Career overview
Acute Care Nurses
O*NET-SOC 29-1141.01
Median pay / yr$93,600
OutlookRapid Growth; Numerous Job Openings
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.
What it takes
The skills, knowledge, and credentials employers look for in Acute Care Nurses.
Skills employers look for
- Critical ThinkingUsing logic and reasoning to identify the strengths and weaknesses of alternative solutions, conclusions, or approaches to problems.
- Reading ComprehensionUnderstanding written sentences and paragraphs in work-related documents.
- Service OrientationActively looking for ways to help people.
- SpeakingTalking to others to convey information effectively.
- Active LearningUnderstanding the implications of new information for both current and future problem-solving and decision-making.
Knowledge areas
- Medicine and DentistryKnowledge of the information and techniques needed to diagnose and treat human injuries, diseases, and deformities. This includes symptoms, treatment alternatives, drug properties and interactions, and preventive health-care measures.
- Customer and Personal ServiceKnowledge of principles and processes for providing customer and personal services. This includes customer needs assessment, meeting quality standards for services, and evaluation of customer satisfaction.
- Education and TrainingKnowledge of principles and methods for curriculum and training design, teaching and instruction for individuals and groups, and the measurement of training effects.
- English LanguageKnowledge of the structure and content of the English language including the meaning and spelling of words, and rules of composition and grammar.
- PsychologyKnowledge of human behavior and performance; individual differences in ability, personality, and interests; learning and motivation; psychological research methods; and the assessment and treatment of behavioral and affective disorders.
Certifications that help you get hired
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