Acute Care Nurse Practitioner Jobs in Illinois

Acute Care Nurse Practitioner jobs in Illinois represent one of the most active advanced practice markets in the Midwest, with sustained demand from major health systems, academic medical centers, and specialized inpatient programs at every level from new graduate to seasoned senior clinician. Chicago, Peoria, and Springfield anchor most of the hiring, where employers like Northwestern Medicine, Rush University Medical Center, and OSF HealthCare maintain consistent acute care NP needs. The most in-demand specialties are critical care, cardiovascular, and hospital medicine. Find a role that fits below and apply directly.

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Overview

Open roles18
Top employerNorthwestern Medicine
Top cityChicago, IL
Cities hiring7
Work type100% Hybrid
Top credentialBLS Certification

Showing 5 of 18+ Acute Care Nurse Practitioner jobs

Acute Care Nurse Practitioner or Physician Assistant - General Cardiology and Advanced Heart Failure, Full-time, Days
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Added 3d ago
Acute Care Nurse Practitioner or Physician Assistant - General Cardiology and Advanced Heart Failure, Full-time, Days
Northwestern Medicine
Chicago, Illinois
Allied Health
Clinical Support
Healthcare Administration
$61 - $79.67/hr
BLS Certification
10,000+

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Physician Assistant or Acute Care Nurse Practitioner (with RNFA) - Otolaryngology Endocrine Surgery, Full-time, Days
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Added 4d ago
Physician Assistant or Acute Care Nurse Practitioner (with RNFA) - Otolaryngology Endocrine Surgery, Full-time, Days
Northwestern Medicine
Winfield, Illinois
Healthcare Administration
Nursing
Patient Services & Wellbeing
$61 - $79.67/hr
Hybrid
BLS Certification
10,000+

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Acute Care Nurse Practitioner - Wound Care, Full-time, Days
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Added 1w ago
Acute Care Nurse Practitioner - Wound Care, Full-time, Days
Northwestern Medicine
DeKalb, Illinois
Healthcare Administration
Patient Services & Wellbeing
Physicians
$61 - $79.67/hr
BLS Certification
10,000+

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Acute Care Nurse Practitioner or Physician Assistant- Hospital Medicine- Christ Medical Center- Nights
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Added 1w ago
Acute Care Nurse Practitioner or Physician Assistant- Hospital Medicine- Christ Medical Center- Nights
Advocate Aurora Health
Oak Lawn, Illinois
Healthcare Administration
Nursing
Patient Services & Wellbeing
$54.9 - $82.35/hr
BLS Certification
10,000+

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Physician Assistant or Acute Care Nurse Practitioner - Cardiac Surgery, Full-time, Days
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Added 2w ago
Physician Assistant or Acute Care Nurse Practitioner - Cardiac Surgery, Full-time, Days
Northwestern Medicine
Chicago, Illinois
Healthcare Administration
Patient Services & Wellbeing
Physicians
$66 - $86.2/hr
BLS Certification
10,000+

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See All 18 Acute Care Nurse Practitioner Jobs in Illinois

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Acute Care Nurse Practitioner Jobs by City in Illinois

Where Illinois roles are concentrated, by current openings.

Chicago
10 jobs
Lake Forest
3 jobs
DeKalb
1 job
Marion
1 job
Huntley
1 job
Oak Lawn
1 job
Winfield
1 job

Acute Care Nurse Practitioner Job Market in Illinois

A snapshot from current Illinois openings, updated as new roles post.

Who's Hiring

  • Northwestern Medicine15
  • Advocate Aurora Health2
  • Deaconess Health System1

What Illinois Employers Look For

The qualifications that appear most often in acute care nurse practitioner jobs across Illinois.

  • Active Illinois Advanced Practice Registered Nurse license with acute care certification
  • Master of Science in Nursing or Doctor of Nursing Practice from an accredited program
  • National board certification as an Acute Care Nurse Practitioner through ANCC or AACN
  • Current Illinois Controlled Substance license for prescriptive authority
  • Minimum two years of clinical experience in an acute, critical, or inpatient care setting
  • Current BLS and ACLS certifications required at time of hire

Acute Care Nurse Practitioner Jobs in Illinois: Frequently Asked Questions

How do you become a acute care nurse practitioner in Illinois?

You become an acute care nurse practitioner in Illinois by completing an accredited Master of Science in Nursing or Doctor of Nursing Practice program with an acute care NP focus, then passing the ANCC or AACN acute care certification exam. After national certification, you apply for an Advanced Practice Registered Nurse license through the Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation and obtain a separate Illinois Controlled Substance license to prescribe.

How much do acute care nurse practitioners make in Illinois?

Acute care nurse practitioners in Illinois earn a median of about $130,680 a year, based on May 2025 Bureau of Labor Statistics wage data, ranging from around $102,440 for the lowest 10% to over $161,470 for the top 10%. Pay rises with experience, specialty, and employer.

Which companies hire acute care nurse practitioners in Illinois?

Employers hiring acute care nurse practitioners in Illinois right now include Northwestern Medicine, Advocate Aurora Health, and Deaconess Health System, based on current listings on Migrate Mate as of October 2026. Illinois's large academic health systems and regional hospital networks drive consistent volume, with positions across inpatient medicine, specialty floors, and intensive care units.

Which Illinois cities have the most acute care nurse practitioner jobs?

The cities with the most acute care nurse practitioner openings in Illinois are Chicago, Lake Forest, and DeKalb. Chicago dominates by sheer volume given its concentration of academic medical centers and large health systems, while Peoria and Springfield generate steady openings through OSF HealthCare and major regional hospital campuses that serve wide downstate catchment areas.

Are there remote acute care nurse practitioner jobs in Illinois?

Yes, but they're rare. Acute care nurse practitioner work is fundamentally hands-on and bedside-focused, so fully remote positions are uncommon. About 100% of acute care nurse practitioner openings tied to Illinois are remote or hybrid as of October 2026, and those roles are typically in telehealth triage, care coordination, or utilization management rather than direct inpatient care.

How can I get hired as a acute care nurse practitioner in Illinois with little or no experience?

The most realistic entry path is applying directly to new-graduate NP residency or fellowship programs, which Northwestern Medicine, Rush University Medical Center, and the University of Illinois Health system run specifically for newly licensed advanced practice nurses. These structured programs provide supervised acute care rotations and are designed for candidates without independent NP experience. Having your Illinois APRN license, national acute care certification, and strong inpatient RN experience in a step-down or ICU setting gives candidates a clear competitive edge.

Where can I find and apply to acute care nurse practitioner jobs in Illinois?

You can find and apply to acute care nurse practitioner jobs in Illinois on Migrate Mate, which lists current Illinois openings from employers actively hiring right now. Find roles that fit your experience and specialty, then apply directly to the ones that match.

See All 18 Acute Care Nurse Practitioner Jobs in Illinois

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