Jesse Michael Kay, MSN, MA, APRN, CPNP-AC, HEC-C
- Critical Care
Pediatric Nurse Practitioner
Research Lead
Assistant Professor of Pediatrics, Department of Pediatrics, Division of Pediatric Palliative Care, Baylor College of Medicine
Languages: English
Departments:
Office location:
17600 Interstate 45 South
The Woodlands, TX 77384
Get to know Jesse Michael Kay, MSN, MA, APRN, CPNP-AC, HEC-C
Personal Statement
I am a Certified Acute Care Pediatric Nurse Practitioner with greater than 12 years of experience in pediatric intensive care at university medical centers now serving in pediatric palliative care. Currently, I practice in pediatric palliative care and critical care as a Nurse Practitioner at Texas Children’s Hospital, I’m an Assistant Professor of Pediatrics at Baylor College of Medicine, and I am a VitalTalk faculty member and course facilitator and active in clinical ethics as a certified healthcare ethics consultant (HEC-C) at Texas Children’s Hospital. My mission is to continue to employ compassion, honesty, integrity, ethics, human relations, and excellence in pediatrics and clinical ethics.
I am most passionate about helping seriously ill children and their families navigate symptom control and difficult life circumstances. It is an honor to develop relationships with patients and their families that honor and respect their hopes for their lives.
Clinical Interests
Critical Care Medicine, Clinical Ethics, Nursing Ethics, Nurse Practitioner Ethics, Bioethics
Education
| School | Education | Degree | Year |
|---|---|---|---|
| Trinity International University | Masters | Master of Arts in Bioethics | 2025 |
| Trinity International University | Certification | Certificate in Hippocratic Healthcare Ethics | 2025 |
| Duke University | Masters | Master of Science in Nursing - Pediatric Acute Care | 2019 |
| California Baptist University | Bachelors | Bachelor of Science in Nursing | 2014 |
Organizations
| Organization Name | Role |
|---|---|
| American Association of Nurse Practitioners | Member |
| American Society for Bioethics & Humanities | Member |
| Center for Bioethics & Human Dignity | Member |
| Christian Medical & Dental Association | Lifetime Member |
Board Certifications
| Title |
|---|
| Pediatric Nursing Certification Board (PNCB) - Certified Pediatric Nurse Practitioner - Acute Care (CPNP-AC) |
| American Association of Critical Care Nurses - Certified Pediatric Critical Care Registered Nurse |
| Healthcare Ethics Consultant Certified, HEC-C |
Honors and awards
- 2025
-
American Academy of Pediatrics Advanced Practice Provider Travel Award for Best Abstract
- 2024
-
Power of Professionalism
* Texas Children’s Hospital physicians’ licenses and credentials are reviewed prior to practicing at any of our facilities. Sections titled From the Doctor, Professional Organizations and Publications were provided by the physician’s office and were not verified by Texas Children’s Hospital.
Research interests
Pediatric palliative care, pediatric critical care, clinical ethics
Kay JM. Human Flourishing and Christian Hippocratism: A Philosophical and Theological Approach to Healthcare and the Good of the Patient. The New Bioethics, 2026;32(1):14–38. doi:10.1080/20502877.2025.2610886.
Kay JM. The Nurse Practitioner’s Oath: A Christian Hippocratic Framework for Nurse Practitioners. Ethics & Medicine, 2026;40(1–2): Early Access. https://www.ethicsandmedicine.com/the-nurse-practitioners-oath-a-christian-hippocratic-framework-for-nurse-practitioners
Kay JM. Nurse Ethicists. American Journal of Nursing, 2026;126(3):16. doi:10.1097/AJN.0000000000000255
Kay JM. The nurse practitioner ethicist: Distinct from a nurse ethicist? Nursing Ethics, 2025;32(8):2629-2638. doi:10.1177/09697330251350386