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Acute Care Pediatric Nurse Practitioner

DNP EMPHASES APPLICATIONS OPEN SEPTEMBER 1, 2025

The University of Utah College of Nursing is proud to announce three new options for advanced pediatric nursing education: the Acute Care Pediatric Nurse Practitioner (PNP-AC) DNP track, the Dual Primary Care and Acute Care PNP DNP track, and a post-graduate Acute Care PNP certificate. These are the only programs of their kind in Utah and the surrounding region, preparing nurses to deliver comprehensive, high-acuity pediatric care across emergency, inpatient, and transitional settings.

Acute Care PNP Track

  • 8 Semesters
  • Hybrid format
  • Earn a DNP degree
  • 780 Clinical hours
Plan of Study

Dual Acute Care / Primary Care PNP Track

  • 9 Semesters
  • Hybrid format
  • Earn a DNP degree
  • 1080 Clinical hours
Plan of Study

Acute Care PNP Post-Graduate APRN Certificate

  • 2-4 Semesters
  • Hybrid format
  • Sit for CPNP-AC certification
  • 500 Clinical hours
Plan of Study

    Fall 2025

    NURS 6670 – Advanced Evidence‑Based Practice and Research
    NURS 6671 – Biostatistics for Evidence‑Based Practice
    NURS 6760 – Role of the Nurse Practitioner
    NURS 6780 – Advanced Pathophysiology Across the Lifespan

    Spring 2026

    NURS 6672 – Advanced Population Health
    NURS 6767 – Clinical Diagnostic Reasoning
    NURS 6782 – Advanced Pharmacology Across the Lifespan
    NURS 6781 – Advanced Health Assessment Across the Lifespan
    NURS 7181 – Diagnostic Health Assessment of the Child

    Summer 2026

    NURS 6675 – Healthcare Finance and Economics
    NURS 6676 – Informatics and Healthcare Technologies
    NURS 6677 – Systems‑Based Practice and Leadership
    NURS 7290 – Embryology & Neonatal Transition

    Fall 2026

    NURS 7216 – Foundations of Pediatric Health Care
    NURS 7375 – Adolescent Health Care
    NURS 7291 – Advanced Pediatric Pharmacology
    NURS 7373 – Management of Pediatric Patients: Newborn–Early Childhood

    Spring 2027

    NURS 6673 – Quality & Safety
    NURS 7835 – Diagnosis & Management: Acute Episodic Care of the Child
    NURS 7684 – Diagnostic Procedures & Simulation for Acute Care

    Summer 2027

    NURS 7911 – Doctor of Nursing Project Planning
    NURS XXXX – Diagnosis & Management: Care of the Critically Ill Child
    NURS 7845 – PNP Practicum I
    NURS 7466 – Hospital Medicine

    Fall 2027

    NURS 7482 – Professional Issues for the NP
    NURS 7846 – PNP Practicum II
    NURS 7912 – Doctor of Nursing Project Implementation

    Spring 2028

    NURS 7913 – Doctor of Nursing Project Evaluation & Dissemination
    NURS 7847 – PNP Practicum Immersion

     

    Total Program Credits: 74

    View the University of Utah Catalog.

    Fall 2025

    NURS 6670 – Advanced Evidence‑Based Practice and Research
    NURS 6671 – Biostatistics for Evidence‑Based Practice
    NURS 6760 – Role of the Nurse Practitioner
    NURS 6780 – Advanced Pathophysiology Across the Lifespan

    Spring 2026

    NURS 6672 – Advanced Population Health
    NURS 6767 – Clinical Diagnostic Reasoning
    NURS 6782 – Advanced Pharmacology Across the Lifespan
    NURS 6781 – Advanced Health Assessment Across the Lifespan
    NURS 7181 – Diagnostic Health Assessment of the Child

    Summer 2026

    NURS 6675 – Healthcare Finance and Economics
    NURS 6676 – Informatics and Healthcare Technologies
    NURS 6677 – Systems‑Based Practice and Leadership
    NURS 7290 – Embryology & Neonatal Transition

    Fall 2026

    NURS 7216 – Foundations of Pediatric Health Care
    NURS 7375 – Adolescent Health Care
    NURS 7291 – Advanced Pediatric Pharmacology
    NURS 7373 – Management of Pediatric Patients: Newborn–Early Childhood

    Spring 2027

    NURS 6673 – Quality & Safety
    NURS 7835 – Diagnosis & Management: Acute Episodic Care of the Child
    NURS 7680 – Diagnostic Procedures & Simulation for Primary Care
    NURS 7292 – Child & Adolescent Mental Health

    Summer 2027

    NURS 7911 – Doctor of Nursing Project Planning
    NURS 7843 – Diagnosis & Management: Care of the Critically Ill Child
    NURS 7845 – PNP Practicum I
    NURS 7466 – Hospital Medicine
    NURS 7842 – Diagnosis & Management: Chronic & Complex Care of the Child

    Fall 2027

    NURS 7482 – Professional Issues for the NP
    NURS 7846 – PNP Practicum II
    NURS 7912 – Doctor of Nursing Project Implementation

    Spring 2028

    NURS 7913 – Doctor of Nursing Project Evaluation & Dissemination
    NURS 7847 – PNP Practicum Immersion
    NURS 7684 – Diagnostic Procedures & Simulation for Acute Care
    NURS 7948 – PNP Practicum Immersion II
    NURS 6440 – Interdisciplinary End‑of‑Life / Palliative Care

    Program Total Credits: 86

    View the University of Utah Catalog.

    Fall – Year 1

    NURS 7216 – Foundations of Pediatric Health Care
    NURS 7375 – Adolescent Health Care
    NURS 7291 – Advanced Pediatric Pharmacology
    NURS 7373 – Management of Pediatric Patients: Newborn–Early Childhood

    Spring – Year 1

    NURS 6767 – Clinical Diagnostic Reasoning
    NURS 7835 – Diagnosis & Management: Acute Episodic Care of the Child
    NURS 7181 – Diagnostic Health Assessment of the Child
    NURS 6440 – Interdisciplinary End‑of‑Life / Palliative Care

    Summer – Year 1

    NURS 7290 – Embryology & Neonatal Transition
    NURS XXXX – Diagnosis & Management: Care of the Critically Ill Child
    NURS 7466 – Hospital Medicine
    NURS 7945 – PNP Practicum I

    Fall – Year 2

    NURS 7946 – PNP Practicum II

    Spring – Year 2

    NURS 7947 – PNP Practicum Immersion
    NURS 7684 – Diagnostic Procedures & Simulation for Acute Care

     

    Total credits: up to 36 (depending on gap analysis)

    View the University of Utah Catalog.

    Sample Coursework & Experiences

    • Hospital Medicine
    • Acute Episodic Care of the Child
    • Diagnostic Health Assessment of the Child
    • Embryology and Neonatal Transition
    • Care of the Critically Ill Child
    • Foundations of Pediatric Health care
    • Diagnostic Procedures & Simulation for Acute Care
    • All didactic coursework is online
    • On-campus immersive experiences once per semester (1-3 days)
    • College of Nursing facilitates all in-state clinical placements