Acute Care Nurse Career Guide
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Overview
Acute Care Registered Nurses (RNs) play a vital role in providing comprehensive and specialized care to patients with acute illnesses or injuries. These nurses work in fast-paced healthcare settings, such as emergency departments, intensive care units (ICUs), and post-surgical units. The essential job functions of an Acute Care RN include assessing and monitoring patients' conditions, administering medications, implementing
Education
Becoming an Acute Care RN requires obtaining a nursing degree and gaining licensure as a registered nurse. The educational background needed for this role includes completing either an Associate Degree in Nursing (ADN) or a Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) program. The ADN program generally takes around two to three years to complete, while the
Qualifications
Skills
To succeed as a staff or travel Acute Care RN, a combination of knowledge, hard and soft skills, and abilities is essential. Acute Care RNs should have a strong foundation in medical-surgical nursing and possess advanced knowledge in the specialty area they work in, such as cardiac care, trauma, or critical care. They need to be proficient in
Responsibilities
Acute Care RNs have a range of responsibilities associated with their role. They assess patients' conditions, monitor vital signs, administer medications, and implement treatment plans. They collaborate with physicians, pharmacists, and other healthcare professionals to coordinate patient care and ensure timely interventions. Acute Care RNs provide patient and family education, explaining diagnoses, treatment options and post-discharge care instructions. They also
Salary Insights
The average salary for a Acute Care Nurse is $2,157.98 per week.
Last updated on October 30, 2024. Based on active jobs on Vivian.com.
Pros & Cons
Acute Care nursing offers several benefits and drawbacks. Some advantages include the opportunity to work in dynamic and challenging healthcare environments, the potential for professional growth and development, and the ability to make a significant impact on critically ill or injured patients. Acute Care RNs often work as part of a skilled interdisciplinary team, fostering collaboration and ongoing learning.
However, there
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