Job DescriptionShriners Children's Texas is seeking a full-time Acute Care Pediatric Nurse Practitioner to join our growing inpatient and PICU team in Galveston. This provider will deliver critical overnight coverage across all inpatient and PICU service lines, including Burn, Orthopedics, Spine, and Cleft Lip & Palate.
The provider will serve as the primary in-house overnight advanced practice provider, working exclusively from 6:00 p.m. to 7:00 a.m. Responsibilities include managing patient care needs across the hospital during overnight hours, performing urgent assessments, coordinating and completing admissions, responding to changes in patient condition, and supporting nursing staff across all service lines. The NP works collaboratively with multidisciplinary teams to ensure continuity of care and seamless handoffs to daytime providers while practicing with a high degree of autonomy under established clinical protocols. Intensivist physicians are available for consultation and escalation as needed.
The NP will provide care for critically ill pediatric patients in a 15-bed Pediatric Intensive Care Unit (PICU), with a primary focus on high-acuity burn cases. The unit also manages a broad spectrum of complex conditions, including septic shock, cardiogenic shock, respiratory failure, and acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS), as well as select orthopedic populations such as spine patients and those with osteogenesis imperfecta (OI). The PICU receives referrals from throughout the region and internationally, including Mexico and Central America, creating a medically complex and diverse patient population. With an average daily census of 4 to 8 patients, providers benefit from meaningful exposure to high-acuity care while maintaining manageable patient volumes that support quality care and professional development.
This full-time position follows a nights-only schedule, with providers typically working 11 to 12 shifts per month or 33 to 36 shifts per quarter, excluding approved time away. Weekend and holiday coverage is shared as equitably as possible among the team. Scheduling is evaluated on a quarterly basis, providing flexibility for self-scheduling while maintaining a fair and balanced workload across providers.
This is an exceptional opportunity to play a key role in delivering high-quality, specialized pediatric care in a collaborative, mission-driven environment dedicated to improving the lives of children and their families.
Key Responsibilities- Provide continuous overnight clinical management for inpatient and PICU patients across all service lines
- Perform urgent assessments, overnight admissions, and care escalation as needed
- Execute core PICU bedside procedures and wound/dressing care based on privileges
- Assist with sedation when required
- Serve as the primary in-house clinician overnight, utilizing autonomy under protocols
- Support transitions of care through high-quality hand-offs to day teams
- Document overnight events that inform daily multidisciplinary rounds
Required Qualifications- Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) or Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) from an accredited Nurse Practitioner program
- Certified Pediatric Nurse Practitioner - Acute Care (CPNP-AC) or equivalent certification required.
- Current, unrestricted Registered Nurse (RN) and Advanced Practice Registered Nurse (APRN) license in the state of practice
- Prior pediatric inpatient or PICU APRN experience highly preferred. New graduates with a strong PICU/NICU nursing background will be considered
- Experience with burn or surgical patient populations highly preferred
- Must possess eligibility for active DEA
- Must possess Basic Life Support for Healthcare Providers (BLS for HCP) and Pediatric Advanced Life Support (PALS) certification
- Credentialing and privileging by the medical staff in accordance with hospital bylaws
- Ability to work independently overnight with strong communication and critical-thinking skills
- Demonstrated clinical expertise in pediatric assessment and care management.
- Familiarity with pediatric specialty conditions and post-surgical care.
- Strong interpersonal and communication skills for collaboration with families and interdisciplinary teams.
- Commitment to trauma-informed, culturally competent, and family-centered care.
- Competency in EHR systems and clinical documentation standards.
Compensation is determined based on years of relevant experience and departmental equity.