One of these is acute care, an area of secondary healthcare that treats short-term issues and injuries.
For anyone considering a career in nursing or already working as a nurse, acute care makes a great choice if you’re looking for a fast-paced and challenging environment.
If you’d like to find out more about what you need to do to enter acute care and the skills required, read on — we’ve got it covered in this article.
What is acute care?
Acute care treats short-term illnesses, injuries, and recovery from surgery and can be located in an emergency room, post-care anesthesia unit, or intensive care unit, for example.
Working in acute care means you may be dealing with life-threatening injuries, illnesses, and trauma. Much of the time, you’ll face sudden, urgent conditions that require timely and rapid intervention to prevent the worsening of the patient’s health status or even permanent disability or death.
This can make it a challenging, unpredictable, yet exciting area to work in. As a nurse working in an emergency room, you may treat patients who have been involved in serious road accidents, violent crimes, or are experiencing the sudden onset of serious illness.
Or if you’re based in an intensive care unit, you may be providing one-to-one support for patients who are affected by life-threatening illnesses or conditions.
One thing is for certain: no two shifts in acute care are ever the same, and it’s a stimulating and highly-rewarding area for nurses with a desire to provide quality care that makes a real difference to patients’ outcomes.
What skills does a nurse need to work in acute care?
To work successfully in acute care, you must first be a registered licensed nurse with the appropriate qualifications – for example, a Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) or Master of Science in Nursing (MSN). To discover more about nursing licensure requirements, check out the National Council of State Boards of Nursing site.
You’ll be competent in the skills that nurses use every day – for example, coordinating patient care, communicating with families, and taking observations.
Aside from the day-to-day competencies expected of any nurse, you’ll need additional skills and personal qualities that will stand you in good stead for working in the demanding environment of acute care. These include:
The ability to work under pressure
Working in acute care brings unique pressures and challenges. It’s a rapidly-changing environment where patients who are very sick, frightened, and in pain can receive care. Your colleagues will also be under immense pressure, making for an atmosphere that is at times highly charged. Being able to stay calm, think clearly, and deliver quality patient care under these circumstances is essential.
Enhanced communication skills
Communication in acute settings can be challenging. Not only will you need to communicate with colleagues at all levels, sometimes under very stressful circumstances, but you will also need to do so with patients and their families. Because of the nature of acute care, you will sometimes need to deliver bad news to family members. This requires tact, compassion, experience, and specialized training.
Ability to adapt to change
The acute care environment is continually changing. You may be treating a patient who seems stable but then deteriorates rapidly. Or you could be enjoying a lull in the emergency room when victims of a multi-vehicle road accident are admitted, changing the course of your working day. This means you must be able to thrive on change and adapt to the unpredictability of an acute care environment.
Excellent healthcare knowledge
You will need a deep and wide understanding of healthcare to work competently in acute care. This includes a comprehension of biology, anatomy, and a wide range of medical conditions that are often seen in acute care settings.
Critical and creative thinking skills
Being able to think critically and creatively is essential to an acute care nurse. This will enable you to process a high volume of information at once, helping you make sound decisions — often under extreme pressure — and problem-solve to offer your patients the best outcomes.
Understanding of infections
Working in acute care, you’ll need a sound understanding of infections. You’ll need to spot the symptoms of common infections and also be able to identify more severe, life-threatening infections that can cause a patient’s condition to deteriorate rapidly. You’ll need to be confident in the management and treatment of infection and have a solid understanding of infection control to stop the spread as well.
Understanding of cardiac conditions
An acute care environment will frequently accommodate patients with cardiac conditions. As well as having an understanding of these conditions, you’ll also need to be confident with using equipment such as defibrillators and apparatus for electrocardiograms to enable you to care for your patients.
Of course, this list is not exhaustive, and there are many other professional and personal qualities that a successful acute care nurse must demonstrate.
How do I start a career in acute care nursing?
For nurses who thrive in the challenging conditions of a busy, dynamic environment, acute care is a great career choice.
The first step is to follow an accredited nursing program and get licensed so you can practice as a nurse.
After gaining some practical experience, you may wish to deepen your professional knowledge and add to your nursing tools. A popular way of doing this is by studying for a Master of Science in Nursing — it’s the natural next step to learning more about healthcare systems, how to improve healthcare, and helping fellow healthcare professionals to create a competent workforce for the future.
Spring Arbor University offers a range of MSN programs, each designed to respond to the needs of busy professionals. If you’re already working as a nurse in a busy job, you may be wondering how to fit in studying alongside your professional commitments. An online Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) program is the answer to this dilemma, offering a flexible way to study while you’re still working. You can gain your qualification while still continuing to work full-time, fitting in your study around your professional commitments.
This in-depth knowledge of healthcare and nursing will give you the confidence you need to work in acute care, either in a practical, hands-on role or at a higher level, where a strategic position can help shape the delivery of better quality care.
If you’re already working as a nurse in a busy job, you may be wondering how to fit in studying alongside your professional commitments. An online Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) program is the answer to this dilemma, offering a flexible way to study while you’re still working. Spring Arbor University offers a range of MSN programs, each designed to respond to the needs of busy professionals. You can gain your qualification while still continuing to work full-time, fitting in your study around your professional commitments.
You’ll also fulfill clinical placements in your home state as part of your course, so you’ll get in contact with other health professionals and can experience different workplaces. And while you get to enjoy the freedom of managing your own study schedule, know that you will be supported by a Student Success Coach who will encourage you on your path.
Healthcare is a rapidly expanding industry, and there is a need for more highly-qualified nurses than ever before. This means that if you have shown the dedication and commitment of studying for further qualifications, you’ll be in high demand as a nurse, including in acute care.
It’s most definitely a career for any aspiring nurse who is looking for a demanding yet rewarding modality to deliver outstanding care to people with the greatest need.
Start planning your career as an acute care nurse today
Choosing a career path in acute care nursing is a sound choice for professionals who enjoy a challenging, ever-changing workplace. It offers plenty of opportunities to apply a diverse range of skills to the max as well as to experience a wide variety of clinical situations that require quick thinking and an ability to keep cool under pressure.
If this sounds like a role that you would relish, ensure that you’re ready for it by embarking on a course of further study like a Master of Science in Nursing.
If you opt for an online program, then you’ll get the best of both worlds — continuing in your current role while working toward valued qualifications that will open many professional doors for you.
