings — from community-based primary care agencies to The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center — and benefit from hands-on learning, interdisciplinary collaboration and the support of expert preceptors committed to your success.
Take the next step
Join an information session to learn more about your program of interest, hosted by our recruitment coordinator.
This specialty can be completed online or on campus and offers flexible pathways to suit a variety of educational and career goals.
On-campus or online
On-campus only
Admission and application requirements vary by degree program. Visit the degree program page to learn more about eligibility and how to apply.
The PNP-AC curriculum is aligned with the American Association of Colleges of Nursing (AACN) Essentials: Core Competencies for Professional Nursing Education and the National Organization of Nurse Practitioner Faculties (NONPF) NP Role Core Competencies. Graduates are eligible for national board certification as a Acute Care Pediatric Nurse Practitioner through the Pediatric Nursing Certification Board (PNCB).
Clinical Courses
Students will develop advanced knowledge and clinical expertise through specialty-focused coursework and immersive, supervised clinical practicum experiences. Clinical rotations allow students to apply these competencies in real-world settings under the guidance of expert preceptors. Clinical experiences meet the requirements for national certification in this specialty and are completed in approved sites across Ohio and other authorized states (as applicable). Students typically complete 16 to 20 hours per week of precepted clinical practice during their clinical courses.
- Nursing 7330 Advanced Pediatric Health Assessment
- Nursing 7331 Assessment and Management of Child and Adolescent Mental Health Issues
- Nursing 7333 Advanced Pediatric Pharmacology
- Nursing 7218.01 Advanced Nursing Practice in Pediatric Acute Care I
- Nursing 7218.02 Advanced Nursing Practice in Pediatric Acute Care II
- Nursing 7218.03 Advanced Nursing Practice in Pediatric Acute Care III
- Nursing 7415 Clinical Reasoning with Diagnostic Methods for Advanced Nursing Practice
- Nursing 8895 Advanced Practice Nursing: Final Professional Seminar
- Provide direct care to acutely ill, complex, and critically ill children and their families.
- Apply evidence-based acute care management strategies for children from birth through young adulthood.
- Design, implement, and evaluate treatment plans for high-acuity pediatric conditions.
- Use leadership skills to advocate for improved pediatric health outcomes at multiple system levels.
- Contribute to pediatric acute care nursing through innovation, QI efforts, and scholarly engagement.
- Assume active roles in professional pediatric health organizations.
For more information on curriculum, visit the academic program page of the degree you are seeking.
- Beth Heuer, Director
- Angela Blankenship
- Kathleen Cox
- Rosie Zeno