LEAD ADVANCED CARE FOR CHILDREN
The College of Nursing’s Doctor of Nursing Practice program offers the Acute Care Pediatric Nurse Practitioner emphasis for students who want to support children experiencing complex and rapidly changing health conditions. This new emphasis, starting Fall 2026, builds clinical judgment for high acuity care and prepares graduates to guide patients and families during critical moments in a variety of acute care, intensive care, emergency care, and specialty settings. Students begin the emphasis in the fall as part of the DNP program’s annual admission cycle.
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
Dual Acute Care / Primary Care PNP Track
- 9 Semesters
- Hybrid format
- Earn a DNP degree
- 1080 Clinical hours
Acute Care PNP Post-Graduate APRN Certificate
- 2-4 Semesters
- Hybrid format
- Sit for CPNP-AC certification
- 500 Clinical hours
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
Emphases Information
Fall 2025 (Semester credits: 10)
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 (Semester credits: 12)
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 (Semester credits: 8)
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 (Semester credits: 9)
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 (Semester credits: 9)
NURS 6673 – Quality & Safety
NURS 7835 – Diagnosis & Management: Acute Episodic Care of the Child
NURS 7684 – Diagnostic Procedures & Simulation for Acute Care
Summer 2027 (Semester credits: 9)
NURS 7911 – Doctor of Nursing Project Planning
NURS XXXX – Diagnosis & Management: Care of the Critically Ill Child
NURS 7845 – PNP Practicum I (120 direct clinical care hours)
NURS 7466 – Hospital Medicine
Fall 2027 (Semester credits: 8)
NURS 7482 – Professional Issues for the NP
NURS 7846 – PNP Practicum II (240 direct clinical care hours)
NURS 7912 – Doctor of Nursing Project Implementation
Spring 2028 (Semester credits: 9)
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 (Semester credits: 10)
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 (Semester credits: 12)
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 (Semester credits: 8)
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 (Semester credits: 9)
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 (Semester credits: 11)
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 (Semester credits: 12)
NURS 7911 – Doctor of Nursing Project Planning
NURS 7843 – Diagnosis & Management: Care of the Critically Ill Child
NURS 7845 – PNP Practicum I (120 direct clinical hours)
NURS 7466 – Hospital Medicine
NURS 7842 – Diagnosis & Management: Chronic & Complex Care of the Child
Fall 2027 (Semester credits: 8)
NURS 7482 – Professional Issues for the NP
NURS 7846 – PNP Practicum II (240 direct clinical hours)
NURS 7912 – Doctor of Nursing Project Implementation
Spring 2028 (Semester credits: 11)
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
Summer 2028 (Semester credits: 5)
NURS 7948 - PNP Practicum Immersion II (300 direct clinical care hours)
Program Total Credits: 86
View the University of Utah Catalog.
Fall – Year 1 (Semester credits: 9)
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 (Semester credits: 9)
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 (Semester credits: 10)
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 (Semester credits: 3)
NURS 7946 – PNP Practicum II
Spring – Year 2 (Semester credits: 5)
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.
Total cost estimate for the Acute Care Pediatric Nurse Practitioner program:
- Resident: $62,700
- Non-resident: $124,900
- Western Regional Graduate Program: $76,400
This cost estimate covers only tuition and mandatory student fees. Possible program and course fees are not included. Other expenses, such as book, supplies, and travel, are not reflected. Amounts are rounded to the nearest $100 and are based on the 2025-2026 College of Nursing tuition table provided by the Bursar and use the 2025 Program of Study for this specialty track. Possible tuition increases or changes to a student's program of study are not reflected. Tuition and fees are subject to change at any time. The University of Utah only charges resident rates during summer semesters.
Students are encouraged to use the University's Tuition Estimator tool below to get a more specific tuition estimate for each semester. Possible program and course fees are not included. Other expenses, such as books, supplies, and travel are also not reflected. The Cost of Attendance is an estimate of school-related expenses a student can expect for the academic year or semester of enrollment, and general Tuition Schedules are maintained by the University's Bursar's office. The University of Utah maintains comprehensive cost of attendance information in accordance with the Higher Education Act of 1965, section 472.
For additional questions, please reach out to Heather Clarkson at Heather.Clarkson@nurs.utah.edu.
Total cost estimate for the Dual Acute Care/Primary Care Pediatric Nurse Practitioner program:
- Resident: $71,800
- Non-resident: $137,200
- Western Regional Graduate Program: $84,100
This cost estimate covers only tuition and mandatory student fees. Possible program and course fees are not included. Other expenses, such as book, supplies, and travel, are not reflected. Amounts are rounded to the nearest $100 and are based on the 2025-2026 College of Nursing tuition table provided by the Bursar and use the 2025 Program of Study for this specialty track. Possible tuition increases or changes to a student's program of study are not reflected. Tuition and fees are subject to change at any time. The University of Utah only charges resident rates during summer semesters.
Students are encouraged to use the University's Tuition Estimator tool below to get a more specific tuition estimate for each semester. Possible program and course fees are not included. Other expenses, such as books, supplies, and travel are also not reflected. The Cost of Attendance is an estimate of school-related expenses a student can expect for the academic year or semester of enrollment, and general Tuition Schedules are maintained by the University's Bursar's office. The University of Utah maintains comprehensive cost of attendance information in accordance with the Higher Education Act of 1965, section 472.
For additional questions, please reach out to Heather Clarkson at Heather.Clarkson@nurs.utah.edu.