There are a number of different specialties that nurses can focus on throughout the course of their career.  Nurse practitioners often focus in areas such as family practice, women's health, geriatrics, pediatrics, and acute care.  The demand for qualified acute care nursing professionals is higher than it has ever been before the due to the shortage of qualified individuals to fill positions.  Acute care nursing is not for everyone and it requires an individual that is dedicated and who can tolerate the higher levels of stress required of them in order to perform the tasks necessary to care for patients in emergency and chronic situations.  There are a number of departments in a hospital that rely on the skills possessed by these professional individuals.

Before choosing this line of work, a nurse practitioner should understand the demands of the job as well as potential salaries involved.  The job of an acute care nurse practitioner will involve caring for individuals dealing with chronic or severe illnesses and with patients in an emergency situation.  Nearly 70% of all nurses work in some type of a hospital setting.  Acute care nurses work almost entirely in hospital settings as their skills are not generally required in clinics, private practices, or administrative positions.  These nurses must be willing to work days, nights, and evening shifts and may even be on call during their time off.  They must possess stamina will be on what is necessary to work in a private practice or clinical setting.

Acute care nurse practitioners are the nurses that will be first in line to deal with patients in emergencies or those who are severely injured in accidents and car crashes.  Because of this, it is necessary for these nurses to be adept at dealing with stressful situations without becoming overwhelmed by the demands of the job.  Their abilities and skill set also make these some of the most highly paid nurses in the industry.  Acute care nurse practitioners can expect to make between 70 and $85,000 a year depending on their experience and what department of a hospital they work in.  While it may seem like a high wage compared to what other nurses may get, acute care nurses work hard for every cent that they make.

Some areas of the country may pay nurses better than others so for an individual looking to make as much money as possible in this field it will be necessary to research and be willing to relocate.  While their schedules can be demanding, it also offers a level of flexibility that is not often seen in the medical profession and many acute care nurses count that as one of their benefits.  For many of these qualified and compassionate individuals, however, the higher wage is not the most rewarding part of the job.  The fact that these individuals make such a huge difference in the lives of thousands of patients every day makes them a crucial part of every hospital's staff.  Without them the public would not receive the uncompromising care that we have come to expect.