Pediatric Acute Care Nurse Practitioner: Clinical I

1 Course Unit

The first of three clinical courses introduces students to the pediatric acute care nurse practitioner role, focusing on foundational competencies in the care of infants and children with acute, critical, complex, and chronic conditions and their families. Emphasizing the integration of scientific knowledge from nursing and related health sciences, student learning focuses on the development of clinical reasoning and diagnostic skills essential for managing pediatric populations across care settings. A strong emphasis is placed on promoting infant growth and development within a family-focused framework. Through guided clinical experiences, self-reflection and evaluation, seminars and simulations, students begin developing advanced assessment, diagnostic reasoning, and clinical judgment. Emphasis is placed on history-taking, physical examination, EMR integration, and effective communication. Faculty and preceptor support facilitates the integration of didactic content into clinical practice, laying the groundwork for increasing autonomy and professional identity as a pediatric acute care nurse practitioner. 1 Course Unit