Critical Care Nursing – Intensive care by dedicated professionals

Critical Care Nurses care for patients who are critically ill; with a variety of diagnoses. Patient care involves complex assessments, interventions and involves the use of advanced technologies. Critical Care Nursing is a specialty within the nursing field, that deals specifically with life threatening problems and requires a greater responsibility for ensuring that both the patient and their families receive quality optimal care.

Critically ill patients require more intensive one on one nursing care. Patients may suffer from a variety of serious ailments, such as stroke, diabetic complications, blood loss from serious accidents and often experience dysfunction of major organs such as kidney, liver, heart, lungs and other serious traumas. Critically ill patients depend entirely on their critical care nurses; as many are non functional or very low functioning. Many patients in the critical care units are on life support. Critical care nurses provide care to patients with cardio vascular, respiratory or pulmonary failure. Registered Nurses who work with critically ill patients, must have, along with their many other skills and strengths, the ability to emotionally handle the daily observations of seeing patient suffering. As well these nurses will come into close personal contact with the patients family and friends and must be emotionally able to provide support in stressful situations. This means that not only do critical care nurses have to meet the demanding physical needs of the patients and their families, but also meet their emotional and sometimes spiritual needs.

A critical care nurse should be caring, sympathetic, responsible, detail oriented, and must be able to direct or supervise others. They must be able to correctly assess patients ever changing conditions and determine when consultation is required. They should be able to cope with emergencies and other stresses in a calm and appropriate way. Specialized training is needed along with the medical skills and experience to create a healing and humane environment that consists of compassion and caring.

Critical Care Nurses can work in a variety of settings and perform a multitude of roles. The majority of critical care nurses work in Critical Care or Intensive Care units at hospitals. Some other work options are in Home Health Care, Outpatient Surgery Centers and Cardiac Care Units. There are plenty of work options, some others include these areas..

Critical Care Nurses demonstrate a high level of independence as well as responsibility. This makes them eligible for financial reimbursements in most states just like doctors. Critical care nurses are often called upon to make important decisions related to patient care and must be able to deal with problems that may arise in acute care situations. Their specialized training allows them to work with all ages of patients.

Some of the responsibilities of Critical Care Nurses include: Responding to managing changes in the patients condition. Administrating medications and monitoring the effects. Attending to both complex and simple wound dressings. Performing basic nursing care functions. Utilizing, monitoring and verifying data on bedside computers. Monitor life support equipment. Provide advanced life support measures within a team environment, and maintain life functions.

Qualifications Education and Training

Training for Critical Care Nurses goes beyond the basic Registered Nurse training. They must also attend a program or orientation on how to care for the critically ill. Most nurses choosing to work in this field complete a critical care program that prepares them for a specialized exam called the CCRN Exam. This certification is not mandatory but leads to a more skillful resume that impresses employers and validates experience leading to advanced opportunities and benefits. You must hold a current license in Registered Nursing in the US and have an associates degree in nursing, or a BSN and pass a license exam.

The CCRN Exam (optional) is a computer based test that consists of 150 multiple choice questions and takes about 3 hours to complete. These exams are offered year round 5 days a week at more than 100 AMP Applied Measurement Professionals Assessment Centers. There are paper/pencil exams available through the NTI National Teaching Institute. The cost of the exam is between $220.00 – $325.00.

Salaries vary considerably by location, facilities, education level, and experience. However there is a great demand for Critical Care Nurses all throughout the United States. Some benefits include scholarships, loan repayments, grants, sign on bonuses, relocation Funding, transportation assistance and because the demand is only expected to increase, Job security is an important benefit for your future. The American Association of Critical Care Nurses also reports a commitment started in 2001 to promote the creation of a Healthy and Excellent Work Environment wherever acute and critical care nurses practice.

Career opportunities are numerous and widely available. It’s a great time to get the training you need for a fabulous career as a Critical Care Nurse. Make a difference and get started today!