What is acute care nursing? An acute care nurse works with patients across the lifespan who have severe and life-threatening acute conditions, including injuries and illnesses. For example, an acute care RN may care for patients with trauma from a car accident or with severe infections.
An acute care nurse works with patients who have short-term, often serious medical conditions. Acute care registered nurses (RNs) may treat patients with acute injuries, including fractures, or acute illnesses, such as COVID-19. If you thrive in a fast-paced setting, then acute care nursing specialties might be right for you.
If you are looking to start a second career as an RN, an accelerated nursing program can set you on the path. Concordia University Texas’s Accelerated Bachelor of Science in Nursing (ABSN) track is designed for career switchers and transfer students, enabling them to graduate with a Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) in as few as 16 months after completing prerequisites.
Before embarking on a career in acute care nursing, get the answers to common questions, such as “What is acute care?” and “What do acute care nurses do?” Then, examine the career requirements and the pathway to becoming an acute care RN.
What Is Acute Care Nursing?
Acute care nursing involves the assessment, stabilization, and treatment of patients across the lifespan with acute conditions. These acute conditions can vary considerably and may include serious trauma or neurologic, psychiatric, cardiac, respiratory, gastrointestinal, or gynecological conditions.
Acute and critical care are often conflated, yet there are significant differences between them. Acute care RNs focus on stabilizing patients, and then either discharge or transfer them to an appropriate unit for ongoing care. They care for patients with life-threatening conditions, such as heart attacks, as well as those with serious but non-life-threatening conditions, such as compound fractures.
In contrast, critical care nurses focus on patients who have severe, life-threatening conditions, ranging from sepsis and organ failure to surgical complications. Critical care nurses care for patients who have already been stabilized but remain fragile, providing around-the-clock monitoring and nursing care, often with life-support equipment.
What Is an Acute Care Nurse? Role and Responsibilities
An acute care RN handles a wide range of patient care tasks, including the following:
- Administering medications, including IV medications
- Applying wound dressings
- Inserting catheters and central lines
- Monitoring vital signs
- Performing life-saving interventions, such as cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) and airway management
Acute care nurses also deliver patient and family caregiver education. They serve as patient advocates and collaborate with other team members to ensure their patients receive the care they need.
Learn more about the roles of a registered nurse.
Where Do Acute Care Nurses Work?
An acute care RN can work in a variety of settings, including urgent care centers, hospitals, and emergency departments. They may also work in trauma centers, home health agencies, skilled nursing homes, long-term acute care hospitals, and intensive care units.
Acute Care Nursing Specialties
Within the acute care specialty, there are multiple subspecialties to consider pursuing. You might specialize in a particular patient population, for example, such as pediatrics or adult-gerontology. Other acute care nursing specialties include:
- Cardiac care
- Emergency room
- Medical-surgical nursing
- Operating room/perioperative care
- Trauma nursing
Acute Care Nurse Education Requirements
All acute care nurses need a nursing degree and a nursing license. Future nurses with little to no prior college education can enroll in a traditional BSN program, which is a four-year program. Those with a non-nursing bachelor’s degree or at least 60 college credits may be eligible for Concordia University Texas’s ABSN track, which provides a faster transition to nursing.
If desired, acute care RNs may pursue career advancement with further qualifications. They can obtain professional certifications in their subspecialty and/or pursue graduate-level nursing education.
With a graduate degree and board certification, an acute care RN can become an acute care nurse practitioner (ACNP). ACNPs are advanced practice registered nurses (APRNs) who provide high-level patient care, as well as nursing leadership and mentorship.
How to Become an Acute Care Nurse
If you enjoy the idea of working with high-acuity patients in a fast-paced setting, explore how to become an acute care nurse.
Earn a Nursing Degree
Possible nursing degrees include an Associate Degree in Nursing (ADN) or a BSN. While both qualify you for the licensure exam, a BSN makes you eligible for graduate programs, preparing you for career advancement.
If you have a non-nursing bachelor’s degree or at least 60 college credits, Concordia Texas’s ABSN track allows you to apply your previous education toward a BSN and graduate in as few as 16 months. While the ABSN track facilitates a faster transition to nursing, it still provides a comprehensive nursing education that thoroughly prepares students for a nursing career, including acute care nursing.
You’ll work through:
- Online coursework that teaches nursing theory
- In-person nursing skills and simulation labs that teach you how and when to perform nursing interventions in a simulated setting
- Clinical rotations at nearby healthcare facilities for immersive learning
Pass the NCLEX-RN
After earning a BSN, you can apply to take the NCLEX-RN licensure exam. The exam tests both nursing knowledge and your ability to develop appropriate nursing responses to different clinical situations. After passing the exam, you can obtain your RN license.
Gain Clinical Experience
After becoming a licensed RN, you can apply for your first acute care job. You could work in different clinical settings, such as the emergency room or an urgent care center, to find the right fit for you.
Pursue Specialty Certifications
After gaining clinical experience, you may be eligible to pursue certifications in your nursing specialty. For example, look for certification options in cardiac care, pediatrics, adult-gerontology, or emergency room nursing. Earning a certification can demonstrate your commitment to nursing excellence and may facilitate more job opportunities and higher pay.
Skills Needed for Acute Care Nursing
Acute care RNs must have excellent patient assessment and medical equipment operation skills, as well as the ability to perform life-saving interventions. They rely on skills in medication administration, pain management, trauma care, and emergency response.
Along with skills in patient assessment and stabilization, it’s helpful for an acute care nurse to have the following:
- Adaptability
- Communication skills
- Critical thinking
- Decision-making skills
- Empathy and compassion
- Teamwork
Learn how nurses promote patient safety for better health outcomes.
Acute Care Nurse Salary and Career Outlook
Like other RNs, acute care RNs have high earning potential within a growing field. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), the median annual salary for all types of RNs was $93,600 as of May 2024. Although the BLS does not differentiate between acute care nurses and other RN specialties, the median annual salary may give you an idea of what you can expect.
The BLS also projects that the job growth rate for all types of RNs will be 5% from 2024 through 2034, faster than the average compared to other occupations.
Start Your Path Toward Acute Care Nursing
Whether you intend to become an acute care RN or any other type of nurse, you can get started today at Concordia University Texas. Our values-based nursing program offers ABSN track locations in Austin and Dallas-Fort Worth, with three start dates per year. We support our students’ progress with attentive faculty and Academic Success Coaches, along with a flexible hybrid learning experience.
Contact an admissions counselor today to learn how you can take the first steps toward a nursing career.