Pediatric Nurse Practitioner Acute Care Practicum

This course focuses on comprehensive care management including the assessment, diagnosis, and evidence-based management of the entire spectrum of pediatric patients with complex acute and critical illnesses in acute care settings. Students apply critical thinking and clinical decision-making competencies and synthesize knowledge to develop and evaluate management plans for children with complex acute care health problems. Students combine advanced practice skills in health assessment, diagnosis, and evidence-based clinical decision making to develop treatment plans for pediatric patients with complex health care problems. In addition, students participate in the identification and management of emerging health crises and organ dysfunction for children who are physiologically unstable, technologically dependent, and/or highly vulnerable to complications. Students become a member of the interprofessional team in the care management of pediatric patients with medically complex health care problems. This course also emphasizes the leadership roles of the acute care pediatric nurse practitioners in the provision care for acutely ill pediatric patients. Students who have completed their clinical hours and all acute care coursework and are taking this course for the final time will complete a comprehensive exam at the end of this course in order to be eligible for graduation.