How to Become an Acute Care Nurse Practitioner in 4 Steps

Are you interested in becoming a nurse to help people when they're in their most critical condition? If yes, then you may consider becoming an acute care nurse practitioner. The ACNP job position provides a lucrative career and opportunity for growth. Read this article below to learn more about the job, including the ACNP meaning, job outlook, salary, and the steps to becoming an acute care NP. 

What is an Acute Care Nurse Practitioner?

An acute care nurse practitioner (ACNP) is an advanced practice registered nurse specializing in providing care for individuals with acute medical conditions. They examine, diagnose, and treat patients with sudden injuries or illnesses or severe chronic diseases.

An acute care NP usually works as part of a team, alongside physicians and other healthcare providers. They treat people of all ages suffering from various acute conditions like severe injury or trauma, heart attacks, asthma attacks, broken bones, pneumonia, or any other issue that requires urgent medical intervention.

ACNPs are usually in charge of preparing patients for surgery and taking care of them after it. In addition, they educate patients and family members about medical options, assess the patient's health history, order diagnostic tests, perform therapeutic procedures, prescribe particular medications, perform screenings exams, provide x-rays, perform intubation, and more. They can also serve as nurse case managers or nurse leaders. Decisions made by ACNPs can impact patients' lives significantly.


Where do acute care NPs work?

ACNPs can work in various settings, including hospitals, doctor's offices, or nursing homes. Also, they can provide care in emergency departments, performing duties like intubation, casting, reading X-rays and ultrasounds, and so on, or in inpatient units, prescribing pain medications, ordering patient transfers, executing care procedures. Acute care NPs can as well hold positions in surgical units, intensive care, outpatient units, and more.


The typical working schedule of an acute care NP

Acute care nurse practitioners hold a crucial position in the medical field. The need for NP acute care can arise at any moment of a person's life.

Schedules and work hours can vary depending on the healthcare facility and the department where they work. They can have a standard Monday through Friday schedule, but they are often required to work weekends and nights. They may work 12-hour shifts four days a week or be required to work 15-hour shifts, minimizing the number of days they have to work. But, while ACNPs may work long shifts, their work can be rewarding.


Are acute care nurse practitioners in demand?

There is a high demand for all the specialized positions of acute care nurse practitioners throughout the United States. According to reports from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, the employment of nurse practitioners (which includes ACNPs) is expected to grow 45% from 2020 to 2030, providing a much faster than average growth, adding 121,400 new jobs. New acute care NPs are predicted to replace retiring nurses while also helping fulfill the need for acute care nurses among old adults.

How much does an acute care NP make?

Apart from the fast-growing employment rate, having a job as an acute care NP comes with a high income as well. The latest reports show that the average salary for an Acute Care Nurse Practitioner in the United States is $117,066 per year. The salary equals an average of $56.28 an hour, $2,251/week, or $9,756/month. 

Furthermore, ACNPs have the opportunity to advance and increase their salary, as top earners in this job make up to $175,500 annually. In addition, since the compensation can also vary based on location, below you can find information about the highest paying states and the highest paying cities for acute care NP jobs.

Top 10 highest paying states for ACNPs

Starting from Massachusetts, where acute care NPs make an average of $122,768 a year, and moving on to New Jersey and Hawaii, half of the states in this list offer a salary higher than the national average for ACPNs.

Below you can find the top 10 states with the highest average annual pay for acute care NPs:

  • Massachusetts - $122,768

  • New Jersey - $122,009

  • Hawaii - $120,759

  • Connecticut - $119,288

  • Washington - $117,170

  • Wisconsin - $116,881

  • New York - $116,435

  • Tennessee - $116,264

  • Rhode Island - $116,156

  • Minnesota - $115,878

Top 10 highest paying cities for ACNPs

In addition, let's take a look at the top ten cities offering the highest average salaries for acute nurse practitioners annually. Starting from Sunnyvale, CA, topping the list with an average annual pay of $141,850, up to San Mateo, CA, the last city on this list, offering $130,910 per year, all the cities listed here provide a higher salary than the national average throughout the United States.

  • Sunnyvale, CA - $141,850

  • Santa Cruz, CA - $140,893

  • Santa Rosa, CA - $137,303

  • Williston, ND - $134,750

  • Manhattan, NY - $134,396

  • Barnstable Town, MA - $133,528

  • Cambridge, MA - $132,963

  • Arlington, VA - $131,985

  • Dickinson, ND - $131,178

  • San Mateo, CA - $130,910

How to Become an Acute Care NP?

There are different requirements a nurse must complete in order to become an acute care nurse practitioner. Below, we present four common steps you need to go through to become a certified acute care NP.

Obtain an undergraduate nursing degree

The first step towards becoming an acute care NP is earning an undergraduate nursing degree, such as a Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN). Getting a BSN degree is required to pursue an acute care NP program.

Undergraduate nursing programs usually include general education classes and classes specific to the nursing program. Typical BSN classes include anatomy, microbiology, public health, emergency care, basic pharmacology, health education, etc.

It will take you approximately four years to get a BSN degree as a full-time student.

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Gain experience as a registered nurse

Advanced nursing programs usually require work experience before granting admission. After earning your BSN degree, to gain experience as a registered nurse, you must first pass the NCLEX-RN exam and obtain your state license.

After obtaining licensing, getting clinical experience in acute care nursing will help you build the skills needed to practice as an ACNP. Most programs usually require about 1-2 years of experience as an RN.

Get an MSN degree

The next step is getting a Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) degree. During an MSN program, you will have advanced classes in courses like health assessment, pharmacology, physiology, etc.

The program typically takes two years to complete, and in addition to specialized courses in acute care, it also includes many hours of clinical training.

Obtain NP acute care certification

After getting your master's degree in nursing, the last step to becoming an acute care nurse practitioner is obtaining your ACNP certification. Board certification in acute care specialties is offered from organizations such as the American Nurses Credentialing Center or the American Association of Critical-Care Nurses. After passing your certification exam and getting certified, you can be considered an acute care nurse practitioner.

Essential Skills You Need as an Acute Care NP

Being an acute care nurse practitioner (ACNP) requires a skill set that combines the finest of advanced practice and acute care nursing. They work in a fast-paced environment where they often need to make life-impacting decisions. Basic skills necessary for a successful ACNP include: 

  • compassion,

  • critical thinking

  • interpersonal skills

  • effective communication

  • attention to detail

  • organization

  • flexibility

  • ability to multitask. 

In addition, you need skills that you usually learn in ACNP programs, which can vary depending on the program, like:

  • hemodynamic monitoring

  • suturing

  • local anesthesia application

  • wound debridement, and more.

The first group of skills contains the basic skills an ACNP needs and are usually essential for the job. Meanwhile, the second group of skills depends on the setting or department in which you work. 

How Much Time Does It Take to Become an NP Acute Care? 

Acute care nurse practitioner programs usually take 2-3 years to complete, depending on the program or whether they are full-time or part-time.

On the other hand, if we consider the education and training needed, becoming an ACPN can take up to eight years. A bachelor's degree takes at least four years. In addition, the experience required before earning a master's degree is usually 1-2 years. The master's degree takes two years as well. Moreover, there is a possibility of needing extra education hours for the certification process. 

Final Thoughts

Becoming an acute care NP requires proper education, training, and certification. Furthermore, you need many skills that will serve you in the workplace. The working schedule may require you to work on weekends or at night. The decisions you make often impact the lives of patients. However, being an ACPN and helping people at their worst and often saving their lives — is the ultimate reward for you. And yes, add a high salary to the list.

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