Working as an acute care nurse is one of the most demanding roles in the healthcare sector, but it can also be one of the most rewarding. It's front-line work and there is no way of knowing what challenges may come next in many acute care nurse jobs. It requires energy, commitment and a real passion for making a difference. Because of the varied work involved, experience as an acute care nurse can act as a stepping stone into many other areas.
acute nurse job role
day-to-day responsibilities
Most acute nurse jobs are located in clinical settings such as hospitals and may be required in a variety of areas. This can include working in accident and emergency or intensive care departments, providing critical care to patients with severe injuries or chronic illness flare-ups, or being assigned to departments such as haematology or oncology. Sometimes it involves working with infectious diseases, so acute care nurses need to be up to date with risk management protocols.
acute nursing skills
Acute medicine nurses need to assess and monitor patient condition, checking vital signs and arranging diagnostic tests as required. They need to develop care plans and often work closely with doctors and other care team members.
Acute nursing involves administering intravenous fluids and ensuring that patients receive the medication they require. Because medication and doses need to be carefully adjusted in accordance with patient needs, attention to detail is an essential quality for acute medicine nurses. They also need to check pieces of equipment such as monitors and ventilators regularly to ensure everything is working correctly.
Sometimes the acute care clinical nurse specialist is the first person at hand when a patient undergoes severe deterioration. This means that they need to have strong first aid skills and be quick-thinking enough to apply them in a high-pressured and time-sensitive situation.
The ability to treat wounds is essential in acute nursing, but so too is helping manage patients who are getting better. This includes arranging transfers and putting them and their families in touch with support services as required.
working with different types of patients in an acute medical ward
Acute medicine nurses are required to work with a wide variety of patients. This may include patients with learning disorders, recovering from strokes or with dementia. For this reason, they must have good communication skills and are patient and sympathetic by nature.
In some situations, they may need to advocate for patients who have difficulty communicating for themselves. Because of the nature of acute nurse jobs and the array of individuals and situations they may encounter, they should also be appropriately trained and skilled to deal with patients who are distressed and uncooperative, including those who may disrupt their own vital treatment or become aggressive.
Acute care nurses frequently work with people who did not expect to find themselves in hospital, so calming feelings of panic and distress to help patients adjust is important. They may also need to work in a similar capacity with family members.
choose randstad for your next acute nurse job
Working in acute nursing requires a lot of energy and effort but is one of the most important roles in healthcare. If you're ready to step into such a rewarding role, create an account with Randstad or log in today.
We're here to help you find your next acute nurse job. We'll get to know what it is you're looking for in your new role and support you on this exciting journey.
