Acute Care Positions (22)
Physician Assistant or Acute Care Nurse Practitioner - Cardiovascular Surgery, Full-time, Days
McHenry, IL
Physician Assistant or Acute Care Nurse Practitioner, Lung Transplant Medical ICU (Inpatient), Full-time, Nights
Chicago, IL
Physician Assistant or Acute Care Nurse Practitioner - Cardiothoracic Critical Care Intensive Care Unit (CTICU), Full-time, Rotating
Chicago, IL
Physician Assistant or Acute Care Nurse Practitioner (with RNFA) - Cardiac Surgery, Full-time Days
Winfield, IL
Physician Assistant or Acute Care Nurse Practitioner - Cardiac Recovery and Observation and Invasive Cardiac Post Anesthesia Care , Full-time, Days
Chicago, IL
Nurse Practitioner or Physician Assistant - Neurocritical Care, Full-time, Night Shift Preferred - option for Rotating Shift
Chicago, IL
Physician Assistant or Acute Care Nurse Practitioner - Hospital at Home, Full-time, Days
Lake Forest, IL
Physician Assistant or Acute Care Nurse Practitioner - Cardiothoracic Critical Care Intensive Care Unit (CTICU), Full-time, NIGHTS Only
Chicago, IL
Physician Assistant or Acute Care Nurse Practitioner (with RNFA) - Surgical Oncology, Full-time, Days
Warrenville, IL
Acute Care Nurse Practitioner - Inpatient Stroke Program, Part-time, Nights
Winfield, IL
Top Employers
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The Role
The Acute Care role at a glance
Acute care nurse practitioners (ACNPs) manage adults with complex, acute, and critical illness in ICUs, step-down units, emergency departments, and hospital specialty services — rapid assessment, diagnostics, treatment plans, and procedures within granted privileges.
Day to day, that means rounding with intensivist or specialty teams, running admissions and cross-cover, responding to deteriorating patients, and performing procedures such as central lines and arterial lines where privileged.
Requirements & certification
- Graduate adult-gerontology acute care NP program (MSN or DNP)
- National certification as AGACNP-BC through ANCC or ACNPC-AG through AACN
- Acute-care RN background (ICU, ED, or step-down) preferred by most hospitals
- Active state APRN licensure; hospital credentialing and privileging define the procedure scope
Highlights
Why Acute Care?
ICU-Level Acuity
The sickest adult patients, managed as part of intensivist-led teams.
Procedural Practice
Lines, airway support, and bedside procedures per hospital privileges.
Differential Pay
Shift-based hospital schedules carry night, weekend, and holiday premiums.
Compensation
Acute Care Nurse Practitioner (ACNP) salary
Nationally, nurse practitioners earn a median annual wage of $129,210 (BLS OEWS, Nurse Practitioners (29-1171) — median annual wage, May 2024). Hospital-based acute care pay is built as a base plus shift differentials — nights, weekends, and holidays stack on top — so a posted base rate understates what a full shift rotation actually pays. Compare posted salary ranges on individual listings for current, real-world figures.
See the full NP salary guideState by State
Browse Acute Care NP Jobs by State
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