Acute Care Nurses
Provide advanced nursing care for patients with acute conditions such as heart attacks, respiratory distress syndrome, or shock. May care for pre- and post-operative patients or perform advanced, invasive diagnostic or therapeutic procedures.
24 alternate job titles:
Acute Care Nurse
Admission Nurse
Admission Nurse Coordinator
Cardiac Interventional Care Nurse
Cardiovascular ICU Nurse (Cardiovascular Intense Care Unit Nurse)
Cardiovascular Surgery Acute Care Nurse Practitioner (Cardiovascular Surgery ACNP)
Care Transitions Manager
Care Transitions Nurse
Charge Nurse
Chronic Condition Nurse
DSU Nurse (Day Surgery Unit Nurse)
ICU Travel RN (Intensive Care Unit Travel Registered Nurse)
MSN (Medical Surgical Nurse)
Nurse
PACU RN (Post Anesthesia Care Unit Registered Nurse)
PACU Travel RN (Post Anesthesia Care Unit Travel Registered Nurse)
Pediatric Acute Care Unit Nurse
Post-Op RN (Postoperative Registered Nurse)
Pre-Op RN (Preoperative Registered Nurse)
Progressive Care RN (Progressive Care Registered Nurse)
Progressive Care Unit RN (Progressive Care Unit Registered Nurse)
Screening Unit RN (Screening Unit Registered Nurse)
Staff Nurse
Vascular Access Registered Nurse (Vascular Access RN)
Salary Information
Acute Care Nurses: $93,600 (median) per year.
Starting salary (10th percentile).
Required expreience: Varies by Company
Data source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics
Daily Tasks & Responsibilities
| Task Description | Category |
|---|---|
| Evaluate treatment options to guide medical decisions. | Analysis |
| Analyze test data or images to inform diagnosis or treatment. | Analysis |
| Analyze patient data to determine patient needs or treatment goals. | Analysis |
| Evaluate patient functioning, capabilities, or health. | Analysis |
| Assess patient work, living, or social environments. | Analysis |
| Diagnose medical conditions. | General |
| Administer anesthetics or sedatives to control pain. | General |
| Treat medical emergencies. | General |
| Adjust prostheses or other assistive devices. | General |
| Collaborate with healthcare professionals to plan or provide treatment. | General |
| Record patient medical histories. | General |
| Treat acute illnesses, infections, or injuries. | General |
| Prepare medical supplies or equipment for use. | General |
| Operate diagnostic or therapeutic medical instruments or equipment. | General |
| Collect biological specimens from patients. | General |
| Order medical diagnostic or clinical tests. | General |
| Prescribe medications. | General |
| Refer patients to other healthcare practitioners or health resources. | General |
| Administer blood or other fluids intravenously. | General |
| Advise patients on healthcare system processes. | General |
| Establish nursing policies or standards. | General |
| Process healthcare paperwork. | General |
| Train medical providers. | General |
| Monitor patients following surgeries or other treatments. | Maintenance |
| Monitor patient progress or responses to treatments. | Maintenance |
| Monitor patient conditions during treatments, procedures, or activities. | Maintenance |
| Maintain medical or professional knowledge. | Maintenance |
| Communicate detailed medical information to patients or family members. | Communication |
Showing 1 to 10 of 0 entries
Technology Requirements
| Technology | Description |
|---|---|
| Microsoft Access | Data base user interface and query software |
| Microsoft Excel | Spreadsheet software |
| Microsoft Office software | Office suite software |
| Microsoft Outlook | Electronic mail software |
| Microsoft PowerPoint | Presentation software |
| Microsoft Teams | Project management software |
| Microsoft Word | Word processing software |
| SAP software | Enterprise resource planning ERP software |
| eClinicalWorks EHR software | Medical software |
| Allscripts Professional EHR | Medical software |
| Amkai AmkaiCharts | Medical software |
| Bizmatics PrognoCIS EMR | Medical software |
| Cerner Millennium | Medical software |
| ChartWare EMR | Medical software |
| GE Healthcare Centricity EMR | Medical software |
| IBM Lotus Notes | Electronic mail software |
| Medscribbler Enterprise | Medical software |
| MicroFour PracticeStudio.NET EMR | Medical software |
| NextGen Healthcare Information Systems EMR | Medical software |
| SOAPware EMR | Medical software |
| StatCom Patient Flow Logistics Enterprise Suite | Medical software |
| SynaMed EMR | Medical software |
| Texas Medical Software SpringCharts EMR | Medical software |
| e-MDs software | Medical software |
Showing 1 to 10 of 0 entries
Relevant Certifications
Industry certifications that may be valuable for this career role:
| Certification | Issuing Organization | Practice Test |
|---|---|---|
| Acute Care Clinical Nurse Specialist (Pediatric) | American Association of Critical-Care Nurses | Not Available |
| Acute Care Nurse Practitioner (Adult-Gerentology) | American Association of Critical-Care Nurses | Not Available |
| Adult Tele-ICU Acute/Critical Care Nursing Certification | American Association of Critical-Care Nurses | Not Available |
| Ambulatory Care Nursing | ANA Enterprise | Not Available |
| Cardiac Medicine (Adult) | American Association of Critical-Care Nurses | Not Available |
| Cardiac Surgery (Adult) | American Association of Critical-Care Nurses | Not Available |
| Cardiac-Vascular Nursing | ANA Enterprise | Not Available |
| Certified Ambulatory Perianesthesia Nurse | American Board of Perianesthesia Nursing Certification, Inc. | Not Available |
| Certified Assisted Living Nursing | National Association of Directors of Nursing Administration in Long Term Care | Not Available |
| Certified Clinical Transplant Nurse | American Board for Transplant Certification | Not Available |
| Certified Director of Nursing in Long Term Care | National Association of Directors of Nursing Administration in Long Term Care | Not Available |
| Certified Gastroenterology Registered Nurse | American Board of Certification for Gastroenterology Nurses | Not Available |
| Certified Hemodialysis Nurse | Board of Nephrology Examiners Technology Nursing | Not Available |
| Certified Neuroscience Registered Nurse | American Association of Neuroscience Nurses - American Board of Neuroscience Nursing | Not Available |
| Certified Pediatric Nurse | Pediatric Nursing Certification Board | Not Available |
| Certified Peritoneal Dialysis Nurse | Board of Nephrology Examiners Technology Nursing | Not Available |
| Certified Post Anesthesia Nurse | American Board of Perianesthesia Nursing Certification, Inc. | Not Available |
| Certified Professional in Healthcare Quality | National Association for Healthcare Quality | Not Available |
| Certified Radiology Nurse | Radiologic Nursing Certification Board | Not Available |
| Certified Wound Specialist | American Board of Wound Management | Not Available |
| Certified in Executive Nursing Practice | American Organization of Nurse Executives Credentialing Center | Not Available |
| Clinical Nurse Leader | American Association of Colleges of Nursing | Not Available |
| Clinical Nurse Specialist | Wellness through Acute Care (Adult-Gerontology) | Not Available |
| Critical Care Registered Nurse (Adult) | American Association of Critical-Care Nurses | Not Available |
| Dermatology Nurse Certified | Dermatology Nurses' Association | Not Available |
| Geriatric Diabetic Certified Nurse | National Association of Directors of Nursing Administration in Long Term Care | Not Available |
| Gerontological Nursing | ANA Enterprise | Not Available |
| Informatics Nursing | ANA Enterprise | Not Available |
| Initial Certification | National Board on Certification and Recertification for Nurse Anesthetists | Not Available |
| Medical-Surgical Nursing | ANA Enterprise | Not Available |
| Nurse Executive | ANA Enterprise | Not Available |
| Nurse Executive Advanced | ANA Enterprise | Not Available |
| Nursing Case Management | ANA Enterprise | Not Available |
| Nursing Professional Development | ANA Enterprise | Not Available |
| Pain Management Nursing | ANA Enterprise | Not Available |
| Pediatric Nursing | ANA Enterprise | Not Available |
| Pediatric Primary Care Nurse Practitioner | ANA Enterprise | Not Available |
| Progressive Care Nursing (Adult) | American Association of Critical-Care Nurses | Not Available |
| Progressive Care knowledge Professional (Adult) | American Association of Critical-Care Nurses | Not Available |
Showing 1 to 10 of 0 entries