Acute nursing environments evolve rapidly. Whether you’re on a medical ward, surgical ward or ED overflow, the expectations for clinical readiness are higher than ever.
Here are the seven skills every modern acute nurse must have.
1. Rapid Clinical Assessment (RCA)
The ability to perform a 30-second–2-minute bedside rapid assessment is now essential.
Focus areas:
Airway clearance
Respiratory effort
Skin colour & perfusion
Neuro changes
Pain indicators
2. Early Recognition of Deterioration
MET calls are occurring earlier thanks to improved detection. Nurses must master:
AVPU
GCS
NEWS2 scoring
Identifying sepsis red flags
3. IV Cannulation & Infusion Management
Expectations include:
Confident cannula insertion
Accurate IV therapy calculations
Managing pumps and titrated infusions
4. Surgical Wound & Post-Op Care
With shorter hospital stays, acute nurses now manage:
Complex dressings
Drain care
Post-op respiratory assessments
Pain management optimisation
5. Safe Medication Administration Under Pressure
Including high-risk meds:
Anticoagulants
Insulin
Opioids
Potassium-based fluids
6. Infection Prevention in High-Turnover Environments
Key competencies:
Isolation protocols
Outbreak management
PPE sequencing
Correct swab collection
7. Communication Under Time Pressure
Because acute settings rely on speed, nurses must excel in:
SBAR communication
Briefings & handovers
De-escalation
Acute nursing in 2025 demands agility, critical thinking and high-level clinical confidence. Master these skills and you’re already ahead.
