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by
Erin Lee, BSN, RN (Editorial Team / Admin)
Are you interested in becoming an acute care nurse practitioner (ACNP) but struggling to decide if it's right for you?
We've compiled all the information prospective ACNPs need to know, including duties, responsibilities, salary, and the required steps, so they can decide if this concentration fits them best.
Acute Care NP Job Description
An ACNP is an advanced practice registered nurse (APRN) who specializes in providing immediate and critical care to patients who are severely ill or injured. They possess graduate-level training and are highly skilled in handling complex medical situations, such as acute illnesses, injuries, and worsening chronic conditions.
As part of a healthcare team, ACNPs diagnose, treat, prescribe, and manage acute and chronic illnesses in patients. They work closely with doctors, nurses, and other medical professionals to create and execute treatment strategies. ACNPs possess excellent communication, critical thinking, and problem-solving skills to quickly identify and manage medical emergencies in high-pressure and fast-paced environments.
Acute Care NP Responsibilities
The primary responsibilities of an ACNP in the acute care setting include:
- Assessment and Diagnosis: Conduct comprehensive assessments, including medical history, physical examinations, and interpretation of diagnostic tests. Diagnose acute health conditions, identify complications, and evaluate treatment responses.
- Treatment and Management: Develop and implement treatment plans for acute conditions, prescribe medications, order diagnostic tests, perform procedures, and coordinate multidisciplinary care. Monitor patients' progress, adjust treatment plans as necessary, and ensure appropriate interventions to promote recovery.
- Provide Care Consistency: Ensure continuous and consistent care throughout the patient's treatment journey.
- Patient and Family Interaction: Interact with patients and their families to provide emotional support, answer questions, and involve them in care decisions.
- Discharge Planning: Plan for patient discharge by coordinating follow-up care, providing discharge instructions, and ensuring a smooth transition from the hospital to home or another care facility.
- Patient and Team Education: Educate patients, families, and healthcare team members about diagnoses, treatment options, self-care management, and preventive measures.
- Collaborative Care: Work closely with healthcare teams to provide coordinated and patient-centered care. Collaborate with physicians, specialists, nurses, and other healthcare professionals to ensure optimal patient outcomes and continuity of care.
- Emergency Response: Involved in emergency and critical care situations, providing rapid assessment, stabilization, and initiation of treatment for acutely ill or injured patients. Work in emergency departments, intensive care units, and urgent care settings.
- Research and Evidence-Based Practice: Stay updated on the latest research, evidence-based guidelines, and advancements in acute care. Contribute to research initiatives, participate in quality improvement projects, and integrate evidence-based practice into clinical decision-making.
Related: 10 Best Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) Programs in 2023
ACNPs can also be trained to perform diagnostic exams and invasive procedures in the patient population they serve, including but not limited to:
- Arterial or Central line placement
- Intubation
- Chest tube insertion
- Bronchoscopy
- Electrical Cardioversion of heart rhythms
ACNP Places of Work
ACNPs can specialize in serving various patient populations, such as Pediatric Acute Care Nurse Practitioners (PACNP) or Adult-Gerontology Acute Care Nurse Practitioners (AGACNP).
ACNPs mainly operate within hospital settings. Some of the places you can find them include:
- Critical care units
- Progressive care units
- Trauma units, emergency rooms
- Long-term acute care hospitals
NPs specializing in acute care are not limited to working in hospitals. They also provide their services in urgent care centers and specialty clinics.
ACNP Patient Populations
ACNPs can specialize in serving various patient populations:
- Adult Gerontology Acute Care NP (AGACNP) or Acure Care NP Adult-Gerontology (ACNPC-AG)
- Certified Pediatric Nurse Practitioner - Acute Care (CPNP-AC)
Benefits of Becoming an Acute Care NP
ANCPs are essential in providing the best possible care to patients who require immediate medical attention. During a health emergency, the support of an ACNP can be invaluable, and their dedication and efforts can significantly impact a patient's overall health and wellness.
Furthermore, ACNPs have more autonomy in applying critical thinking skills, the chance to work in a fast-paced and challenging environment, the ability to specialize in serving specific patient populations, and the potential for higher salaries than other nursing roles.
Acute Care NP Salary
The salary of an ACNP varies based on experience, specialty, and location. The average annual salary for an ACNP is $117,423, with the 25th percentile earning approximately $101,500 and the highest earners making around $150,000 annually.
Specialization also impacts earnings. For example, Pediatric Acute Care NPs tend to earn a higher average salary of $135,161.
States paying ACNPs the most:
- New Jersey: $129,046.00
- Wisconsin: $126,102.00
- Alaska: $123,384.00
States paying ACNPs the least:
- Florida: $79,223.00
- West Virginia: $82,299.00
- Georgia: $89,516.00
The aggregate data regarding ACNP pay is sourced from ZipRecruiter.
Acute Care NP Career Outlook
While no specific data is available on the job outlooks for ACNPs, it is predicted that the employment of APRNs, including ACNPs, will grow by 40% between 2021 to 2031, resulting in approximately 112,700 new NP job openings.
ACNPs are particularly needed in the hospital and acute care settings to provide specialized care for patients with complex medical needs, including those with critical and life-threatening conditions. As the demand for acute care services continues to rise, the need for ACNPs to provide this care will also increase.
This demand is significant in light of the current strain on the healthcare industry, as emphasized throughout the COVID-19 pandemic. Additionally, as the population ages, there will be an even greater need for healthcare providers with specialized training to manage complex medical conditions associated with aging, further driving demand for ACNPs in acute care settings.
How to Become an ACNP
There are five simple steps to becoming an ACNP.
1. Nursing Education and RN Licensure.
Becoming an ACNP starts with completing basic nursing education by obtaining your ADN or BSN RN. After completing an undergraduate program in nursing, you will be eligible to sit for the National Council Licensure Examination for registered nurses, NCLEX-RN.
2. Get Registered Nursing (RN) Experience
Once you have obtained your RN license, you will need to obtain RN experience before applying to an MSN or DNP-level program for your ACNP. At least two years of current bedside nursing is typically required. Some ACNP programs may require more experience. Most ACNP programs will recommend you gain acute care or critical care nursing experience as a foundation, although this is more of a recommendation than a requirement.
3. Complete Advanced Nursing Education
To become an ACNP, there are different pathways you can take depending on your educational background.
MSN ACNP pathway: The Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) is the typical entry-level degree required for all APRNs, including ACNPs. Various pathways are offered for nurses of varying education levels—BSN to MSN, RN to MSN, or Bridge RN to MSN for students with their RN and a non-nursing-related bachelor's degree. Admission requirements, course load, and program length will differ depending on the chosen pathway. Two to four years is the standard length it will take to complete the MSN ACNP pathway.
DNP ACNP pathway: Available to BSN RNs and MSN RNs who wish to pursue a Doctor of Nursing Practice with a concentration in ACNP. The program duration can range from three to seven years, depending on prior education and whether you opt for full-time or part-time studies.
Related: 10 Best DNP Programs in 2023
Post-Masters ACNP pathway: RNs who have completed an MSN program can pursue a post-master ACNP Certification to qualify for the specialty. These certificate programs take about one and a half to two years to complete depending on whether you start as an MSN RN or an MSN APRN.
It's important to note that the CCNE has set a mandate for APRNs to have doctorate-level education, intending to make the DNP standard entry-level credential for APRNs by 2025.
When choosing a pathway for your graduate-level nursing education, ensure the program is nationally accredited by one of the following: Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE), Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing (ACEN), or the National League for Nursing Commission for Nursing Education Accreditation (CNEA). This guarantees that the ACNP program adheres to ACNP education and future practice standards.
All graduate-level education pathways for NP students require a minimum of 500 direct patient care clinical hours. Each ACNP program may have slightly different clinical hour requirements, but to be eligible for your ACNP certification exam, you must complete at least 500 clinical hours in accordance with current regulations.
4. Pass the National APRN FNP Certification Exam
Like the NCLEX-RN requirement for RNs, becoming an ACNP necessitates passing a certification exam to work as an APRN. The certification exam for adult and pediatric ACNPs are available through:
- AGACNP-BC through the American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC)
- ACNPC-AC certification by the American Association of Critical Care Nurses (AACN).
- CPNP-AC certification by the Pediatric Nursing Certification Board (PNBC).
5. APRN Licensure
Apply for state APRN ACNP licensure in the state you plan to work.
As an RN, becoming an ACNP can be a fulfilling and meaningful career transition. This path allows you to offer advanced patient care, work with interdisciplinary teams, and have greater autonomy and responsibility in your nursing practice.
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Edited by Erin Lee
