Acute care nurse practitioners offer needful services to both physicians and patients that cannot be offered by other registered nurses (RNs). Acute care NP salaries are comparable to those of other types of nurse practitioner / Advanced Practice Registered Nurses (APRNs). They will, however, share some of the same work conditions as an RN.
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What Do Acute Care Nurse Practitioners Do?
Services of an acute care APRN include care for severe injury and advanced chronic illnesses. As with other types of APRNs, acute care APRNs operate at some of the most advanced levels of medical treatment. Examples of services provided include, but are not limited to:
- Assistance before, during and after an operation
- Life support administration and service
- Preliminary diagnosis and interpretation of patient data
How to Become an Acute Care Nurse Practitioner
Because they qualify to practice more advanced medical treatment, many acute care nurses are APRNs. With that as the case, an individual intending to secure a career as an acute care APRN must attain credentials and accreditation beyond those of the RN. Acute care APRNs have acquired Bachelor of Science degrees in Nursing (BSN) and Master of Science degrees in nursing, which qualifies them to practice as APRNs.
Acute Care Nurse Practitioner Salary
Depending on the state in which you plan to work, the average salary of a Nurse Practitioner is around $111,000 as of June of 2021. The highest average earning potential at this time is approximately $130,000 and will increase in the future.
There are slight variations in the salary median of APRNs, which are based on the industry of nursing in which individuals work. Because of the duties of the acute care APRN, he, or she, will work in general care or surgical performance hospitals. As such, the median salary for the acute care APRN can be pegged to that of other hospital APRNs. APRNs working in this context will earn slightly more than their counterparts working in other contexts.
The highest-paid APRNs in the US reside and practice in the following states: Alaska, California, Oregon, Hawaii, and Massachusetts. Official statistics for the states and/or regions with the lowest-paid APRNs are not readily available.
View also: Nurse Practitioner Salary
Where do Acute Care Nurse Practitioners Work?
Acute care APRNs have options with regard to the structure of employment. These nurses, like other APRNs, can work in conjunction with physicians and other medical professionals, or they can work independently.
The skills and duties of acute care APRNs warrant their services in the most highly intense medical treatment environments: hospitals and surgical centers. They may work in, or around, the surgery room. They may be required to travel to areas and regions lacking in personnel who are qualified for urgent medical care.
Acute care and other APRNs share the work conditions of most RNs:
- Performing in and managing multiple intense medical scenarios
- Possibly scheduled for varied shifts in one work week
- Constantly moving and performing multiple physical duties
- Operating in medically hazardous environments
Most acute care APRNs will work in well-lit, dry, and otherwise favorable conditions. Some, however, may be called upon or volunteer to work in disaster-stricken areas. The work conditions in these cases will be drastically different than those of most acute care APRNs. Salary breakdowns and general conditions of first-response acute care APRNs have yet to be determined.