Entry Level Acute Care Nurse Practitioner Jobs
New grad acute care nurse practitioner jobs welcome recent graduates and entry level candidates with zero to two years of experience, where strong clinical rotations or internship work often carries more weight than a lengthy resume. Most openings are on-site roles across Healthcare & Medical Services, Education, and Science & Research, with employers like Houston Methodist, UTHealth Houston, and Northwell Health hiring at this level now.
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At Houston Methodist, the Nurse Practitioner Acute Care (NP-AC) is responsible for functioning as a licensed registered nurse and care provider to provide all aspects of patient care, including diagnosis, treatment and consultation while maintaining and promoting the health of the patient. This position may work in both inpatient and outpatient situations and performs according to the nurse practice act of the State of Texas and as part of a treatment team. The NP-AC position role models compassionate communication with patients, physicians and the interprofessional health care team and provides education to patients about preventative care and prescribed treatments. This position may also conduct physicals, order tests and serve as a patient's healthcare provider, prescribing medications as appropriate. The NP-AC position affects direct patient care according to the Houston Methodist Professional Practice Model Nursing Practice and Professional Performance policies and procedures.
FLSA STATUS
Exempt
QUALIFICATIONS
Education
Master’s degree or higher from an accredited school of Nursing and graduate from an accredited Nurse Practitioners program
Experience
Two years of registered nurse, advanced practice or nurse practitioner clinical experience
LICENSES AND CERTIFICATIONS
Required
- RN - Registered Nurse - Texas State Licensure - Texas Board of Nursing_PSV Compact Licensure – Must obtain permanent Texas license within 60 days (if establishing Texas residency)
- APRN Acute Care state license
- Magnet ANCC-recognized Acute-Care practitioner certification
- BLS - Basic Life Support or Instructor (AHA) - American Heart Association
- ACLS - Advanced Cardiac Life Support or Instructor (AHA) - American Heart Association
- AP - Prescriptive Authority - Texas Board of Nursing - Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation_PSV
- DEA - Narcotics License (DEA) - Drug Enforcement Administration_PSV within 6 months
KNOWLEDGE AND ABILITIES
Demonstrates the skills and competencies necessary to safely perform the assigned job, determined through ongoing skills, competency assessments, and performance evaluations
- Sufficient proficiency in speaking, reading, and writing the English language necessary to perform the essential functions of this job, especially with regard to activities impacting patient or employee safety or security
- Ability to effectively communicate with patients, physicians, family members and co-workers in a manner consistent with a customer service focus and application of positive language principles
- Demonstrates highly developed assessment, clinical, documentation, leadership, and analytical skills
- Uses therapeutic communication to establish a relationship with patients, families and interprofessional team to collaborate on the plan of care
- Strong organizational and problem-solving skill as evidenced by capacity to prioritize multiple tasks and role components
- Ability to function independently and exercise judgment in interactions with physicians, interprofessional care team and patients and their families
- Demonstrates proficient time management skills
- Uses critical thinking skills and clinical judgment to work autonomously as defined by the Nurse Practice Act
ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS
PEOPLE ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS
Demonstrates leadership as a clinical resource, interprofessional consultant, and patient advocate. Identifies staff development opportunities for professional growth of colleagues, provides coaching to meet identified goals.
- Communicates organizational information and aspects of administrative and clinical practice in a respectful and positive manner when interacting with staff. Advocates for a balanced workload, promotes positive behaviors, and peer-to-peer accountability. Facilitates the promotion of teamwork.
- Collaborates with the interprofessional healthcare team members to manage/coordinate patient care. Advocates on patient/family’s behalf to identify and resolve clinical and ethical concerns.
- Collaborates to foster healthy relationships in the work environment. Acts as a role model and coaches staff in effective verbal, non-verbal and written communication. Serves as preceptor for Nurse Practitioner students and medical resident(s), as applicable. Uses peer-to-peer accountability towards improvement of department score for employee engagement.
SERVICE ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS
Coordinates appropriate, timely patient care under physician supervision, for a defined patient population(s), focusing on identified expected unit/optimal outcomes, individualized to the patient.
- Prioritizes care based on the patient’s needs, abilities, and preferences.
- Coordinates patient care between healthcare providers. Attends and participates in interprofessional rounds, as appropriate.
- Helps drive improvement of department score for patient satisfaction, through peer-to-peer accountability to service standards.
QUALITY/SAFETY ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS
Functions as a quality care provider, coordinating, maintaining, and promoting the health of the patient. Assists the interprofessional healthcare team in the development and implementation of protocols to ensure patient safety. Affects direct patient care according to the Nurse Practice Act of the State of Texas and the Houston Methodist Professional Practice Model Nursing Practice and Professional Performance.
- Conducts health assessments (initial, ongoing, discharge, as appropriate). Identifies normal/abnormal health characteristics, develops plan of care, initiates appropriate interventions, and evaluates care outcomes on defined patient populations(s).
- Performs invasive, diagnostic, or therapeutic procedures necessary for defined patient population(s) based on licensure and credentialed privileges.
- Provides safe and effective care by leading and initiating outcome, quality, and safety improvement activities in alignment with organizational goals. Integrates and contributes to professional practice standards, policies, procedures, protocols and leads improvements in patient safety-related processes.
FINANCE ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS
Implements department strategies to achieve financial targets and mentors others to do the same through timely documentation of care, decreasing length of stay, optimizing efficiency, and other areas according to departmental specifications.
- Projects awareness and understanding of resource allocation based on patient needs and staff experience, knowledge, and skills.
GROWTH/INNOVATION ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS
Promotes quality health care through integration of current research into practice and participation in research/evidence-based activities. Identifies opportunities for practice changes and performance improvement.
- Provides education of information/knowledge in professional activities such as research, presentations, and publications. Expands individual nursing knowledge and coaches staff to grow in knowledge, abilities, skills, and attitudes. Serves as clinical resource. Ensures own career discussions occur with appropriate management. Completes and updates the My Development Plan on an ongoing basis.
SUPPLEMENTAL REQUIREMENTS
WORK ATTIRE
- Uniform: No
- Scrubs: Yes
- Business professional: Yes
- Other (department approved): Yes
ON-CALL
- Note that employees may be required to be on-call during emergencies (ie. Disaster, Severe Weather Events, etc) regardless of selection below.
- On Call Yes
TRAVEL
Travel specifications may vary by department
- May require travel within the Houston Metropolitan area Yes
- May require travel outside Houston Metropolitan area No
Company Profile:
Houston Methodist West Hospital is committed to leading medicine in West Houston, Katy and surrounding communities by delivering the Houston Methodist standard of exceptional safety, quality, service and innovation. The growing campus offers access to the most innovative medical and surgical care available, including cardiology and cardiovascular surgery; neurology and neurosurgery; comprehensive cancer care; orthopedics and sports medicine; gastroenterology; bariatrics; childbirth center with level III NICU; emergency care; and advanced imaging.
Houston Methodist is an Equal Opportunity Employer.
At Houston Methodist, the Nurse Practitioner Acute Care (NP-AC) is responsible for functioning as a licensed registered nurse and care provider to provide all aspects of patient care, including diagnosis, treatment and consultation while maintaining and promoting the health of the patient. This position may work in both inpatient and outpatient situations and performs according to the nurse practice act of the State of Texas and as part of a treatment team. The NP-AC position role models compassionate communication with patients, physicians and the interprofessional health care team and provides education to patients about preventative care and prescribed treatments. This position may also conduct physicals, order tests and serve as a patient's healthcare provider, prescribing medications as appropriate. The NP-AC position affects direct patient care according to the Houston Methodist Professional Practice Model Nursing Practice and Professional Performance policies and procedures.
FLSA STATUS
Exempt
QUALIFICATIONS
Education
Master’s degree or higher from an accredited school of Nursing and graduate from an accredited Nurse Practitioners program
Experience
Two years of registered nurse, advanced practice or nurse practitioner clinical experience
LICENSES AND CERTIFICATIONS
Required
- RN - Registered Nurse - Texas State Licensure - Texas Board of Nursing_PSV Compact Licensure – Must obtain permanent Texas license within 60 days (if establishing Texas residency)
- APRN Acute Care state license
- Magnet ANCC-recognized Acute-Care practitioner certification
- BLS - Basic Life Support or Instructor (AHA) - American Heart Association
- ACLS - Advanced Cardiac Life Support or Instructor (AHA) - American Heart Association
- AP - Prescriptive Authority - Texas Board of Nursing - Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation_PSV
- DEA - Narcotics License (DEA) - Drug Enforcement Administration_PSV within 6 months
KNOWLEDGE AND ABILITIES
Demonstrates the skills and competencies necessary to safely perform the assigned job, determined through ongoing skills, competency assessments, and performance evaluations
- Sufficient proficiency in speaking, reading, and writing the English language necessary to perform the essential functions of this job, especially with regard to activities impacting patient or employee safety or security
- Ability to effectively communicate with patients, physicians, family members and co-workers in a manner consistent with a customer service focus and application of positive language principles
- Demonstrates highly developed assessment, clinical, documentation, leadership, and analytical skills
- Uses therapeutic communication to establish a relationship with patients, families and interprofessional team to collaborate on the plan of care
- Strong organizational and problem-solving skill as evidenced by capacity to prioritize multiple tasks and role components
- Ability to function independently and exercise judgment in interactions with physicians, interprofessional care team and patients and their families
- Demonstrates proficient time management skills
- Uses critical thinking skills and clinical judgment to work autonomously as defined by the Nurse Practice Act
ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS
PEOPLE ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS
Demonstrates leadership as a clinical resource, interprofessional consultant, and patient advocate. Identifies staff development opportunities for professional growth of colleagues, provides coaching to meet identified goals.
- Communicates organizational information and aspects of administrative and clinical practice in a respectful and positive manner when interacting with staff. Advocates for a balanced workload, promotes positive behaviors, and peer-to-peer accountability. Facilitates the promotion of teamwork.
- Collaborates with the interprofessional healthcare team members to manage/coordinate patient care. Advocates on patient/family’s behalf to identify and resolve clinical and ethical concerns.
- Collaborates to foster healthy relationships in the work environment. Acts as a role model and coaches staff in effective verbal, non-verbal and written communication. Serves as preceptor for Nurse Practitioner students and medical resident(s), as applicable. Uses peer-to-peer accountability towards improvement of department score for employee engagement.
SERVICE ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS
Coordinates appropriate, timely patient care under physician supervision, for a defined patient population(s), focusing on identified expected unit/optimal outcomes, individualized to the patient.
- Prioritizes care based on the patient’s needs, abilities, and preferences.
- Coordinates patient care between healthcare providers. Attends and participates in interprofessional rounds, as appropriate.
- Helps drive improvement of department score for patient satisfaction, through peer-to-peer accountability to service standards.
QUALITY/SAFETY ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS
Functions as a quality care provider, coordinating, maintaining, and promoting the health of the patient. Assists the interprofessional healthcare team in the development and implementation of protocols to ensure patient safety. Affects direct patient care according to the Nurse Practice Act of the State of Texas and the Houston Methodist Professional Practice Model Nursing Practice and Professional Performance.
- Conducts health assessments (initial, ongoing, discharge, as appropriate). Identifies normal/abnormal health characteristics, develops plan of care, initiates appropriate interventions, and evaluates care outcomes on defined patient populations(s).
- Performs invasive, diagnostic, or therapeutic procedures necessary for defined patient population(s) based on licensure and credentialed privileges.
- Provides safe and effective care by leading and initiating outcome, quality, and safety improvement activities in alignment with organizational goals. Integrates and contributes to professional practice standards, policies, procedures, protocols and leads improvements in patient safety-related processes.
FINANCE ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS
Implements department strategies to achieve financial targets and mentors others to do the same through timely documentation of care, decreasing length of stay, optimizing efficiency, and other areas according to departmental specifications.
- Projects awareness and understanding of resource allocation based on patient needs and staff experience, knowledge, and skills.
GROWTH/INNOVATION ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS
Promotes quality health care through integration of current research into practice and participation in research/evidence-based activities. Identifies opportunities for practice changes and performance improvement.
- Provides education of information/knowledge in professional activities such as research, presentations, and publications. Expands individual nursing knowledge and coaches staff to grow in knowledge, abilities, skills, and attitudes. Serves as clinical resource. Ensures own career discussions occur with appropriate management. Completes and updates the My Development Plan on an ongoing basis.
SUPPLEMENTAL REQUIREMENTS
WORK ATTIRE
- Uniform: No
- Scrubs: Yes
- Business professional: Yes
- Other (department approved): Yes
ON-CALL
- Note that employees may be required to be on-call during emergencies (ie. Disaster, Severe Weather Events, etc) regardless of selection below.
- On Call Yes
TRAVEL
Travel specifications may vary by department
- May require travel within the Houston Metropolitan area Yes
- May require travel outside Houston Metropolitan area No
Company Profile:
Houston Methodist West Hospital is committed to leading medicine in West Houston, Katy and surrounding communities by delivering the Houston Methodist standard of exceptional safety, quality, service and innovation. The growing campus offers access to the most innovative medical and surgical care available, including cardiology and cardiovascular surgery; neurology and neurosurgery; comprehensive cancer care; orthopedics and sports medicine; gastroenterology; bariatrics; childbirth center with level III NICU; emergency care; and advanced imaging.
Houston Methodist is an Equal Opportunity Employer.
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Entry Level Acute Care Nurse Practitioner Jobs: Frequently Asked Questions
How do I get an entry level acute care nurse practitioner job?
Employers hiring at the entry level look for candidates who completed acute care-focused clinical rotations, hold a current ACNPC-AG or ACNPC certification, and can demonstrate competency in managing medically complex patients. Highlighting preceptorship hours in ICU, step-down, or emergency settings gives your application a concrete edge. A targeted cover letter that addresses the patient population and acuity level of the specific unit strengthens every application at this stage.
Which companies hire entry level acute care nurse practitioners?
Companies hiring entry level acute care nurse practitioners right now include Houston Methodist, UTHealth Houston, and Northwell Health, based on current listings on Migrate Mate as of September 2026. Health systems, academic medical centers, and specialty hospital groups tend to be the most active employers at this level, since many run structured residency or fellowship programs designed specifically for new graduates entering acute care practice.
Are there remote entry level acute care nurse practitioner jobs?
Yes, though the majority of acute care nurse practitioner roles require on-site patient contact by nature. About 5% of entry level acute care nurse practitioner openings are remote or hybrid as of September 2026, and those positions typically involve telehealth triage, remote patient monitoring, or care coordination functions rather than direct bedside care.
Are these new grad acute care nurse practitioner jobs?
Yes, these listings include new grad, recent graduate, and junior acute care nurse practitioner roles. A posting is generally new-grad friendly when it welcomes zero to two years of experience, counts supervised clinical or preceptorship hours toward the requirement, or explicitly invites candidates who completed an acute care NP residency or fellowship. Searching for those signals in the job description helps you identify the right fit.
Which industries hire the most entry level acute care nurse practitioners?
Entry Level acute care nurse practitioner roles concentrate in Healthcare & Medical Services, Education, and Science & Research, based on current listings on Migrate Mate as of September 2026. Those sectors drive hiring at this level because they operate high-acuity inpatient units, trauma services, and specialty care programs that depend on advanced practice providers to manage patient volume alongside attending physicians.