Required Education
ADN or BSN
Attributes
Independent
Work on your own or even start your own practice, in some states.
Patient-facing
Work hands-on, directly with patients.
Structured
Follow a routine that allows you to anticipate and prepare for every situation.
Varied
Take on different tasks, patients, and situations every day.
You’ll provide goal-oriented care for patients of all ages, but frequently the elderly, until they are stable enough to be moved to a lower level of care.
What you’ll do
Monitoring
You’ll keep a close eye on your patients throughout the day, checking and recording vital signs and performing physical examinations.
Resuscitation
You’ll use life-saving equipment like defibrillators and ventilator support.
Treatment
You’ll care for wounds, help manage pain, administer medication, perform daily hygiene tasks, and develop care plans.
Where you’ll work
- Hospitals
- Long-term care centers
- Rehabilitation centers
- Subacute units
How to become a Subacute Nurse
01
Get an Associate’s Degree in Nursing (ADN) or Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN).
02
Pass the NCLEX-RN.
03
Work as a Registered Nurse.
Gain experience in Acute Care and taking continuing education courses in Rehabilitation and Pharmacology.
04
You’re ready to work as a Subacute Nurse.
Join an Organization
Become a member of a Subacute Nurse organization to find career opportunities, learn from your colleagues, and support the profession.
A Telemetry Nurse’s role is also structured.
A Rehabilitation Nurse is another type of long-term care nurse.
