What does an Acute Care Nurse do?
An Acute Care Nurse cares for people who have urgent medical needs or require close monitoring, such as those recovering from surgery or injuries or experiencing severe complications from chronic conditions, such as diabetes or heart disease. By administering treatments and lifesaving care, they may help lower mortality rates in your facility. Acute Care Nurses stabilize patients, allowing them to transition to step-down care units in hospitals to support bed turnover, so your facility can continue to admit patients with serious injuries, conditions and illnesses.
Acute Care Nurse skills and qualifications
Individuals should have certain skills to excel in Acute Care Nurse careers. As you review resumes and conduct interviews, look for the following qualifications that set quality candidates apart:
- Proficiency in the operation of equipment such as EKG machines and life support systems
- High-level knowledge of anatomy, biology and medicine
- Oral and written communication skills to collaborate with the rest of the care team and create progress reports
- Critical thinking and problem-solving skills to make quick diagnoses and determine the appropriate interventions needed to address problems
- Multitasking ability to care for multiple patients with complex needs at one time
- Observational skills to monitor the status of patients and spot changes quickly
- Ability to move and steady patients independently or with help from other members of the care team
- Fine motor skills and coordination to administer IVs and other treatments
Acute Care Nurse experience requirements
Acute Care Nurse candidates will usually need two to five years of experience working as a Registered Nurse (RN). You may wish to prioritize candidates with previous work experience that relates specifically to acute care or who care for a similar population of patients. For example, an RN who worked in the pediatrics department of a surgical hospital may be better suited to work as an Acute Care Nurse in a children’s hospital than an RN whose background is in the care of elderly adults.
Acute Care Nurse education and training requirements
To become an Acute Care Nurse, a candidate must hold a valid RN license in your state. Generally, prospective RNs must complete an associate or bachelor’s degree program and pass an exam to receive a license. Generally, prospective Acute Care Nurses must also gain certification from the American Association of Critical-Care Nurses (AACN) by meeting experience requirements and taking a test. Candidates who hold a master’s degree, post-graduate certificate or doctoral degree in acute care nursing or critical care nursing have received additional education that may help them deliver a higher level of patient care.
Job description samples for similar positions
If the duties and responsibilities outlined above don’t fully meet the requirements of your facility, check out the following related job descriptions:
Acute Care Nurse job description FAQs
What are the different types of Acute Care Nurses?
The AACN recognizes three primary types of Acute Care Nurses:
- Adult: Nurses who provide care for adults aged 18 and over
- Pediatric: These Nurses care for infants over 3 months of age and children and teens up to 18 years of age
- Neonatal: Nurses who care for babies from birth through 3 months of age
Some hospitals hire Acute Care Nurses to assist with the development of policies and procedures, conduct research or serve as advisors to care teams rather than to deliver direct patient care. The AACN offers Acute/Critical Care Knowledge Professional (CCRN-K) certification for these individuals.
What is the difference between an Acute Care Nurse and a Telemetry Nurse?
Both Acute Care and Telemetry Nurses care for patients who need close supervision, but the roles aren’t interchangeable. Acute Care Nurses usually work in critical care or surgical departments and care for patients who need to be stabilized or are at risk of becoming unstable very quickly. Telemetry Nurses work in step-down units, caring for patients who need to be monitored via EKG but are less likely to suffer medical emergencies.
What qualities make a good Acute Care Nurse?
Patience and a caring personality are key traits for an Acute Care Nurse. Because medical science is constantly evolving, Acute Care Nurses need to be receptive to change and eager to continue learning throughout their careers. In addition, Nurses working in the specialty must be able to perform under pressure and thrive in a fast-paced work environment.
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