ICU Nurse Career Guide
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Overview
Intensive care unit nurses, also referred to as critical care nurses, care for critically ill patients with life-threatening conditions or illnesses. Critically ill patients require an interdisciplinary team, with many physicians and healthcare providers at their side. ICU nurses typically only care for 1 to 2 ICU patients during a shift due to the patients’ high acuity.
ICU nurses work in
Education
The first step to becoming an ICU nurse is graduating from an accredited nursing program. You can earn either an associate degree (ADN) or a Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN). However, many healthcare systems now require their new nurses to have a BSN since it improves patient outcomes.
The duration of a BSN program
Skills
While many nursing skills are transferable across specialties, being an intensive care unit nurse requires additional expertise. An ICU nurse must be able to recognize when a patient’s health status is deteriorating and act quickly. Some necessary skills include:
Exceptional critical thinking skills and problem-solving skills
Close attention to detail and strong organization
Teamwork and ability to communicate effectively
Performing appropriate testing and managing
Responsibilities
The primary responsibility of an ICU registered nurse is to provide comprehensive, direct care to critically ill patients in the intensive care unit. ICU registered nurses also have a range of responsibilities unique to this specialized field of nursing, including:
Monitoring and assessing patients' conditions closely, including vital signs, laboratory results and responses to treatments.
Administering medications and performing complex treatments and
Salary Insights
The average salary for a ICU Nurse is $2,146.70 per week.
Last updated on September 12, 2024. Based on active jobs on Vivian.com.
Pros & Cons
Many RNs want to work in the ICU for various reasons. Some nurses enjoy the challenges it brings, while others like caring for critically ill people and feeling like they’re making a significant impact. Being an intensive care unit nurse has many benefits, including those listed below.
Benefiting from High Demand: Since before the COVID-19 pandemic and throughout, ICU nurses have
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