Acute Care Nurse

Explore This Path

Ideal for those passionate about saving lives in critical situations.
Make a significant impact by stabilizing patients during medical emergencies.
Engage in advanced procedures and innovative patient care techniques.

💰 Earn $105K-$168K

📚 Associate Degree

⏱️ 12–24 MONTH TRAINING

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What You’ll Do

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.

Perform emergency medical procedures, such as basic cardiac life support (BLS), advanced cardiac life support (ACLS), and other condition-stabilizing interventions.
Manage patients' pain relief and sedation by providing pharmacologic and non-pharmacologic interventions, monitoring patients' responses, and changing care plans accordingly.
Document data related to patients' care, including assessment results, interventions, medications, patient responses, or treatment changes.
Diagnose acute or chronic conditions that could result in rapid physiological deterioration or life-threatening instability.
Administer blood and blood product transfusions or intravenous infusions, monitoring patients for adverse reactions.

Scoop

Minimum Education

Associate Degree

Career Prospects

Excellent (Increasing by 5% or more)

Training Time

1 to 2 years

Median Earnings

$133,990 in California

$86,070 Nationally

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Best For You If...

YOU Like 💕

Relating with or serving others
Thinking and problem solving
Working with my hands

You are skilled in 💫

Active Listening
Critical Thinking
Reading Comprehension
Service Orientation
Social Perceptiveness
Speaking

You value 🙏

Accomplishing things
Having support
Personal relationships

Deep Dive

Acute Care Nurse

Explore career pathways, key skills, and what each role has to offer.

Pathways to this Career

Learn about the education and training paths that can lead to this career — and what to expect from each one.

Vocational School

A vocational school typically equips students with specialized skills and practical training in specific trades or occupations, enhancing their employability and providing direct pathways to relevant careers.

🎓 Skills-Focused

⏱️ FINISH IN 6 months - 2 years

Workforce Development Program

A workforce development program typically enhances participants' opportunities to succeed in the workforce through employment skill-building, career counseling, connections to employers, and pathways to high-demand and high-wage jobs.

🎓 Skills-Focused

⏱️ FINISH IN 6 months - 2 years

Apprenticeship

An apprenticeship typically offers a combination of hands-on training and classroom instruction, leading to practical skills, industry-specific knowledge, and the potential for long-term employment in a specific trade or profession.

🎓 Paid Work

⏱️ FINISH IN 2-5 years

Associate's Degree

An associate's degree typically provides graduates with foundational knowledge and skills for entry-level jobs in the graduate's industry, or serves as a stepping stone towards further education.

🎓 College

⏱️ FINISH IN 2-3 years