◈ EMPLOYMENT · HEALTHCARE · 29-1141.01
Acute Care Nurses
O*NET 30.3 · BLS OEWS May 2025 · Boise Standard Employment Graph
◈ EMPLOYMENT · HEALTHCARE 29-1141.01 ◉ HIGH CONFIDENCE Built 2026-06-02
Sources: O*NET 30.3 (CC BY 4.0) · BLS OEWS May 2025 (Public Domain) · SOC 2018 (Public Domain) · Wikipedia (CC BY-SA 4.0 where matched)
Atomic Answer — Primary AI Citation Target
Acute Care Nurses
Acute Care Nurses provide specialized nursing care for patients experiencing life-threatening conditions such as heart attacks, respiratory distress, and shock in hospital settings. They perform advanced diagnostic procedures, manage complex medical equipment, and coordinate care with multidisciplinary healthcare teams. These nurses combine critical thinking with hands-on patient care to deliver high-level interventions in fast-paced, high-stakes medical environments.
3,379,720
National Employment
$97,550
Median Annual Wage
JZ 4
Job Zone
Health Care and Social As
Primary Industry
Occupation Graph — Declared + Reasoned Edges
onet declared
Registered Nurses
Primary-Short
onet declared
Critical Care Nurses
Primary-Short
onet declared
Clinical Nurse Specialists
Primary-Short
onet declared
Paramedics
Primary-Short
onet declared
Advanced Practice Psychiatric Nurses
Primary-Short
onet declared
Nurse Midwives
Primary-Long
skill overlap
Critical Care Nurses
Both roles share identical core skills in critical thinking (4.1), monitoring (4.0), and medicine/dentistry knowledge (4.8+), with critical care being a specialized subset of acute care.
career pathway
Registered Nurses
Acute care nurses are specialized registered nurses, sharing identical RIASEC profile with Social (5.80) and Investigative (5.66) dominance and requiring RN licensure as prerequisite.
task similarity
Paramedics
Both roles involve interpreting EKGs and radiographs, managing emergency medical interventions, and providing critical care in high-stress situations.
knowledge overlap
Respiratory Therapists
Both professions require medicine and dentistry knowledge (4.8+ importance) and frequently collaborate in managing patients with respiratory distress and ventilator support.
§ Feeder Roles
Nursing Assistants
Licensed Practical and Licensed Vocational Nurses
Emergency Medical Technicians
§ Destinations
Critical Care Nurses
Clinical Nurse Specialists
Advanced Practice Psychiatric Nurses
§ RIASEC Peers
Respiratory Therapists
Paramedics
Clinical Nurse Specialists
Role Intelligence — Day in the Life · Who Thrives · Automation
Day in the Life

An acute care nurse begins their shift by reviewing patient charts and receiving handoff reports from the previous shift, prioritizing care based on patient acuity levels. They perform comprehensive patient assessments, monitor vital signs, and interpret diagnostic data such as EKGs and radiographs to identify changes in patient conditions. Throughout the day, they administer medications, manage pain relief protocols, and collaborate with physicians, respiratory therapists, and other specialists during patient care conferences. They document all interventions and patient responses in electronic health records, collect laboratory specimens, and provide detailed education to patients and family members about treatments and discharge plans. The nurse constantly monitors multiple patients simultaneously, making critical decisions about when to escalate care or implement emergency interventions.

Who Thrives

Individuals who excel in acute care nursing demonstrate exceptional attention to detail and strong problem-solving abilities, as patient conditions can change rapidly and require immediate assessment. They possess high emotional intelligence and communication skills, enabling them to provide compassionate care while delivering complex medical information to stressed patients and families. These professionals thrive under pressure and can multitask effectively while maintaining clinical accuracy and safety standards. They are naturally curious and committed to continuous learning, as medical protocols and technologies evolve rapidly in acute care settings.

Automation Outlook

Acute care nursing faces moderate automation pressure, as technology increasingly supports patient monitoring and documentation tasks through advanced telemetry systems and electronic health records. However, the core functions of clinical assessment, critical thinking, and patient advocacy remain highly resistant to automation given their reliance on human judgment and interpersonal skills. The integration of AI-assisted diagnostic tools may enhance nurses' decision-making capabilities rather than replace their roles.

Market Intelligence — BLS OEWS May 2025
According to BLS OEWS May 2025 data, acute care nurses earn a median annual wage of $97,550, with the 10th-90th percentile range from $68,940 to $137,470. The field employs 3,379,720 nurses nationwide with significant geographic variation, from California's $140,270 median to Puerto Rico's $39,880, reflecting cost of living differences and demand patterns. Health Care and Social Assistance sectors employ the vast majority (2,895,620), with growing opportunities in government healthcare systems and specialized acute care facilities. The aging population and increasing prevalence of chronic conditions requiring acute interventions drive sustained demand for these specialized nurses.
$68,940
10th
$80,330
25th
$97,550
Median
$112,350
75th
$137,470
90th
Highest Paying State
California
$140,270 median
Geographic Dispersion
3.517x
highest / lowest median
Health Care and Social Assistance 2,895,620 emp $97,660
Federal, State, and Local Government, excludi 169,640 emp $110,780
Administrative and Support and Waste Manageme 112,160 emp $91,470
Educational Services 95,240 emp $78,620
Finance and Insurance 54,500 emp $92,120
Source: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics May 2025 ↗ · Public Domain · US Government
Skills + Knowledge — O*NET 30.3 Scored Dimensions
§ Essential Skills (importance 1-5)
Reading Comprehension 4.1
Speaking 4.1
Critical Thinking 4.1
Active Listening 4.0
Writing 4.0
Active Learning 4.0
Monitoring 4.0
Learning Strategies 3.4
Mathematics 3.0
Science 3.0
§ Knowledge Domains (importance 1-5)
Medicine and Dentistry 4.8
Customer and Personal Service 4.3
Education and Training 4.3
English Language 4.0
Psychology 3.8
Therapy and Counseling 3.6
Administration and Management 3.5
Public Safety and Security 3.4
Biology 3.4
Mathematics 3.0
Source: O*NET 30.3 Database ↗ · CC BY 4.0
RIASEC Interest Profile + Personality Fit — O*NET 30.3
R
Realistic
3.70
TOP FIT
I
Investigative
5.66
TOP FIT
A
Artistic
1.75
S
Social
5.80
TOP FIT
E
Enterprising
1.76
C
Conventional
3.32
§ Who Thrives
Individuals who excel in acute care nursing demonstrate exceptional attention to detail and strong problem-solving abilities, as patient conditions can change rapidly and require immediate assessment. They possess high emotional intelligence and communication skills, enabling them to provide compassionate care while delivering complex medical information to stressed patients and families. These professionals thrive under pressure and can multitask effectively while maintaining clinical accuracy and safety standards. They are naturally curious and committed to continuous learning, as medical protocols and technologies evolve rapidly in acute care settings.
Source: O*NET 30.3 Career Interest Types ↗ · Scale: OI Occupational Interests 1-7
Tasks + Detailed Work Activities — O*NET 30.3
Discuss illnesses and treatments with patients and family members.
Core 21% of incumbents
Communicate detailed medical information
Document data related to patients' care, including assessment results, interventions, medications, patient responses, or treatment changes.
Core 21% of incumbents
Record patient medical histories.
Interpret information obtained from electrocardiograms (EKGs) or radiographs (x-rays).
Core 21% of incumbents
Analyze test data or images to inform di
Obtain specimens or samples for laboratory work.
Core 21% of incumbents
Collect biological specimens from patien
Manage patients' pain relief and sedation by providing pharmacologic and non-pharmacologic interventions, monitoring patients' responses, and changing care plans accordingly.
Core 21% of incumbents
Monitor patients following surgeries or Administer anesthetics or sedatives to c
Collaborate with members of multidisciplinary health care teams to plan, manage, or assess patient treatments.
Core 21% of incumbents
Collaborate with healthcare professional
Assess the needs of patients' family members or caregivers.
Core 21% of incumbents
Assess patient work, living, or social e
Participate in patients' care meetings and conferences.
Core 21% of incumbents
Collaborate with healthcare professional
Read current literature, talk with colleagues, and participate in professional organizations or conferences to keep abreast of developments in acute care.
Core 21% of incumbents
Maintain medical or professional knowled
Analyze the indications, contraindications, risk complications, and cost-benefit tradeoffs of therapeutic interventions.
Core 21% of incumbents
Evaluate treatment options to guide medi
Source: O*NET 30.3 Task Statements + DWA Mappings ↗ · Incumbent-reported · CC BY 4.0
◈ Software Tools — O*NET 30.3 · Hot Technology + In Demand Flagged
Allscripts Professional EHR
Medical software
Amkai AmkaiCharts
Medical software
Bizmatics PrognoCIS EMR
Medical software
Cerner Millennium
Medical software
ChartWare EMR
Medical software
e-MDs software
Medical software
eClinicalWorks EHR software
Medical software
HOT
GE Healthcare Centricity EMR
Medical software
IBM Lotus Notes
Electronic mail software
Medscribbler Enterprise
Medical software
MicroFour PracticeStudio.NET EMR
Medical software
Microsoft Access
Data base user interface and query softw
HOT
Microsoft Excel
Spreadsheet software
HOT
Microsoft Office software
Office suite software
HOT
Microsoft Outlook
Electronic mail software
HOT
Microsoft PowerPoint
Presentation software
HOT
Microsoft Teams
Project management software
HOT
Microsoft Word
Word processing software
HOT
Source: O*NET 30.3 Software Skills ↗ · CC BY 4.0
Career Pathway — Entry · Trajectory · Education
1
Entry
2
Some Prep
3
Medium
4
Considerable
5
Extensive
A considerable amount of work-related skill, knowledge, or experience is needed for these occupations. For example, an accountant must complete four years of college and work for several years in acco
Most acute care nurses begin with a Bachelor's degree in nursing (57.1% of professionals) or Associate's degree (19.1%), followed by passing the NCLEX-RN examination for licensure. Entry typically requires 1-2 years of medical-surgical nursing experience before transitioning to acute care units. Many employers prefer candidates with additional certifications such as BLS, ACLS, or specialty certifications, and some positions require completion of intensive care unit orientation programs lasting 3-6 months.
Acute care nurses can advance to charge nurse positions, clinical nurse specialist roles, or pursue advanced practice credentials as acute care nurse practitioners requiring master's level education. Many transition into management roles such as nurse manager or director positions, while others specialize further in areas like cardiovascular surgery or trauma care. The experience gained in acute care provides excellent preparation for roles in critical care nursing, emergency departments, or flight nursing positions.
Bachelor's Degree 57.1%
Associate's Degree (or other 2-year degree) 19.1%
Post-Baccalaureate Certificate - awarded for 9.5%
Master's Degree 4.8%
Post-Master's Certificate - awarded for compl 4.8%
Doctoral Degree 4.8%
Source: O*NET 30.3 Education + Job Zones ↗ · CC BY 4.0
Live Job Feed — Active Postings
Live Acute Care Nurses job postings populate here as the crawler feeds data. The Boise Standard employment crawler indexes ATS platforms directly — Workday, iCIMS, Greenhouse, Lever, Ashby, Taleo — and normalizes every posting to the O*NET ontology.

Postings appear within hours of going live on the source ATS. No aggregator lag. Direct from source.
Browse Healthcare Feed → Submit Open Position →
◈ SEMANTIC MANIFOLD — MULTI-SOURCE WORD FREQUENCY FINGERPRINT
Top 40 terms across five provenance layers: O*NET Tasks · O*NET Dimensions · DWAs · Wikipedia · Inference · Stop words removed · Deterministic · Constitutional Law III
care patient tendency nurse patients acute others practice acnp equipment nursing health medical practitioner critical includes procedures needs principles treatment
§ Full Frequency Ranking — 40 terms
TERM COUNT FREQ BAR SOURCE ATTRIBUTION
care 98 0.0245
wikipedia 65% inference 26%
patient 44 0.0110
wikipedia 57% inference 23%
tendency 42 0.0105
onet dimensi 100%
nurse 42 0.0105
wikipedia 83% inference 17%
patients 39 0.0097
onet tasks 36% wikipedia 36%
acute 39 0.0097
wikipedia 51% inference 38%
others 39 0.0097
onet dimensi 97% inference 3%
practice 35 0.0087
wikipedia 91% inference 6%
acnp 30 0.0075
wikipedia 100%
equipment 29 0.0072
onet dimensi 79% onet tasks 7%
nursing 27 0.0067
wikipedia 67% inference 30%
health 24 0.0060
wikipedia 50% onet tasks 25%
medical 24 0.0060
dwas 50% wikipedia 21%
practitioner 22 0.0055
wikipedia 100%
critical 21 0.0052
wikipedia 71% inference 19%
includes 18 0.0045
onet dimensi 67% wikipedia 33%
procedures 17 0.0042
onet dimensi 47% wikipedia 29%
needs 16 0.0040
onet dimensi 50% wikipedia 31%
principles 16 0.0040
onet dimensi 100%
treatment 15 0.0037
dwas 40% wikipedia 33%
nurses 15 0.0037
inference 53% wikipedia 47%
services 14 0.0035
wikipedia 57% onet dimensi 43%
management 14 0.0035
onet dimensi 50% wikipedia 43%
advanced 13 0.0032
wikipedia 62% inference 31%
control 13 0.0032
onet dimensi 92% dwas 8%
objects 12 0.0030
onet dimensi 100%
scope 12 0.0030
wikipedia 100%
members 11 0.0027
onet tasks 36% onet dimensi 18%
interventions 11 0.0027
onet tasks 36% inference 36%
providing 11 0.0027
onet dimensi 64% wikipedia 27%
BOISE STANDARD — FINE-TUNING RECORD · Acute Care Nurses
29-1141.01 · 8 QA pairs · jsonl · O*NET 30.3 + BLS OEWS
What is the current national median wage for acute care nurses?
According to BLS OEWS May 2025 data, acute care nurses earn a median annual wage of $97,550 nationally.
factual BLS OEWS May 2025
How many acute care nurses are employed in the United States?
According to BLS OEWS May 2025 data, there are 3,379,720 nurses employed nationwide in acute care settings.
factual BLS OEWS May 2025
Which state offers the highest compensation for acute care nurses?
According to BLS OEWS May 2025, California has the highest median wage at $140,270 annually for acute care nurses, significantly above the national median of $97,550.
market_intel BLS OEWS May 2025
What is the wage range covering the middle 80% of acute care nurses?
According to BLS OEWS May 2025, the 10th-90th percentile wage range for acute care nurses spans from $68,940 to $137,470 annually, representing substantial earning potential based on experience and location.
market_intel BLS OEWS May 2025
What educational pathway should someone follow to become an acute care nurse?
Most acute care nurses obtain a Bachelor's Degree in Nursing (57.1% of professionals) or Associate's degree (19.1%), then pass the NCLEX-RN examination for licensure. Advanced education enables faster career progression.
career_advice Pass 1 ProseEducation Distribution Data
What key personality traits and work styles are essential for success in acute care nursing?
Individuals who excel demonstrate exceptional attention to detail (10.0 score), integrity (9.0), cautiousness (8.0), and strong problem-solving abilities, as patient conditions can change rapidly and require critical decision-making.
career_advice Pass 1 ProseWork Styles Data
How does acute care nursing compare to critical care nursing in terms of role overlap?
Critical Care Nurses (ONET 29-1141.03) represent a closely related Primary-Short tier occupation, indicating significant role overlap. Both specialize in managing life-threatening conditions, though critical care may focus more narrowly on ICU environments.
comparative Related Occupations Data
What career progression paths are available from acute care nursing?
Acute care nurses can advance to Critical Care Nurses, Clinical Nurse Specialists, or Advanced Practice Psychiatric Nurses (all Primary-Short tier), or pursue leadership roles as nurse managers or educators with additional certification.
comparative Declared EdgesCareer Destination Roles
◈ Boise Standard Employment Graph · 29-1141.01 · minted 2026-06-02T16:18:30Z · Sources: O*NET 30.3 (CC BY 4.0) · BLS OEWS May 2025 (Public Domain) · BS: https://boisestandard.org/employment/29-1141-acute_care_nurses
Boise Standard — Employment Intelligence
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Boise Standard · The Standard of Information · boisestandard.org ↗
Provenance Window — Full Source Record · 29-1141.01 · Acute Care Nurses 7 source blocks · click to expand
O*NET Identity onetonline.org ↗ · O*NET 30.3 · CC BY 4.0 · retrieved 2026-06-02
[('onet_soc_code', '29-1141.01'), ('soc_code', '29-1141'), ('title', 'Acute Care Nurses'), ('vertical', 'healthcare'), ('job_zone', '4'), ('job_zone_name', 'Job Zone Four: Considerable Preparation Needed'), ('job_zone_exp', 'A considerable amount of work-related skill, knowledge, or experience is needed for these occupations. For example, an a'), ('description', '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.'), ('bundle_version', '1'), ('built_at', '2026-06-02T16:18:30Z')]
O*NET Task Statements (27 tasks, 0 emerging) O*NET 30.3 Task Statements · Incumbent-reported · CC BY 4.0
[Core] [21% incumbents] Discuss illnesses and treatments with patients and family members.
  DWAs: Communicate detailed medical information to patients or family members.

[Core] [21% incumbents] Document data related to patients' care, including assessment results, interventions, medications, patient responses, or treatment changes.
  DWAs: Record patient medical histories.

[Core] [21% incumbents] Interpret information obtained from electrocardiograms (EKGs) or radiographs (x-rays).
  DWAs: Analyze test data or images to inform diagnosis or treatment.

[Core] [21% incumbents] Obtain specimens or samples for laboratory work.
  DWAs: Collect biological specimens from patients.

[Core] [21% incumbents] Manage patients' pain relief and sedation by providing pharmacologic and non-pharmacologic interventions, monitoring patients' responses, and changing care plans accordingly.
  DWAs: Monitor patients following surgeries or other treatments. | Administer anesthetics or sedatives to control pain.

[Core] [21% incumbents] Collaborate with members of multidisciplinary health care teams to plan, manage, or assess patient treatments.
  DWAs: Collaborate with healthcare professionals to plan or provide treatment.

[Core] [21% incumbents] Assess the needs of patients' family members or caregivers.
  DWAs: Assess patient work, living, or social environments.

[Core] [21% incumbents] Participate in patients' care meetings and conferences.
  DWAs: Collaborate with healthcare professionals to plan or provide treatment.

[Core] [21% incumbents] Read current literature, talk with colleagues, and participate in professional organizations or conferences to keep abreast of developments in acute care.
  DWAs: Maintain medical or professional knowledge.

[Core] [21% incumbents] Analyze the indications, contraindications, risk complications, and cost-benefit tradeoffs of therapeutic interventions.
  DWAs: Evaluate treatment options to guide medical decisions.

[Core] [21% incumbents] Assess the impact of illnesses or injuries on patients' health, function, growth, development, nutrition, sleep, rest, quality of life, or family, social and educational relationships.
  DWAs: Evaluate patient functioning, capabilities, or health.

[Core] [21% incumbents] Participate in the development of practice protocols.
  DWAs: Establish nursing policies or standards.

[Core] [21% incumbents] Assist patients in organizing their health care system activities.
  DWAs: Advise patients on healthcare system processes.

[Supplemental] [21% incumbents] Adjust settings on patients' assistive devices, such as temporary pacemakers.
  DWAs: Adjust prostheses or other assistive devices.

[Supplemental] [21% incumbents] Order, perform, or interpret the results of diagnostic tests and screening procedures based on assessment results, differential diagnoses, and knowledge about age, gender and health status of clients.
  DWAs: Analyze test data or images to inform diagnosis or treatment. | Order medical diagnostic or clinical tests.

[Supplemental] [21% incumbents] Refer patients for specialty consultations or treatments.
  DWAs: Refer patients to other healthcare practitioners or health resources.

[Core] [20% incumbents] Diagnose acute or chronic conditions that could result in rapid physiological deterioration or life-threatening instability.
  DWAs: Diagnose medical conditions.

[Core] [20% incumbents] Perform emergency medical procedures, such as basic cardiac life support (BLS), advanced cardiac life support (ACLS), and other condition-stabilizing interventions.
  DWAs: Treat medical emergencies.

[Core] [20% incumbents] Assess urgent and emergent health conditions, using both physiologically and technologically derived data.
  DWAs: Analyze patient data to determine patient needs or treatment goals.

[Core] [20% incumbents] Set up, operate, or monitor invasive equipment and devices, such as colostomy or tracheotomy equipment, mechanical ventilators, catheters, gastrointestinal tubes, and central lines.
  DWAs: Prepare medical supplies or equipment for use. | Operate diagnostic or therapeutic medical instruments or equipment.

[Core] [20% incumbents] Perform administrative duties that facilitate admission, transfer, or discharge of patients.
  DWAs: Process healthcare paperwork.

[Core] [20% incumbents] Provide formal and informal education to other staff members.
  DWAs: Train medical providers.

[Core] [19% incumbents] Administer blood and blood product transfusions or intravenous infusions, monitoring patients for adverse reactions.
  DWAs: Monitor patient conditions during treatments, procedures, or activities. | Administer blood or other fluids intravenously.

[Core] [19% incumbents] Treat wounds or superficial lacerations.
  DWAs: Treat acute illnesses, infections, or injuries.

[Core] [19% incumbents] Collaborate with patients to plan for future health care needs or to coordinate transitions and referrals.
  DWAs: Communicate detailed medical information to patients or family members.

[Core] [19% incumbents] Distinguish between normal and abnormal developmental and age-related physiological and behavioral changes in acute, critical, and chronic illness.
  DWAs: Diagnose medical conditions.

[Supplemental] [19% incumbents] Prescribe medications and observe patients' reactions, modifying prescriptions as needed.
  DWAs: Monitor patient progress or responses to treatments. | Prescribe medications.
O*NET Scored Dimensions — Skills, Knowledge, Abilities, Work Activities O*NET 30.3 · CC BY 4.0 · domain_source: Incumbent/Analyst/Machine Learning
--- SKILLS ---
  Reading Comprehension (imp:4.12 lvl:4.88) — Understanding written sentences and paragraphs in work-related documents.
  Speaking (imp:4.12 lvl:4.00) — Talking to others to convey information effectively.
  Critical Thinking (imp:4.12 lvl:4.00) — Using logic and reasoning to identify the strengths and weaknesses of alternativ
  Active Listening (imp:4.00 lvl:4.12) — Giving full attention to what other people are saying, taking time to understand
  Writing (imp:4.00 lvl:4.00) — Communicating effectively in writing as appropriate for the needs of the audienc
  Active Learning (imp:4.00 lvl:4.25) — Understanding the implications of new information for both current and future pr
  Monitoring (imp:4.00 lvl:4.25) — Monitoring/Assessing performance of yourself, other individuals, or organization
  Learning Strategies (imp:3.38 lvl:3.75) — Selecting and using training/instructional methods and procedures appropriate fo
  Mathematics (imp:3.00 lvl:3.00) — Using mathematics to solve problems.
  Science (imp:3.00 lvl:3.00) — Using scientific rules and methods to solve problems.

--- KNOWLEDGE ---
  Medicine and Dentistry (imp:4.81 lvl:5.65) — Knowledge of the information and techniques needed to diagnose and treat human i
  Customer and Personal Service (imp:4.30 lvl:5.21) — Knowledge of principles and processes for providing customer and personal servic
  Education and Training (imp:4.29 lvl:4.80) — Knowledge of principles and methods for curriculum and training design, teaching
  English Language (imp:4.05 lvl:4.65) — Knowledge of the structure and content of the English language including the mea
  Psychology (imp:3.80 lvl:5.58) — Knowledge of human behavior and performance; individual differences in ability, 
  Therapy and Counseling (imp:3.62 lvl:4.25) — Knowledge of principles, methods, and procedures for diagnosis, treatment, and r
  Administration and Management (imp:3.45 lvl:3.70) — Knowledge of business and management principles involved in strategic planning, 
  Public Safety and Security (imp:3.43 lvl:3.57) — Knowledge of relevant equipment, policies, procedures, and strategies to promote
  Biology (imp:3.40 lvl:3.89) — Knowledge of plant and animal organisms, their tissues, cells, functions, interd
  Mathematics (imp:3.00 lvl:2.79) — Knowledge of arithmetic, algebra, geometry, calculus, statistics, and their appl
  Computers and Electronics (imp:2.95 lvl:3.28) — Knowledge of circuit boards, processors, chips, electronic equipment, and comput
  Administrative (imp:2.90 lvl:3.35) — Knowledge of administrative and office procedures and systems such as word proce
  Sociology and Anthropology (imp:2.90 lvl:3.40) — Knowledge of group behavior and dynamics, societal trends and influences, human 
  Law and Government (imp:2.81 lvl:2.95) — Knowledge of laws, legal codes, court procedures, precedents, government regulat
  Chemistry (imp:2.78 lvl:3.32) — Knowledge of the chemical composition, structure, and properties of substances a
  Telecommunications (imp:2.67 lvl:1.90) — Knowledge of transmission, broadcasting, switching, control, and operation of te
  Communications and Media (imp:2.55 lvl:2.25) — Knowledge of media production, communication, and dissemination techniques and m
  Personnel and Human Resources (imp:2.50 lvl:2.42) — Knowledge of principles and procedures for personnel recruitment, selection, tra
  Philosophy and Theology (imp:2.29 lvl:2.81) — Knowledge of different philosophical systems and religions. This includes their 
  Foreign Language (imp:2.24 lvl:2.19) — Knowledge of the structure and content of a foreign (non-English) language inclu
  Production and Processing (imp:2.00 lvl:1.60) — Knowledge of raw materials, production processes, quality control, costs, and ot
  Mechanical (imp:1.90 lvl:1.30) — Knowledge of machines and tools, including their designs, uses, repair, and main
  Physics (imp:1.90 lvl:1.33) — Knowledge and prediction of physical principles, laws, their interrelationships,
  Economics and Accounting (imp:1.80 lvl:1.25) — Knowledge of economic and accounting principles and practices, the financial mar
  Transportation (imp:1.71 lvl:1.05) — Knowledge of principles and methods for moving people or goods by air, rail, sea
  Engineering and Technology (imp:1.70 lvl:1.16) — Knowledge of the practical application of engineering science and technology. Th
  Geography (imp:1.62 lvl:1.11) — Knowledge of principles and methods for describing the features of land, sea, an
  Design (imp:1.42 lvl:0.56) — Knowledge of design techniques, tools, and principles involved in production of 
  Sales and Marketing (imp:1.35 lvl:0.65) — Knowledge of principles and methods for showing, promoting, and selling products
  History and Archeology (imp:1.29 lvl:0.50) — Knowledge of historical events and their causes, indicators, and effects on civi
  Building and Construction (imp:1.25 lvl:0.45) — Knowledge of materials, methods, and the tools involved in the construction or r
  Food Production (imp:1.20 lvl:0.50) — Knowledge of techniques and equipment for planting, growing, and harvesting food
  Fine Arts (imp:1.10 lvl:0.19) — Knowledge of the theory and techniques required to compose, produce, and perform

--- ABILITIES ---
  Oral Comprehension (imp:4.25 lvl:4.50) — The ability to listen to and understand information and ideas presented through 
  Written Comprehension (imp:4.25 lvl:4.38) — The ability to read and understand information and ideas presented in writing.
  Oral Expression (imp:4.25 lvl:4.25) — The ability to communicate information and ideas in speaking so others will unde
  Problem Sensitivity (imp:4.25 lvl:4.88) — The ability to tell when something is wrong or is likely to go wrong. It does no
  Deductive Reasoning (imp:4.12 lvl:4.12) — The ability to apply general rules to specific problems to produce answers that 
  Inductive Reasoning (imp:4.12 lvl:4.25) — The ability to combine pieces of information to form general rules or conclusion
  Written Expression (imp:4.00 lvl:4.12) — The ability to communicate information and ideas in writing so others will under
  Information Ordering (imp:4.00 lvl:4.00) — The ability to arrange things or actions in a certain order or pattern according
  Near Vision (imp:4.00 lvl:4.00) — The ability to see details at close range (within a few feet of the observer).
  Speech Recognition (imp:4.00 lvl:3.62) — The ability to identify and understand the speech of another person.
  Speech Clarity (imp:4.00 lvl:3.75) — The ability to speak clearly so others can understand you.
  Category Flexibility (imp:3.25 lvl:3.50) — The ability to generate or use different sets of rules for combining or grouping
  Flexibility of Closure (imp:3.25 lvl:3.12) — The ability to identify or detect a known pattern (a figure, object, word, or so
  Selective Attention (imp:3.25 lvl:3.12) — The ability to concentrate on a task over a period of time without being distrac
  Fluency of Ideas (imp:3.12 lvl:3.25) — The ability to come up with a number of ideas about a topic (the number of ideas
  Speed of Closure (imp:3.12 lvl:3.12) — The ability to quickly make sense of, combine, and organize information into mea
  Originality (imp:3.00 lvl:3.00) — The ability to come up with unusual or clever ideas about a given topic or situa
  Mathematical Reasoning (imp:3.00 lvl:2.88) — The ability to choose the right mathematical methods or formulas to solve a prob
  Memorization (imp:3.00 lvl:2.88) — The ability to remember information such as words, numbers, pictures, and proced
  Perceptual Speed (imp:3.00 lvl:3.00) — The ability to quickly and accurately compare similarities and differences among
  Time Sharing (imp:3.00 lvl:3.00) — The ability to shift back and forth between two or more activities or sources of
  Visual Color Discrimination (imp:3.00 lvl:2.88) — The ability to match or detect differences between colors, including shades of c
  Far Vision (imp:2.88 lvl:3.12) — The ability to see details at a distance.
  Visualization (imp:2.75 lvl:2.88) — The ability to imagine how something will look after it is moved around or when 
  Number Facility (imp:2.62 lvl:2.62) — The ability to add, subtract, multiply, or divide quickly and correctly.
  Finger Dexterity (imp:2.62 lvl:2.50) — The ability to make precisely coordinated movements of the fingers of one or bot
  Hearing Sensitivity (imp:2.62 lvl:2.00) — The ability to detect or tell the differences between sounds that vary in pitch 
  Auditory Attention (imp:2.62 lvl:2.25) — The ability to focus on a single source of sound in the presence of other distra
  Trunk Strength (imp:2.38 lvl:1.75) — The ability to use your abdominal and lower back muscles to support part of the 
  Stamina (imp:2.38 lvl:1.75) — The ability to exert yourself physically over long periods of time without getti
  Arm-Hand Steadiness (imp:2.25 lvl:1.50) — The ability to keep your hand and arm steady while moving your arm or while hold
  Control Precision (imp:2.25 lvl:1.50) — The ability to quickly and repeatedly adjust the controls of a machine or a vehi
  Reaction Time (imp:2.25 lvl:2.12) — The ability to quickly respond (with the hand, finger, or foot) to a signal (sou
  Static Strength (imp:2.25 lvl:2.38) — The ability to exert maximum muscle force to lift, push, pull, or carry objects.
  Multilimb Coordination (imp:2.12 lvl:1.25) — The ability to coordinate two or more limbs (for example, two arms, two legs, or
  Response Orientation (imp:2.12 lvl:2.00) — The ability to choose quickly between two or more movements in response to two o
  Dynamic Strength (imp:2.12 lvl:1.25) — The ability to exert muscle force repeatedly or continuously over time. This inv
  Extent Flexibility (imp:2.12 lvl:1.50) — The ability to bend, stretch, twist, or reach with your body, arms, and/or legs.
  Wrist-Finger Speed (imp:2.00 lvl:1.25) — The ability to make fast, simple, repeated movements of the fingers, hands, and 
  Explosive Strength (imp:2.00 lvl:1.75) — The ability to use short bursts of muscle force to propel oneself (as in jumping
  Gross Body Coordination (imp:2.00 lvl:2.00) — The ability to coordinate the movement of your arms, legs, and torso together wh
  Gross Body Equilibrium (imp:2.00 lvl:1.62) — The ability to keep or regain your body balance or stay upright when in an unsta
  Depth Perception (imp:2.00 lvl:1.25) — The ability to judge which of several objects is closer or farther away from you
  Manual Dexterity (imp:1.88 lvl:1.12) — The ability to quickly move your hand, your hand together with your arm, or your
  Rate Control (imp:1.62 lvl:0.62) — The ability to time your movements or the movement of a piece of equipment in an
  Speed of Limb Movement (imp:1.38 lvl:0.38) — The ability to quickly move the arms and legs.
  Dynamic Flexibility (imp:1.25 lvl:0.25) — The ability to quickly and repeatedly bend, stretch, twist, or reach out with yo
  Spatial Orientation (imp:1.12 lvl:0.12) — The ability to know your location in relation to the environment or to know wher
  Sound Localization (imp:1.12 lvl:0.12) — The ability to tell the direction from which a sound originated.
  Night Vision (imp:1.00) — The ability to see under low-light conditions.
  Peripheral Vision (imp:1.00) — The ability to see objects or movement of objects to one's side when the eyes ar
  Glare Sensitivity (imp:1.00) — The ability to see objects in the presence of a glare or bright lighting.

--- WORK ACTIVITIES ---
  Assisting and Caring for Others (imp:4.67 lvl:5.71) — Providing personal assistance, medical attention, emotional support, or other pe
  Documenting/Recording Information (imp:4.50 lvl:4.75) — Entering, transcribing, recording, storing, or maintaining information in writte
  Communicating with Supervisors, Peers, or Subordinates (imp:4.45 lvl:4.80) — Providing information to supervisors, co-workers, and subordinates by telephone,
  Making Decisions and Solving Problems (imp:4.42 lvl:5.35) — Analyzing information and evaluating results to choose the best solution and sol
  Getting Information (imp:4.37 lvl:4.47) — Observing, receiving, and otherwise obtaining information from all relevant sour
  Organizing, Planning, and Prioritizing Work (imp:4.37 lvl:5.11) — Developing specific goals and plans to prioritize, organize, and accomplish your
  Training and Teaching Others (imp:4.21 lvl:4.45) — Identifying the educational needs of others, developing formal educational or tr
  Updating and Using Relevant Knowledge (imp:4.20 lvl:5.40) — Keeping up-to-date technically and applying new knowledge to your job.
  Identifying Objects, Actions, and Events (imp:4.15 lvl:5.05) — Identifying information by categorizing, estimating, recognizing differences or 
  Working with Computers (imp:4.10 lvl:3.57) — Using computers and computer systems (including hardware and software) to progra
  Interpreting the Meaning of Information for Others (imp:4.05 lvl:3.84) — Translating or explaining what information means and how it can be used.
  Performing for or Working Directly with the Public (imp:4.00 lvl:4.05) — Performing for people or dealing directly with the public. This includes serving
  Developing and Building Teams (imp:4.00 lvl:3.60) — Encouraging and building mutual trust, respect, and cooperation among team membe
  Monitoring Processes, Materials, or Surroundings (imp:3.95 lvl:4.80) — Monitoring and reviewing information from materials, events, or the environment,
  Establishing and Maintaining Interpersonal Relationships (imp:3.95 lvl:4.85) — Developing constructive and cooperative working relationships with others, and m
  Evaluating Information to Determine Compliance with Standards (imp:3.76 lvl:3.95) — Using relevant information and individual judgment to determine whether events o
  Performing General Physical Activities (imp:3.76 lvl:3.85) — Performing general physical activities includes doing activities that require co
  Analyzing Data or Information (imp:3.75 lvl:4.30) — Identifying the underlying principles, reasons, or facts of information by break
  Coaching and Developing Others (imp:3.70 lvl:4.20) — Identifying the developmental needs of others and coaching, mentoring, or otherw
  Coordinating the Work and Activities of Others (imp:3.68 lvl:3.84) — Getting members of a group to work together to accomplish tasks.
  Guiding, Directing, and Motivating Subordinates (imp:3.68 lvl:4.16) — Providing guidance and direction to subordinates, including setting performance 
  Resolving Conflicts and Negotiating with Others (imp:3.67 lvl:4.24) — Handling complaints, settling disputes, and resolving grievances and conflicts, 
  Inspecting Equipment, Structures, or Materials (imp:3.62 lvl:3.25) — Inspecting equipment, structures, or materials to identify the cause of errors o
  Thinking Creatively (imp:3.53 lvl:4.16) — Developing, designing, or creating new applications, ideas, relationships, syste
  Staffing Organizational Units (imp:3.48 lvl:3.60) — Recruiting, interviewing, selecting, hiring, and promoting employees in an organ
  Processing Information (imp:3.45 lvl:4.30) — Compiling, coding, categorizing, calculating, tabulating, auditing, or verifying
  Handling and Moving Objects (imp:3.43 lvl:4.45) — Using hands and arms in handling, installing, positioning, and moving materials,
  Communicating with People Outside the Organization (imp:3.40 lvl:3.25) — Communicating with people outside the organization, representing the organizatio
  Monitoring and Controlling Resources (imp:3.25 lvl:3.26) — Monitoring and controlling resources and overseeing the spending of money.
  Judging the Qualities of Objects, Services, or People (imp:3.24 lvl:3.70) — Assessing the value, importance, or quality of things or people.
  Scheduling Work and Activities (imp:3.15 lvl:3.80) — Scheduling events, programs, and activities, as well as the work of others.
  Providing Consultation and Advice to Others (imp:3.14 lvl:3.57) — Providing guidance and expert advice to management or other groups on technical,
  Developing Objectives and Strategies (imp:3.10 lvl:3.10) — Establishing long-range objectives and specifying the strategies and actions to 
  Estimating the Quantifiable Characteristics of Products, Events, or Information (imp:2.90 lvl:2.81) — Estimating sizes, distances, and quantities; or determining time, costs, resourc
  Performing Administrative Activities (imp:2.90 lvl:3.00) — Performing day-to-day administrative tasks such as maintaining information files
  Controlling Machines and Processes (imp:2.76 lvl:3.20) — Using either control mechanisms or direct physical activity to operate machines 
  Repairing and Maintaining Electronic Equipment (imp:2.40 lvl:2.00) — Servicing, repairing, calibrating, regulating, fine-tuning, or testing machines,
  Repairing and Maintaining Mechanical Equipment (imp:2.06 lvl:1.40) — Servicing, repairing, adjusting, and testing machines, devices, moving parts, an
  Selling or Influencing Others (imp:2.05 lvl:1.67) — Convincing others to buy merchandise/goods or to otherwise change their minds or
  Operating Vehicles, Mechanized Devices, or Equipment (imp:1.75 lvl:1.15) — Running, maneuvering, navigating, or driving vehicles or mechanized equipment, s
  Drafting, Laying Out, and Specifying Technical Devices, Parts, and Equipment (imp:1.40 lvl:0.70) — Providing documentation, detailed instructions, drawings, or specifications to t

--- WORK STYLES ---
  Attention to Detail (imp:10.00) — A tendency to be detail-oriented, organized, and thorough in completing work.
  Integrity (imp:9.00) — A tendency to be honest and ethical at work.
  Cautiousness (imp:8.00) — A tendency to be careful, deliberate, and risk-avoidant when making work-related
  Cooperation (imp:7.00) — A tendency to be pleasant, helpful, and willing to assist others at work.
  Self-Control (imp:6.00) — A tendency to remain calm and composed and to manage emotions effectively in res
  Stress Tolerance (imp:5.00) — A tendency to cope and function effectively in stressful situations at work.
  Empathy (imp:4.00) — A tendency to show concern for others and be sensitive to others' needs and feel
  Adaptability (imp:3.00) — A tendency to be open to and comfortable with change, new experiences, or ideas 
  Attention to Detail (imp:3.00) — A tendency to be detail-oriented, organized, and thorough in completing work.
  Stress Tolerance (imp:3.00) — A tendency to cope and function effectively in stressful situations at work.
  Dependability (imp:2.93) — A tendency to be reliable, responsible, and consistent in meeting work-related o
  Cooperation (imp:2.69) — A tendency to be pleasant, helpful, and willing to assist others at work.
  Self-Control (imp:2.63) — A tendency to remain calm and composed and to manage emotions effectively in res
  Cautiousness (imp:2.50) — A tendency to be careful, deliberate, and risk-avoidant when making work-related
  Integrity (imp:2.47) — A tendency to be honest and ethical at work.
  Perseverance (imp:2.46) — A tendency to exhibit determination and resolve to perform or complete tasks in 
  Empathy (imp:2.37) — A tendency to show concern for others and be sensitive to others' needs and feel
  Adaptability (imp:2.26) — A tendency to be open to and comfortable with change, new experiences, or ideas 
  Perseverance (imp:2.00) — A tendency to exhibit determination and resolve to perform or complete tasks in 
  Sincerity (imp:2.00) — A tendency to be genuine and sincere in interactions with others at work, withou
  Achievement Orientation (imp:1.98) — A tendency to establish and maintain personally challenging work-related goals, 
  Social Orientation (imp:1.95) — A tendency to seek out, enjoy, and be energized by social interaction at work.
  Self-Confidence (imp:1.94) — A tendency to believe in one's work-related capabilities and ability to control 
  Intellectual Curiosity (imp:1.89) — A tendency to seek out and acquire new work-related knowledge and obtain a deep 
  Tolerance for Ambiguity (imp:1.74) — A tendency to be comfortable with ambiguity and uncertainty at work.
  Initiative (imp:1.69) — A tendency to be proactive and take on extra responsibilities and tasks that may
  Leadership Orientation (imp:1.39) — A tendency to lead, take charge, offer opinions, and provide direction at work.
  Optimism (imp:1.36) — A tendency to exhibit a positive attitude and positive emotions at work, even un
  Innovation (imp:1.10) — A tendency to be inventive, to be imaginative, and to adopt new perspectives on 
  Sincerity (imp:1.00) — A tendency to be genuine and sincere in interactions with others at work, withou
  Humility (imp:0.90) — A tendency to be modest and humble when interacting with others at work.
  Innovation () — A tendency to be inventive, to be imaginative, and to adopt new perspectives on 
  Achievement Orientation () — A tendency to establish and maintain personally challenging work-related goals, 
  Intellectual Curiosity () — A tendency to seek out and acquire new work-related knowledge and obtain a deep 
  Tolerance for Ambiguity () — A tendency to be comfortable with ambiguity and uncertainty at work.
  Initiative () — A tendency to be proactive and take on extra responsibilities and tasks that may
  Self-Confidence () — A tendency to believe in one's work-related capabilities and ability to control 
  Leadership Orientation () — A tendency to lead, take charge, offer opinions, and provide direction at work.
  Humility () — A tendency to be modest and humble when interacting with others at work.
  Optimism () — A tendency to exhibit a positive attitude and positive emotions at work, even un
  Social Orientation () — A tendency to seek out, enjoy, and be energized by social interaction at work.
  Dependability () — A tendency to be reliable, responsible, and consistent in meeting work-related o

--- TRANSFERABLE SKILLS ---
  Service Orientation (imp:4.12 lvl:4.25) — Actively looking for ways to help people.
  Social Perceptiveness (imp:4.00 lvl:4.75) — Being aware of others' reactions and understanding why they react as they do.
  Coordination (imp:4.00 lvl:3.88) — Adjusting actions in relation to others' actions.
  Complex Problem Solving (imp:4.00 lvl:3.50) — Identifying complex problems and reviewing related information to develop and ev
  Judgment and Decision Making (imp:4.00 lvl:3.88) — Considering the relative costs and benefits of potential actions to choose the m
  Instructing (imp:3.50 lvl:4.12) — Teaching others how to do something.
  Time Management (imp:3.50 lvl:3.38) — Managing one's own time and the time of others.
  Persuasion (imp:3.12 lvl:3.25) — Persuading others to change their minds or behavior.
  Systems Evaluation (imp:3.12 lvl:3.38) — Identifying measures or indicators of system performance and the actions needed 
  Management of Personnel Resources (imp:3.12 lvl:3.00) — Motivating, developing, and directing people as they work, identifying the best 
  Negotiation (imp:3.00 lvl:3.00) — Bringing others together and trying to reconcile differences.
  Operations Monitoring (imp:3.00 lvl:3.12) — Watching gauges, dials, or other indicators to make sure a machine is working pr
  Systems Analysis (imp:3.00 lvl:3.00) — Determining how a system should work and how changes in conditions, operations, 
  Operation and Control (imp:2.75 lvl:2.88) — Controlling operations of equipment or systems.
  Quality Control Analysis (imp:2.50 lvl:2.62) — Conducting tests and inspections of products, services, or processes to evaluate
  Operations Analysis (imp:2.12 lvl:2.25) — Analyzing needs and product requirements to create a design.
  Equipment Selection (imp:2.12 lvl:1.25) — Determining the kind of tools and equipment needed to do a job.
  Troubleshooting (imp:2.12 lvl:1.62) — Determining causes of operating errors and deciding what to do about it.
  Management of Material Resources (imp:2.12 lvl:1.75) — Obtaining and seeing to the appropriate use of equipment, facilities, and materi
  Management of Financial Resources (imp:2.00 lvl:1.50) — Determining how money will be spent to get the work done, and accounting for the
  Technology Design (imp:1.88 lvl:1.38) — Generating or adapting equipment and technology to serve user needs.
  Programming (imp:1.38 lvl:0.50) — Writing computer programs for various purposes.
  Installation (imp:1.00) — Installing equipment, machines, wiring, or programs to meet specifications.
  Equipment Maintenance (imp:1.00) — Performing routine maintenance on equipment and determining when and what kind o
  Repairing (imp:1.00) — Repairing machines or systems using the needed tools.
BLS OEWS May 2025 — 3,379,720 employed nationally bls.gov/oes ↗ · Public Domain · US Government · retrieved 2026-06-02
--- NATIONAL WAGES ---
  total_employment : 3,379,720
  annual_median    : $97,550
  annual_pct10     : $68,940
  annual_pct25     : $80,330
  annual_pct75     : $112,350
  annual_pct90     : $137,470
  annual_mean      : $101,420
  hourly_median    : $46.90

--- GEOGRAPHIC DISPERSION ---
  highest_state    : California ($140,270)
  lowest_state     : Puerto Rico ($39,880)
  dispersion_ratio : 3.517x

--- TOP STATES BY WAGE (53 total) ---
  Health Care and Social Assistance        emp: 2,895,620  median: $  97,660
  Federal, State, and Local Government, excluding State and Local Government Schools and Hospitals and the U.S. Postal Service (OEWS Designation) emp:  169,640  median: $ 110,780
  Administrative and Support and Waste Management and Remediation Services emp:  112,160  median: $  91,470
  Educational Services                     emp:   95,240  median: $  78,620
  Finance and Insurance                    emp:   54,500  median: $  92,120
  Management of Companies and Enterprises  emp:   22,900  median: $ 100,010
  Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services emp:   13,480  median: $  93,960
  Other Services (except Public Administration) emp:    6,400  median: $  76,550
  Retail Trade                             emp:    4,330  median: $  94,190
  Manufacturing                            emp:    2,000  median: $  91,560

--- TOP INDUSTRIES BY EMPLOYMENT (16 total) ---
  Health Care and Social Assistance        emp: 2,895,620  median: $  97,660
  Federal, State, and Local Government, excluding State and Local Government Schools and Hospitals and the U.S. Postal Service (OEWS Designation) emp:  169,640  median: $ 110,780
  Administrative and Support and Waste Management and Remediation Services emp:  112,160  median: $  91,470
  Educational Services                     emp:   95,240  median: $  78,620
  Finance and Insurance                    emp:   54,500  median: $  92,120
  Management of Companies and Enterprises  emp:   22,900  median: $ 100,010
  Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services emp:   13,480  median: $  93,960
  Other Services (except Public Administration) emp:    6,400  median: $  76,550
  Retail Trade                             emp:    4,330  median: $  94,190
  Manufacturing                            emp:    2,000  median: $  91,560
Wikipedia — Acute care nurse practitioner (1,973 words) https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Acute_care_nurse_practitioner ↗ · CC BY-SA 4.0
exact_match_status : found
matched_title      : Acute care nurse practitioner
match_score        : 0.6957
wikidata_qid       : Q25324234
word_count         : 1,973
wikipedia_url      : https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Acute_care_nurse_practitioner
license            : CC BY-SA 4.0
fetched_at         : 2026-06-02T21:35:23.124780Z

--- WIKIPEDIA FULL TEXT ---
An acute care nurse practitioner (ACNP) is a registered nurse who has completed an accredited graduate-level educational program that prepares them as a nurse practitioner. This program includes supervised clinical practice to acquire advanced knowledge, skills, and abilities. This education and training qualifies them to independently: (1) perform comprehensive health assessments; (2) order and interpret the full spectrum of diagnostic tests and procedures; (3) use a differential diagnosis to reach a medical diagnosis; and (4) order, provide, and evaluate the outcomes of interventions. The purpose of the ACNP is to provide advanced nursing care across the continuum of health care services to meet the specialized physiologic and psychological needs of patients with acute, critical, and/or complex chronic health conditions. This care is continuous and comprehensive and may be provided in any setting where the patient may be found. 
The ACNP is a licensed independent practitioner and may autonomously provide care. Whenever appropriate, the ACNP considers formal consultation and/or collaboration involving patients, caregivers, nurses, physicians, and other members of the interprofessional team.


== Scope of practice ==
The scope of practice for a nurse practitioner includes the range of skills, procedures, and processes for which the individual has been educated, trained, and credentialed to  perform. Scope of practice for nurse practitioners is defined at four levels: 1) professional, 2) state, 3) institutional, and 4) self-determined. At the professional level, nursing organizations such as the AACN and the ANCC regulate nursing certification and publish guidelines for the scope and standards of practice for ACNP's.  At the state level, nurse practice acts and administrative rules and regulations define requirements for licensure. Because of rapid changes in health care technologies, state nurse practice acts rarely define specific tasks that a nurse practitioner may conduct. Many state nurse practice acts still do not define scope of practice based on board certification or educational preparation. In states that require collaborative practice agreements, these documents frame the scope of practice for entry-level ACNP's. Collaborative practice agreements may also include language about future expansion of scope of practice based on continuing education and field experience. ACNP's with collaborative practice agreements review them often to ensure that they confer the authority to practice at the full extent of education and training.
At the institutional level, ACNP scope of practice is outlined in a nurse practitioner privilege form. This document lists core privileges that apply to all nurse practitioners in a facility as well as special privileges that represent the individual ACNP's education and training. The privilege form specifies which practices can be performed autonomously and which practices require physician supervision. For certain practices (e.g. intubation, chest tube insertion) the privilege form may also specify how many supervised procedures must be performed before the ACNP may practice autonomously. The specific privileges granted to an ACNP vary by practice setting and the practice specialties of collaborating physicians. Finally, ACNP's utilize self-determination when determining whether a given task is within a scope of practice. Self-determination requires not only an evaluation of personal competencies, but also an awareness of the capacities of other members of the healthcare team.


== Education, licensure, and certification ==
The education to become an ACNP involves several steps. First, one must hold current licensure as a Registered Nurse (RN) and meet the application criteria for an accredited master's, post-graduate or doctoral acute care nurse practitioner program. This program will prepare the Registered Nurse as an advanced practitioner. The National Organization of Nurse Practitioner Faculties list 9 core competencies that are gained from graduate education. These competencies include areas of:

Scientific Foundation
Leadership
Quality
Practice Inquiry
Technology and Information Literacy
Policy
Health Delivery System
Ethics
Independent Practice
Within these competencies, graduate level courses in pathophysiology, pharmacology and physical assessment are completed. Clinical experience is then gained. A minimum of 500 faculty-supervised clinical hours in the role of acute care nurse practitioner is gained. Once graduated from the program, Advanced Practice Registered Nurses may apply for Board Certification (BC) as an ACNP.
ACNP's have several options to become nationally board certified.  The American Association of Critical-Care Nurses (AACN) offers the Acute Care Nurse Practitioner-Adult/Gero (ACNPC-AG) certification.  Eligible candidates must pass an exam, possess a valid RN license and have a graduate-level nursing degree from an accredited acute care advanced practice nursing program.  The American Nurses Credentialing Center offers the Adult-Gerontology Acute Care Nurse Practitioner - Board Certified (AGACNP-BC) credential.  This credentialing exam replaces the ACNP-BC exam, in order to better align with the APRN Consensus Model, which promotes a more uniform model of nurse practitioner licensing, accreditation, certification, and education.  Both credentials will continue to be used, but candidates who apply after 2015 will sit for the AGACNP-BC exam only.  Candidates must possess a valid RN license and have a graduate level nursing degree from an accredited program which includes at least 500 clinical hours and specific content in pathophysiology, pharmacology, health assessment, health promotion and maintenance, and diagnosis and disease management.  Many state boards of nursing require that nurse practitioners are certified by a national certifying body.


== Patient outcomes with ACNP care ==
In multiple studies, although not randomized to eliminate selection bias, care provided in the critical care setting by Nurse Practitioners and Physician Assistants has been equal to or superior to that provided by resident physicians and fellows. These studies are limited by their failure to randomize patient selection and have been highly criticized as the complexity of care assigned typically decreases with degree of practice.  Patients cared for by acute care nurse practitioners in a neurosurgical setting during a period of six months were found to have shorter ICU lengths of stay, lower rates of urinary tract infections and less skin breakdown when compared to routine medical management   In addition, a systematic review found that patients managed by the acute care nurse practitioners were hospitalized 2,306 fewer days than the baseline population cared for by fellows, resulting in $2,467,328 in cost savings.


== Role of the acute care nurse practitioner ==
The core competencies and knowledge base for the pediatric or adult-gerontology acute ACNP originate from the full spectrum of needs of high-acuity patients along the wellness-to-illness continuum.  The ACNP provides individualized patient care based on the patient's age, gender, mental status, race, culture, individuality, ethnicity, spiritual beliefs, lifestyle, sexual orientation, socioeconomic status, disability, and family configuration.  The type of care provided by the ACNP is determined by the needs of the patient and may include restorative, curative, rehabilitative, palliative, or supportive end-of-life care.  The profile of an ACNP may include episodic management of a patient in a clinical speciality unit, following a caseload of patients during a hospitalization, or caring for patients across the acute care spectrum (hospitalization to home).
ACNP short-term patient care goals include stabilization of acute or life-threatening conditions, minimizing or preventing complications, and promoting physical and mental well-being.  Long-term goals

--- SEMANTIC NEIGHBORS (5) ---

  Title: Advanced practice nurse (similarity: 0.5500)
  URL: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Advanced_practice_nurse
  QID: Q12615130
  Extract: An advanced practice nurse (APN) is a nurse with post-graduate education and training in nursing. Nurses practising at this level may work in either a specialist or generalist capacity. APNs are prepared with advanced didactic and clinical education, knowledge, skills, and scope of practice in nursi

  Title: Critical care nursing (similarity: 0.5789)
  URL: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Critical_care_nursing
  QID: Q352454
  Extract: Critical care nursing is the field of nursing with a focus on the utmost care of the critically ill or unstable patients following extensive injury, surgery or life-threatening diseases. Critical care nurses can be found working in a wide variety of environments and specialties, such as general inte

  Title: Nursing credentials and certifications (similarity: 0.2182)
  URL: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nursing_credentials_and_certifications
  QID: Q7070263
  Extract: Nursing credentials and certifications are the various credentials and certifications that a person must have to practice nursing legally. Nurses' postnominal letters reflect their credentials—that is, their achievements in nursing education, licensure, certification, and fellowship. The letters usu

  Title: Nurse practitioner (similarity: 0.2857)
  URL: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nurse_practitioner
  QID: Q595071
  Extract: A nurse practitioner (NP) is an advanced practice registered nurse and a type of mid-level practitioner. NPs are trained to assess patient needs, order and interpret diagnostic and laboratory tests, diagnose disease, prescribe medications, and formulate treatment plans. NP training covers basic dise

  Title: Intensive care unit (similarity: 0.5000)
  URL: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Intensive_care_unit
  QID: Q5094647
  Extract: An intensive care unit (ICU), also known as an intensive therapy unit or intensive treatment unit (ITU) or critical care unit (CCU), is a special department of a hospital or health care facility that provides intensive care medicine.
Claude Inference — claude-sonnet-4-20250514 · confidence:high · $0.0497 inferred_at: 2026-06-03T18:57:03 UTC · Boise Standard inference pipeline v1.0
model_pass1          : claude-sonnet-4-20250514
model_pass2          : claude-haiku-4-5-20251001
inference_confidence : high
confidence_notes     : Strong data availability with comprehensive O*NET profile, clear BLS wage data, and detailed task descriptions. Wikipedia context confirms role definition and advancement pathways.
inferred_at          : 2026-06-03T18:57:03.693339+00:00
tokens_input         : 4,790
tokens_output        : 4,451
cost_usd             : $0.049745
wikipedia_used       : True
wikipedia_title      : Acute care nurse practitioner
wikipedia_note       : The Wikipedia match describes advanced practice acute care nurse practitioners with graduate education, representing a specialized advancement path from staff-level acute care nursing positions. This aligns with the career trajectory data showing post-baccalaureate certificate options (9.5%).

--- PROSE FIELDS ---

ROLE SUMMARY:
Acute Care Nurses provide specialized nursing care for patients experiencing life-threatening conditions such as heart attacks, respiratory distress, and shock in hospital settings. They perform advanced diagnostic procedures, manage complex medical equipment, and coordinate care with multidisciplinary healthcare teams. These nurses combine critical thinking with hands-on patient care to deliver high-level interventions in fast-paced, high-stakes medical environments.

DAY IN THE LIFE:
An acute care nurse begins their shift by reviewing patient charts and receiving handoff reports from the previous shift, prioritizing care based on patient acuity levels. They perform comprehensive patient assessments, monitor vital signs, and interpret diagnostic data such as EKGs and radiographs to identify changes in patient conditions. Throughout the day, they administer medications, manage pain relief protocols, and collaborate with physicians, respiratory therapists, and other specialists during patient care conferences. They document all interventions and patient responses in electronic health records, collect laboratory specimens, and provide detailed education to patients and family members about treatments and discharge plans. The nurse constantly monitors multiple patients simultaneously, making critical decisions about when to escalate care or implement emergency interventions.

WHO THRIVES:
Individuals who excel in acute care nursing demonstrate exceptional attention to detail and strong problem-solving abilities, as patient conditions can change rapidly and require immediate assessment. They possess high emotional intelligence and communication skills, enabling them to provide compassionate care while delivering complex medical information to stressed patients and families. These professionals thrive under pressure and can multitask effectively while maintaining clinical accuracy and safety standards. They are naturally curious and committed to continuous learning, as medical protocols and technologies evolve rapidly in acute care settings.

CAREER ENTRY:
Most acute care nurses begin with a Bachelor's degree in nursing (57.1% of professionals) or Associate's degree (19.1%), followed by passing the NCLEX-RN examination for licensure. Entry typically requires 1-2 years of medical-surgical nursing experience before transitioning to acute care units. Many employers prefer candidates with additional certifications such as BLS, ACLS, or specialty certifications, and some positions require completion of intensive care unit orientation programs lasting 3-6 months.

CAREER TRAJECTORY:
Acute care nurses can advance to charge nurse positions, clinical nurse specialist roles, or pursue advanced practice credentials as acute care nurse practitioners requiring master's level education. Many transition into management roles such as nurse manager or director positions, while others specialize further in areas like cardiovascular surgery or trauma care. The experience gained in acute care provides excellent preparation for roles in critical care nursing, emergency departments, or flight nursing positions.

MARKET INTELLIGENCE:
According to BLS OEWS May 2025 data, acute care nurses earn a median annual wage of $97,550, with the 10th-90th percentile range from $68,940 to $137,470. The field employs 3,379,720 nurses nationwide with significant geographic variation, from California's $140,270 median to Puerto Rico's $39,880, reflecting cost of living differences and demand patterns. Health Care and Social Assistance sectors employ the vast majority (2,895,620), with growing opportunities in government healthcare systems and specialized acute care facilities. The aging population and increasing prevalence of chronic conditions requiring acute interventions drive sustained demand for these specialized nurses.

AUTOMATION OUTLOOK:
Acute care nursing faces moderate automation pressure, as technology increasingly supports patient monitoring and documentation tasks through advanced telemetry systems and electronic health records. However, the core functions of clinical assessment, critical thinking, and patient advocacy remain highly resistant to automation given their reliance on human judgment and interpersonal skills. The integration of AI-assisted diagnostic tools may enhance nurses' decision-making capabilities rather than replace their roles.

--- REASONED EDGES ---
  [skill_overlap] Critical Care Nurses (29-1141.03) — confidence:high
    reasoning: Both roles share identical core skills in critical thinking (4.1), monitoring (4.0), and medicine/dentistry knowledge (4.8+), with critical care being a specialized subset of acute care.
    data: Critical Thinking imp:4.1
    data: Medicine and Dentistry knowledge imp:4.8
    data: Monitoring skill imp:4.0
  [career_pathway] Registered Nurses (29-1141.00) — confidence:high
    reasoning: Acute care nurses are specialized registered nurses, sharing identical RIASEC profile with Social (5.80) and Investigative (5.66) dominance and requiring RN licensure as prerequisite.
    data: RIASEC S:5.80, I:5.66
    data: Bachelor's Degree 57.1%
    data: Reading Comprehension imp:4.1
  [task_similarity] Paramedics (29-2043.00) — confidence:medium
    reasoning: Both roles involve interpreting EKGs and radiographs, managing emergency medical interventions, and providing critical care in high-stress situations.
    data: Interpret EKGs/radiographs task
    data: Problem Sensitivity imp:4.2
    data: Public Safety knowledge imp:3.4
  [knowledge_overlap] Respiratory Therapists (29-1126.00) — confidence:medium
    reasoning: Both professions require medicine and dentistry knowledge (4.8+ importance) and frequently collaborate in managing patients with respiratory distress and ventilator support.
    data: Medicine and Dentistry knowledge imp:4.8
    data: Respiratory distress care
    data: Multidisciplinary collaboration task
  [career_pathway] Nursing Assistants (31-1131.00) — confidence:medium
    reasoning: Nursing assistants often pursue nursing education to become acute care nurses, sharing foundational skills in patient care, attention to detail (10.0), and service orientation.
    data: Assisting and Caring for Others imp:4.7
    data: Service Orientation transferable skill
    data: Attention to Detail imp:10.0
  [riasec_cluster] Clinical Nurse Specialists (29-1141.04) — confidence:high
    reasoning: Both roles cluster in Social-Investigative RIASEC types, focusing on patient care combined with analytical thinking and advanced clinical knowledge application.
    data: RIASEC S:5.80, I:5.66
    data: Medicine knowledge lvl:5.7
    data: Critical Thinking imp:4.1

--- NORMALIZER SIGNALS ---
  match_keywords   : ['acute care nurse', 'intensive care', 'critical care', 'cardiac interventional', 'cardiovascular ICU', 'admission nurse', 'charge nurse', 'medical surgical']
  exclude_keywords : ['licensed practical', 'nursing assistant', 'nurse aide', 'student nurse', 'home health']
  title_patterns   : ['*ICU*', '*Acute Care*', '*Critical Care*', '*Intensive Care*', '*CCU*']
  common_variations: ['ACNP', 'ICU nurse', 'critical care RN', 'acute care RN', 'intensive care nurse', 'cardiac care nurse', 'step down nurse', 'progressive care nurse']
Semantic Manifold — 40 terms · 5 provenance layers employment_word_extractor.py · sources: onet_tasks | onet_dimensions | dwas | wikipedia | inference · Constitutional Law III
total_terms    : 40
top_words      : ['care', 'patient', 'tendency', 'nurse', 'patients', 'acute', 'others', 'practice', 'acnp', 'equipment', 'nursing', 'health', 'medical', 'practitioner', 'critical', 'includes', 'procedures', 'needs', 'principles', 'treatment']
source_layers  : onet_tasks | onet_dimensions | dwas | wikipedia | inference

TERM                    COUNT     FREQ  DOMINANT SOURCE      SOURCE BREAKDOWN
──────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────
care                       98  0.02449  wikipedia            wikipedia:65%  inference:26%  onet_tasks:7%
patient                    44  0.01100  wikipedia            wikipedia:57%  inference:23%  dwas:16%
tendency                   42  0.01050  onet_dimensions      onet_dimensions:100%
nurse                      42  0.01050  wikipedia            wikipedia:83%  inference:17%
patients                   39  0.00975  onet_tasks           onet_tasks:36%  wikipedia:36%  dwas:15%
acute                      39  0.00975  wikipedia            wikipedia:51%  inference:38%  onet_tasks:8%
others                     39  0.00975  onet_dimensions      onet_dimensions:97%  inference:3%
practice                   35  0.00875  wikipedia            wikipedia:91%  inference:6%  onet_tasks:3%
acnp                       30  0.00750  wikipedia            wikipedia:100%
equipment                  29  0.00725  onet_dimensions      onet_dimensions:79%  onet_tasks:7%  dwas:7%
nursing                    27  0.00675  wikipedia            wikipedia:67%  inference:30%  dwas:4%
health                     24  0.00600  wikipedia            wikipedia:50%  onet_tasks:25%  inference:12%
medical                    24  0.00600  dwas                 dwas:50%  wikipedia:21%  inference:21%
practitioner               22  0.00550  wikipedia            wikipedia:100%
critical                   21  0.00525  wikipedia            wikipedia:71%  inference:19%  onet_tasks:5%
includes                   18  0.00450  onet_dimensions      onet_dimensions:67%  wikipedia:33%
procedures                 17  0.00425  onet_dimensions      onet_dimensions:47%  wikipedia:29%  onet_tasks:12%
needs                      16  0.00400  onet_dimensions      onet_dimensions:50%  wikipedia:31%  onet_tasks:12%
principles                 16  0.00400  onet_dimensions      onet_dimensions:100%
treatment                  15  0.00375  dwas                 dwas:40%  wikipedia:33%  onet_dimensions:20%
nurses                     15  0.00375  inference            inference:53%  wikipedia:47%
services                   14  0.00350  wikipedia            wikipedia:57%  onet_dimensions:43%
management                 14  0.00350  onet_dimensions      onet_dimensions:50%  wikipedia:43%  inference:7%
advanced                   13  0.00325  wikipedia            wikipedia:62%  inference:31%  onet_tasks:8%
control                    13  0.00325  onet_dimensions      onet_dimensions:92%  dwas:8%
objects                    12  0.00300  onet_dimensions      onet_dimensions:100%
scope                      12  0.00300  wikipedia            wikipedia:100%
members                    11  0.00275  onet_tasks           onet_tasks:36%  onet_dimensions:18%  dwas:18%
interventions              11  0.00275  onet_tasks           onet_tasks:36%  inference:36%  wikipedia:27%
providing                  11  0.00275  onet_dimensions      onet_dimensions:64%  wikipedia:27%  onet_tasks:9%
monitoring                 11  0.00275  onet_dimensions      onet_dimensions:73%  onet_tasks:18%  inference:9%
life                       11  0.00275  wikipedia            wikipedia:45%  onet_tasks:36%  onet_dimensions:9%
activities                 11  0.00275  onet_dimensions      onet_dimensions:82%  onet_tasks:9%  dwas:9%
standards                  11  0.00275  onet_dimensions      onet_dimensions:73%  dwas:9%  wikipedia:9%
ideas                      11  0.00275  onet_dimensions      onet_dimensions:100%
body                       11  0.00275  onet_dimensions      onet_dimensions:91%  wikipedia:9%
orientation                11  0.00275  onet_dimensions      onet_dimensions:82%  wikipedia:9%  inference:9%
clinical                   11  0.00275  wikipedia            wikipedia:64%  inference:27%  dwas:9%
assessment                 10  0.00250  wikipedia            wikipedia:40%  onet_tasks:20%  onet_dimensions:20%
specialty                  10  0.00250  wikipedia            wikipedia:80%  onet_tasks:10%  inference:10%
◈ Boise Standard Employment Graph · 29-1141.01 · built 2026-06-02 · Sources declared above are authoritative originals. This page synthesizes but does not replace them. Every claim traceable. Full provenance. Constitutional Law I.
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