Urgent care bridges the gap between primary care centers and emergency departments, offering rapid care for non-life-threatening medical issues. As more communities adopt this model, the healthcare industry is experiencing increased demand for urgent care nurses who can deliver safe and efficient care to patients.
To better prepare for the demands of an urgent care environment, an RN to BSN degree program can offer the specialized skills and training needed to advance your career. St. Thomas University’s (STU) online Registered Nurse to Bachelor of Science in Nursing program provides students with an accelerated path toward opportunities in urgent care nursing. Explore what urgent care nurses do, what nursing skills are essential for this career path and how STU supports working nurses as they pursue their degrees.
What Do Urgent Care Nurses Do?
Urgent care nurses provide diagnosis and treatment for non-life-threatening injuries and illnesses that require prompt attention but do not meet the criteria for emergency care. They perform triage, coordinate diagnostics and educate patients on home care and follow-up. Compared to primary care or inpatient nursing, urgent care nursing roles involve a more intensive pace and greater variability. Typical duties include:
- Completing medical examinations
- Administering medications
- Obtaining medical histories
- Assisting with medical procedures
- Documenting care
Urgent Care Nursing Work Environments
Urgent care nurses prioritize patients based on acuity and are prepared to escalate care to a higher level if necessary. Urgent care nurses primarily work in walk-in outpatient clinics, but they may also work in emergency rooms, operating rooms, long-term care facilities and in-home healthcare settings.
Urgent care nurses address a robust variety of urgent health challenges and serve diverse patient populations, such as:
- Infants, children and adolescents
- Adults and geriatric adults
- Individuals with chronic medical conditions
- Immunocompromised patients
- Pregnant/postpartum patients with non-obstetric needs
- Workers with minor occupational injuries
Urgent care nurses function within interdisciplinary teams that include nurse practitioners and physicians. They frequently coordinate with radiologic technologists and laboratory staff, as many centers maintain on-site imaging and point-of-care testing. They also interact with care coordinators and referral staff to arrange patient follow-ups.
Essential Skills for Urgent Care Nurses
Urgent care nurses possess a combination of clinical skills and soft skills that enable them to care for patients with precision, compassion and efficiency. In an RN to BSN program, students develop clinical skillsets that support urgent patient care, such as:
- Emergency care fundamentals: Maintain basic life support and perform triage that prioritizes time-sensitive complaints and patient stabilization.
- Diagnosis and treatment: Conduct diagnostic tests, start IV access and administer medications within scope.
- Physical exams and reporting: Conduct physical exams and document patient information.
- Soft-tissue injury procedures: Irrigate and dress wounds, support burn care, set up incision and drainage and assist with injections and local anesthesia.
- Fractures, dislocations, separations and subluxations: Identify and immobilize suspected injuries, perform neurovascular checks and coordinate further tests and care.
- Equipment application and training: Apply splints and slings, teach safe crutch use and ensure patient understanding.
BSN students also refine soft skills that support high-quality urgent care, including:
- Communication: Translate medical terms into plain language to educate patients and coordinate handoffs to primary or specialty care.
- Critical thinking: Analyze symptoms, exam findings and test results to determine the appropriate next steps.
- Time management: Prioritize and adjust patient care while maintaining efficient workflows.
- Attention to detail: Provide accurate patient assessments with precise medical care documentation.
- Empathy: Support patient safety and trust with empathy, compassion and respect during brief encounters.
- Teamwork: Maintain situational awareness, share tasks and support colleagues.
In addition to medical and soft skills, urgent care nurses possess basic technology literacy to navigate electronic health records, healthcare software and telehealth communication platforms. Nurses must also maintain professionalism and ethics to protect patient safety and confidentiality.
How to Become an Urgent Care Nurse
Becoming an urgent care nurse starts with education and licensure, followed by professional experience. Education develops required nursing competencies, while work experience provides familiarity and confidence in urgent care settings.
These steps outline how you can advance your career and acquire valuable qualifications in urgent care nursing:
Become a Registered Nurse
Prospective urgent care nurses typically begin their careers by completing an accredited RN program, an associate degree in nursing or a bachelor’s degree in nursing. Graduates then need to sit for and pass the National Council Licensure Examination for registered nurses (NCLEX-RN).
After licensure, new graduates can work in environments that refine assessment and triage skills. Experience with ambulatory care, emergency department support or walk-in care settings provides confidence in addressing urgent medical needs.
Earn a BSN
A BSN deepens RNs’ qualifications with clinical competencies, leadership skills, community health knowledge and research. Many working nurses pursue online RN to BSN programs, which offer streamlined and flexible educational paths.
STU’s RN to BSN program offers an accelerated path with online coursework that fits rotating nursing schedules. Accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE), the RN to BSN online program emphasizes ethical leadership in conjunction with coursework in health assessment, informatics, health sciences and practical experience.
Gain Experience
Employers often value nurses with experience that transfers to urgent care settings. For example, emergency department work builds experience with rapid triage and patient acuity, while ambulatory orthopedics refines skills in splinting and casting.
Nurses may also pursue additional training in surgery, wound management and similar areas. Continued professional experience with a focus on leadership also prepares nurses to support teams in urgent care settings.
Career Outlook for Urgent Care Nurses
With the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) estimating about 1.9 million job openings in healthcare occupations through 2033, nurses are needed to fulfill steadily expanding roles in urgent care. The increasing demand for urgent care nurses stems from continued health system investment in urgent care to offset emergency department volume, while providing same-day care for patients who are unable to wait for typical primary care.
Experienced urgent care nurses can move into advanced roles, such as urgent care managers, clinical coordinators and healthcare educators. Graduate education offers additional opportunities for in-demand roles, such as urgent care nurse practitioners or family nurse practitioners.
Inside the Online Nursing Experience at STU
STU’s online RN to BSN program features a mission-driven curriculum that emphasizes leadership and ethics alongside core nursing competencies. With fully online coursework and multiple start dates, working nurses can access assignments and pace their work around clinical schedules. CCNE accreditation ensures that the RN to BSN program provides quality education that aligns with the standards set by the American Association of Colleges of Nursing (AACN).
Students benefit from faculty who bring practical nursing experience into their teaching, offering real-world insights that connect theory to day-to-day practice. Faculty support, personalized mentoring and peer collaboration help guide learners and promote success during the RN to BSN program.
Advance Your Urgent Care Nursing Career With STU Online
Urgent care nursing suits professionals with strong clinical judgement and confidence in fast-paced healthcare settings. As the demand for nursing professionals continues to grow, graduates of STU’s online RN to BSN program are well-prepared for varied and rewarding roles in urgent care.
STU’s online RN to BSN program offers a fast-tracked path to advanced nursing opportunities. Learn more about pursuing an online BSN with STU by contacting admissions, or apply now to take the next steps in your nursing career.
