This chapter discusses the history and evolution of long-term care (LTC) and acute care facilities, including current trends, population health models, federal services available, social determinants of health, economic burden, nursing roles, and an overview of important terms. It focuses more specifically on different settings within the domain of LTC, acute care, and the nurses’ role therein. Acute care consists of healthcare services delivered by an interdisciplinary team within the hospital setting. The aim of acute care is to treat with the intent to cure sudden-onset health conditions, including potentially life-threatening exacerbations of chronic health conditions. Inpatient acute-care nurses traditionally provide care for critically ill patients in the hospital setting and are expected to work with a variety of patients. They provide general nursing care such as conducting patient assessments, documenting, dispensing medications, evaluating diagnostic tests, monitoring medical equipment, and providing personal care and education.