What Do Acute Care Nurses Do

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Adult Gero Acute Care Nurse Practitioner Working In the ICU | Career Assessment Ep 3.1

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One What Is An Acute Care Nurse Practitioner

Acute Care Nurse Practitioners are advanced practice registered nurses that provide care to patients in acute care and/or hospital settings. This type of advanced practice provider is different from a Primary Care Nurse Practitioner.

ACNPs see patients when they are sick, admitted to the hospital, or after a surgical procedure and/or trauma. Their focus is solely on caring for the adult population with complex diseases.

Many nurses have a long-term career goal of becoming a nurse practitioner, but what kind of nurse practitioner to become is a decision every nurse has to make. In this guide, we’ll explain what an ACPNs does, how to become one, and hopefully help you determine if it’s the right career path for you.

Working With Different Types Of Patients In An Acute Medical Ward

Acute medicine nurses are required to work with a wide variety of patients. This may include patients with learning disorders, recovering from strokes or with dementia. For this reason, they must have good communication skills and are patient and sympathetic by nature.

In some situations, they may need to advocate for patients who have difficulty communicating for themselves. Because of the nature of acute nurse jobs and the array of individuals and situations they may encounter, they should also be appropriately trained and skilled to deal with patients who are distressed and uncooperative, including those who may disrupt their own vital treatment or become aggressive.

Acute care nurses frequently work with people who did not expect to find themselves in hospital, so calming feelings of panic and distress to help patients adjust is important. They may also need to work in a similar capacity with family members.

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What Is It Like To Be An Acute Care Nurse

Knowing that your care saved someoneâs life is an incredible feeling. Acute care nurses see the direct impact their nursing has had on a personâs health. They can watch patients progress from being in critical condition to recovering and eventually being discharged.

However, the best cases arenât the only one’s nurses in acute care deal with. They also have many difficult scenarios regularly unfold, which means watching patients theyâve been with for a while suddenly take a turn for the worst. Or they lose patients who arrived t in poor condition, and they are unable to stabilize them before they pass away. Itâs especially hard when your patients are children.

Acute care nursing is fast-paced and physically and mentally demanding. Youâll have to be on your feet for 12 to 14 hours at a time, and the stress of the work can make it difficult to unwind and relax after your shift ends.

Unfortunately, every patient has a happy ending. Taking this personally will impact how you treat others and make it difficult to perform your job. You have to be willing to focus on what you can do in order to stay motivated.

Your Gmercyu Path To Success

âI wanted to be an acute cancer nurse before it even existedâ

If you’re interested in furthering your education to become a nurse at a top school of nursing in Philadelphia, Gwynedd Mercy University’s Frances M. Maguire School of Nursing and Health Professions, can help you acheive your career goals.

Acute Care Certified Pediatric Nurse Practitioner

Acute Care Pediatric Nurse Practitioners can specialize in acute pediatric care. This specialty provides care for pediatric patients of adolescent age and younger with complex, chronic, and even critical care.

CPNP-ACs work in conjunction with other clinicians and medical providers in various settings such as hospitals and clinics.

Some of the conditions that this specialty provides include young patients with: Organ dysfunction or failure

Traumatic injuries
Autoimmune illnesses
Life-threatening illnesses

Due to the nature of the patient population, CPNP-ACs work closely with parents and other family members to provide the highest standard of patient care possible.

Adult-Gerontology Acute Care Nurse Practitioner

Acute Care Adult-Gerontology Nurse Practitioners provide care for adults and geriatric patients who are seriously ill or experiencing other acute patient medical conditions.

Both specialties provide care in acute care units, intensive care units, and trauma units in the hospitals. These specialties also often care for patients before and after surgery.

Acute Care Nurse Practitioner Responsibilities:

Speaking with patients to better understand their concerns, needs, conditions, and medical histories.
Admitting, discharging, and doing scheduled rounds to check on patients.
Performing examinations, ordering and interpreting diagnostic tests, and going over results with patients or the physician, if necessary.
Establishing care or condition management plans, including prescribing medications or other treatments.
Educating the patient and family members about medical conditions and courses of action.
Keeping records regarding patient history, condition, treatments, and progress.
Alerting physicians when conditions worsen or if abnormalities arise.
Participating in the on-call program, which may include working nights, holidays, and weekends.

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Adult Gerontology Acute Care Nurse Practitioner

The patient population of the adult gerontology acute care nurse practitioner includes young adults , adults, and older adults. AGACNP disciplines include cardiology, pulmonary, neurology, hematology/oncology, ENT, surgery services, palliative care, and pain management.New practice areas for AGACNPs are hospitalists and surgical first assistants, which is reflective of the diverse practice opportunities available to meet the needs of acutely ill patients. As of 2004, slightly more than 50% of AGACNPs practiced in hospital settings. This trend is projected to continue as the role of the ACNP continues to change and evolve.

How Much Do Acute Care Nurses Make

Acute Care Nurse Practitioner | What Do You Do?

Since nurses providing acute care may have different levels of education and work in multiple settings, there is no simple answer to the question of salary. Nevertheless, the following salaries will help nurses find the average salary that most closely fits their level of education and potential job location.

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Acute Care Nurse Practitioner Salary & Employment

The average salary of an acute care nurse practitioner is currently around $101,342 annually, according to PayScale. Salaries can range from approximately $86,000 to $125,000 per year. Exact salary figures will depend on city/state of residence, amount of experience, certifications/credentials held, and place of employment, among other factors. According to the latest data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics, thetop-paying states for nurse practitioners, in general, are:

Acute Care Nurse Practitioner Job Description

Acute care nurse practitioners examine, diagnose, and treat patients with serious illnesses or injuries. They assess patient conditions, educate patients and family members about medical options, prescribe medications and treatments, and perform other duties to support patients.

Completely free trial, no card required.
Reach over 250 million candidates.

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Acute Care Nurse At A Glance

Where youll work: Medical-surgical, cardiology, pediatric and other units in hospitals.

What youll do: Provide care to patients that have brief but severe medical needs, such as a sudden illness or recovering from a major surgery or injury.

Minimum degree required: ASN or BSN, though many employers prefer or require nurses to have a BSN or higher.

Who its a good fit for: Acute care can be unpredictable, which makes this job anything but routine. Acute care nurses should be flexible and be able to stay calm under pressure.

Job perks: Acute care can encompass many different specialties so there is plenty of variety and options to mold your career to your particular interests.

Opportunities if you pursue a higher degree or certification: Acute care nurses who choose to specialize or pursue their APRN license may have more job opportunities available to them and the chance to earn a higher salary.

Median annual salary: $77,600

An acute care nurse is highly trained and experienced in caring for patients with immediate and serious medical needs arising from a range of situations, including sudden illness, recovery from surgery, injuries, and the management of complex medical conditions.

In this Article

As an APRN, nurses can take on leadership roles as a clinical nurse specialist or provide primary care as a nurse practitioner .

Why Are Acute Care Nurse Practitioners Important

Acute care nurse practitioners provide essential urgent and critical care that significantly impacts the lives of their patients.

Many critically ill or injured patients require specialized care that ACNPs are specifically trained to provide. ACNPs also work alongside physicians, nurses, and other ancillary medical staff to provide immediate and ongoing assistance to patients.

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Does Acute Mean Severe

Acute conditions are severe and sudden in onset. This could describe anything from a broken bone to an asthma attack. A chronic condition, by contrast is a long-developing syndrome, such as osteoporosis or asthma. Note that osteoporosis, a chronic condition, may cause a broken bone, an acute condition.

Are You Suited To Be An Acute Care Nurse Practitioner

Acute care nurse practitioners have distinct personalities. They tend to be investigative individuals, which means theyâre intellectual, introspective, and inquisitive. They are curious, methodical, rational, analytical, and logical. Some of them are also social, meaning theyâre kind, generous, cooperative, patient, caring, helpful, empathetic, tactful, and friendly.

Does this sound like you? Take our free career test to find out if acute care nurse practitioner is one of your top career matches.

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Acute Care Pediatric Nurse Practitioner

The acute care pediatric nurse practitioner cares for infants, children, and adolescents from birth to 21 years of age. It is the nurse’s responsibility to incorporate the patient’s age, developmental level, and family into all aspects of care, assessment, diagnosis, and management. The role of the ACPNP is to manage patients who are acutely ill or experiencing exacerbations of chronic conditions. ACPNPs may work outside of a hospital setting where acutely ill pediatric patients are cared for, such as HIV clinics, facilities for pediatric patients that are mechanically ventilated, transport services, and home.

Urgent Care Nurse Job Description Template

Adult Gero Acute Care Nurse Practitioner Working In the ICU | Career Assessment Ep 3.2

We are looking for a dedicated urgent care nurse to monitor the condition of patients in our urgent care facility. In this role, you will be assessing patients’ medical conditions, evaluating changes in vital signs and other measurements, as well as administering treatments.

To ensure success, urgent care nurses should exhibit experience in monitoring patients in urgent care facilities with similar specializations and the ability to work under pressure. An accomplished urgent care nurse will be someone whose clinical expertise translates into high-quality patient care.

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What Do Agacnps Do

AGACNPs monitor complex injuries and illnesses and design treatment plans, working to stabilize patients and prevent future complications related to their condition. They address short-term concerns, such as ear infections, serious burns, and sprained ankles. They also treat concerns related to longer-term conditions, such as high blood pressure, heart failure, or diabetes.

Professionals in this role also can work in administrative, teaching, and research capacities.Depending on the state in which they practice, adult-gerontology acute care nurse practitioners may be permitted to work independently, or they may be required to partner with other health care professionals. Additionally, like other NPs, AGACNPs typically have the authority to write prescriptions and administer and review tests. Other tasks can include the following.

Conducting treatment follow-ups
Monitoring the effects of prescribed medications
Referring patients to medical specialists
Recording patient medical histories
Assisting with community health policies

What Are Nursing Salaries

According to labor and statistics, the median salary for a Registered Nurse is $70,000 and can range as high as $130,000 per year. On average, nursing salaries are 7% higher than the average job salary nationwide. Different classifications of nurses will earn different salaries:

Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics

Three How Long Does It Take To Become An Acute Care Np

Acute Care NP programs typically take 2-3 years depending on the specifics of the program and if they are full-time or part-time. Students can complete a program in as little as two years if they follow the full-time progression plan and are able to obtain clinical placements without delay.

Since most will have to work during the program, students generally complete the program in three years. Ultimately, students have five years to complete the APRN program. Students can work during the didactic courses, but it is difficult and it is generally not recommended to work during the clinical portion of the program.

Salary And Job Outlook For Ambulatory Care Nurses

While Indeed doesn’t offer salary information specifically for an ambulatory care nurse, they do provide the average salary for a nurse, which is a closely related job title. The national average salary for nurses in the United States is currently $83,656 per year, which can be considered a very competitive base salary. Indeed also notes that nurses can have the potential to earn $9,250 per year on average in overtime pay. They also show that most nurses receive additional employee benefits, such as tuition reimbursement, loan forgiveness and access to referral programs.

The United States Bureau of Labor Statistics doesn’t have specific job outlook data for ambulatory care nurses, but they do provide data that explores the job outlook for registered nurses, which is a very similar job title. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, the number of people working as registered nurses is expected to increase by 7% from 2019 to 2029, which is a faster rate of growth than many other occupations. The Bureau states that this growth could be the result of increasing demand for medical care and education about healthcare practices that nurses can respond to.

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What Does Acu Stand For

The abbreviation ACU stands for acute care unit. By definition, an acute care unit offers time-sensitive, short-term care to patients in critical condition. Acute care patients are recovering from illness or surgery and are usually ready to be discharged within a few days. Patients who are stable but unable to return to their homes may move to a transitional care unit or a skilled nursing facility.

Gain Experience As An Rn

Many advanced nursing programs require you to have experience working as an acute care RN nurse before they will grant you admission. Gaining experience as an RN will help you to build the necessary skills to practice as an ACNP. Other schools may offer the opportunity to work in acute care while they complete their graduate studies.

What Is An Acute Care Nurse 5 Reasons To Become An Agacnp

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For many passionate graduates, nursing is not simply a job, its a calling. With the rise in demand for qualified nurses across the country, and the ability to specialize in the area of nursing theyre most passionate about, its a fantastic time for prospective nurses to begin shaping a fulfilling career.

Nursing specializations allow graduates to build an advanced understanding of a particular area of nursing. Among those areas, the specialty of adult gerontology acute care nurse practitioner is a challenging but rewarding field centered on the care of adult patients acute and chronic health conditions.

Unlike adult gerontology primary care nurses, AGACNPs encounter urgent and complex cases. These involve more than one chronic condition or the interaction and management of multiple symptoms, as opposed to primary or long-term patient care.

By pursuing an advanced degree such as a Master of Science in Nursing , future nursing leaders are able to build a better understanding of what an acute care nurse is, what they do, and if the AGACNP specialty is right for them. Equipped with advanced skills and a thorough knowledge of nursing, acute care nurses help patients manage and overcome challenging illnesses.

Acute Care Nurse Work Environment

What does it take to become an Adult Gerontology Acute Care Nurse Practitioner?

Acute care nurses work in hospitals, clinics, and other medical facilities. They work long hours, often on rotating shifts, and may be on call 24 hours a day. Acute care nurses must be able to handle the stress of working in a fast-paced environment and be able to make quick decisions. They must also be able to work well under pressure and be able to handle the emotional stress of dealing with sick and injured patients.

What Makes A Good Acute Care Nurse: Tips For New Nurses

New nurses graduate from their nursing programs with a wide array of skills and with visions of NCLEX study guides still flashing before them. Nevertheless, not all nursing specialties require the same knowledge or skills. The following are nursing skills and knowledge that are essential in acute care:

Knowledge of cardiac rhythms and telemetry
Knowledge of infection control
Initiative and ability to work independently
Ability to maintain the confidentiality of medical records
Excellent verbal, written, and presentation skills
Ability to provide compassionate and respectful counseling and emotional support

You dont have to be any smarter to be in the ICU compared to any other unit in acute careWhat you need is the ability to monitor and manage stress, internally and externally, for 12 hours at a time. This is more of a personality trait rather than an academic knowledge Reddit u/whtabt2ndbreakfast

Although many nurses find jobs in ICUs or ERs straight out of nursing school, many experienced nurses recommend beginning acute care nursing careers in Med/Surg. Here is a reason why:

As an ICU nurse, I dont recommend students to come to ICU out of school. In my opinion Med-surg is the best experience a new nurse can get. First you need to see what relatively stable patients look like before you jump to unstable patientsMed-surg will allow you to learn at your own pace. Reddit u/Vent-ilator