Acute care nursing is highly in demand, with a shortfall of over 70,000 nurses in Australia predicted by 2035. If you are considering a career in acute care nursing, this is a perfect time to have your choice of work placements across the country.
What does an acute care nurse do?
The duties and responsibilities of those working in acute care nursing will vary from day to day. Given it is a fast-paced busy environment, no two days will look the same. Typical tasks carried out by acute care nurses include:
- Monitoring vital signs of patients
- Triaging to determine the level of care needed
- Administering medications
- Identifying signs and symptoms in patients from the young to the elderly
- Using medical equipment such as oxygen masks, stethoscopes, IV poles, infusion pumps, and blood pressure monitors
- Care planning and finalising documentation of patients to relay communications to other nurses and doctors
Skills required for acute care nursing roles
Those working in the acute care nursing field are likely to have the following qualities:
- Ability to work under pressure – patients can present themselves in an acute care ward without warning, in need of immediate attention. Being able to think critically and devise a solution under time constraints is essential for acute care nursing professionals.
- Team player – managing patients and their needs cannot be done without great communication and teamwork. Acute care nurses need to be able to liaise with other healthcare members of staff to provide the best outcome for their patients.
- Top quality communication – patients can be from a variety of cultural and ethical backgrounds, so being able to communicate in multiple ways in times of high pressure is desirable.
- Patient advocacy – the job of an acute care nurse is to always put their patients first and prioritise their health and wellbeing. Keeping this in mind and ensuring that you are always there to keep the patients’ best interests at heart is a must.
- Adaptable in fast-paced environments – acute care nursing settings such as emergency are notoriously busy with high levels of attention needed. Being able to focus on your task at hand whilst in a busy hospital setting is a necessary skill to possess.
Advantages of working in the acute care nursing industry
Acute care nursing is a rewarding and highly sought-after career path with many opportunities in Australia and around the world.
1) Ability to work and travel
Once qualified as an acute care nurse, you can gain experience across a variety of different settings. Working for a healthcare agency such as Pulse Staffing allows you to enjoy flexibility with your working locations, experiencing rural and remote areas of the country whilst getting paid at the same time. Travel nursing placements with an agency can increase your registered nurse salary earnings due to the availability of bonuses and incentives.
2) Acute care nursing career pathways
Nursing as a spectrum is broad and full of opportunity. Acute care nursing can be a stepping stone to other job roles such as nurse unit manager or clinical nurse specialist. You may even decide to take postgraduate courses in other areas of nursing such as midwifery or mental health.
3) Continuous learning opportunities
No two days in acute care nursing are the same. Meeting new patients and encountering different medical conditions allows you to expand on your knowledge and develop your skills whilst on the job, improving your career prospects so you can excel in the acute care nursing field.
4) Offering personal fulfillment
Often in acute care nursing, you resolve the patient’s issue on the same day. Due to quick thinking and using your hard-earned knowledge and skills, you can typically see the resolution from start to end, giving yourself a sense of pride. Seeing the outcomes of your craft every day is a testament to your years of studying and hard work!
5) Great earning potential
As an acute care nurse, the sky is the limit when it comes to potential salary earnings. You can choose to work on a casual/temporary basis, picking up shifts that are within commuting distance to you. You may want to try out the travel nursing option too, booking in blocks of six weeks to three months at a time. There is also permanent work available, with generous salary packages and other rewards attached. Working with an agency is a great option to identify your career goals and the assignments that best fit your immediate and long-term needs.
I’m interested in acute care nursing. Where do I begin?
Pulse Staffing is a healthcare agency with long-standing connections with public and private healthcare providers. We’re able to offer acute care nurses flexible work opportunities, from ad-hoc shifts in metro areas to rural longer-term placements.
If you’re interested in learning more about our acute care nursing opportunities, reach out to our team today.