Critical care nurses work in high dependency units, where total care for patients is required. These include the intensive care unit and post-operative unit. Their job involves provision of care to patients suffering from acute, serious and complex illnesses and who need constant monitoring.
Typically, critical care nurses work under the Head Nurse. In the absence of the Head Nurse, the critical care nurse takes instruction from the appointed team leader. They can specialize in neonatal intensive care, pediatric intensive care and adult intensive care among others.
Critical Care Nurse Job Responsibilities
The responsibilities of a critical care nurse are more intense and involving than those of a nurse practitioner or advanced nurse. The nurse is responsible for the planning, administration and evaluation of nursing care of patients in his or her care. S/he closely monitors the physical and cardiac progress/status of the patient.
He or she must administer all treatments, including medications and keep accurate records of nursing assessment and care. In addition, he/she must be able to recognize complications when they arise in patients.
They help physicians in carrying out special procedures and assist in emergency nursing procedures to ensure that any changes in the patient’s condition are promptly brought under control. The nurse must be able to perform all cardiopulmonary resuscitation techniques accurately and effectively.
As team leaders in critical care units, they must assess, direct and develop the skills and abilities of nurses and other staff assigned to work with them. All team assignments must be made based on each patient’s needs. They show leadership and help in the interpretation of philosophy as well as the application of objectives of the required nursing service in a specific area.
They must be able to operate the highly technical equipment used in critical care units. They must participate in or initiate CPR and Codes when required/necessary.
Critical Care Nurse Training and Education Requirements
To work as a critical care nurse, one must be a registered nurse. This requires a diploma in nursing, an Associate of Science in Nursing or Bachelor of Science in Nursing. Most hospitals offer diploma programs in nursing. For nursing degree courses, one has to join a college or university. Associate degree nursing programs usually last for two years. Nursing diplomas are usually three years long, while a bachelors’ degree takes three to four years.
Upon conclusion of the nursing program and passing the exam, one obtains registered nurse licensing. Critical care nurses may advance their studies if they like, to masters or doctorate level. The higher the level of education they attain the faster they are likely to climb the career ladder.
Critical Care Nurse Salary and Wages
Although influenced by level of education, training, experience, location of practice and size of employing organization, the earning potential of critical care nurses is generally good. Critical care nurses take home an average of $75,000 per year. The starting salary for these nurses is between $30,000 and $40,000, a figure which quickly increases after a couple of years. The highest paid critical care nurse gets close to $100,000 annually.
Critical care nurses in managerial positions earn upwards of $130,000 a year, again depending on size of organization and expertise.
Additional benefits for critical care nursing employees include pensions, healthcare, educational expenses, childcare and bonuses. These are matched to the range of perks in other industries.
Critical Care Nurse Certification
Critical care nurses are certified by the American Association of Critical Care Nurses (AACCN). The same body provides certification for specialties, including cardiac medicine, neonatal critical care, pediatric critical care, adult critical care, nurse managers and nurse leaders. The relevant certifications for each specialty are as follows:
PCCN – Adult Progressive Care Nursing Certification
CCRN – Adult Neonatal and Pediatric Acute/Critical Care Nursing Certification
CCRN-E – Adult Tele-ICU Acute/Critical Care Nursing Certification
CMC – Adult Cardiac Medicine Subspecialty Certification
CSC – Adult Cardiac Surgery Subspecialty Certification
ACNPC – Adult Acute Care Nurse Practitioner Certification
ACNPC – Adult Acute Care Nurse Practitioner Certification
CNML – Nurse Manager and Leader Certification
To get certified, critical care nurses must pass the AACCN exam. They must also demonstrate familiarity with cardiac and hemodynamic monitoring systems, ventricular assisting devices, mechanical ventilator therapy, intra-aortic balloon pumps, extracorporeal membrane oxygenation circuits and all life support units likely to be found in a critical care unit.
Critical Care Nurse Professional Associations
The largest national professional association of critical care nurses in America is the American Association of Critical Care Nurses. It is also the largest such association in the world, with over 50,000 members. It provides resources, skills and knowledge to provide maximum care to critically ill patients.
There is also the Society of Critical Care Medicine (SCCM), which is international. It has a membership of over 15,000 members and provides support to all aspects of the critical care profession. The organization promotes research, education, excellence in patience care and advocacy.
