What does an ICU nurse do?
ICU nurses play a key role in providing patient care under the supervision of doctors. They routinely perform head-to-toe physical examinations of patients, administer medication and provide wound care. ICU nurses interact with families to provide updates on their patients’ condition and seek medical decisions.
ICU nurses often have to react quickly to emergency situations and demonstrate a high degree of flexibility in life-or-death situations. They are sometimes called on to work overtime or to take irregular shifts.
Some critical care nurses work in special units for pediatrics or hospice care. Common ICU nurse careers can include:
- Acute/Critical Care Nurse-Adult (CCRN-Adult). These nurses work in ICUs and cardiac care units to care for adults in critical condition.
- Acute/Critical Care Nurse-Pediatric (CCRN-Pediatric). These nurses work specifically with children who need intensive care.
- Acute/Critical Care Nurse-Neonatal (CCRN-Neonatal): These nurses specialize in caring for infants, often those who are born prematurely and with significant medical issues.
- TeleICU Nurse: These nurses provide remote care via audiovisual communication for patients at home or in a care facility.
- Transport/Flight Nurse: These nurses provide care to critically injured or ill patients during inter-facility transfers in an ambulance, as well as emergency transport in a helicopter or plane.
- Head CCU Nurse: These nurses lead critical care departments such as ICUs, NICUs and trauma units. This is a management position that has less hands-on patient care and more supervisory and administrative duties.
ICU nurse skills and qualifications
To succeed as an ICU nurse, workers need a broad variety of skills. Qualified ICU nurses should have a large set of job-specific skills and qualifications, including:
- Strong organizational abilities and good communication skills
- High-level interpersonal skills and the ability to connect with patients’ families during stressful experiences
- A valid nursing certificate or BSN degree from an accredited college or university
- The appropriate license to work as a nurse in their state/county
- Training in emergency response, disease control and other hospital-specific skills
- Fluency in patients’ language(s)
ICU nurse experience requirements
Critical care nurses who work in ICUs typically have a lot of experience in nursing before they transfer into advanced patient care environments. Entry-level ICU nurses have usually worked for several years in nursing, in addition to the extensive education and certification requirements.
ICU nurse education and training requirements
While it’s possible to get a start in nursing with a vocational certificate from an accredited college or training institute, ICU nurses are generally expected to have a bachelor’s degree in nursing. After obtaining the basic nursing degree, critical care nurses must pass the National Council Licensure Examination (NCLEX-RN) test. To transfer into critical care, a qualified RN is expected to obtain a CCRN certification from the American Association of Critical-Care Nurses.
Certified CCRNs are generally qualified to look for entry-level work as ICU nurses, but there are further steps that can expand their career opportunities. Many ICU nurses go on to obtain a master’s degree in nursing (MSN). This degree, along with several years’ experience in ICU nursing, is a common prerequisite for advancement into administration and lead nurse positions.
ICU nurse salary expectations
According to Indeed Salaries, the average salary of an ICU nurse in the United States is $146,819 per year. This average varies somewhat with the location and exact nature of the work that they do. Overtime is frequently available for ICU and critical care nurses, which may add an average of $12,000 to their base salary.
ICU nurse salary expectations
-
Common salary:
2108.08 WEEKLY -
Typical salaries range from
1000.00 -3600.00 WEEKLY - Find more information on Indeed Salaries
*Indeed data –
Job description samples for similar positions
If ICU nurse is not exactly the job you’re looking for, you still have a lot of options in nursing and allied health fields. Have a look at the listings for similar careers:
ICU nurse job description FAQs
How is the job of ICU nurse different from other nursing specialties?
While most nursing jobs have similar patient care responsibilities, ICU nurses specialize in providing critical care to people with very unstable health conditions.
Do ICU nurses work long hours?
ICU nurses are frequently called on to work extra hours and long shifts, dictated by the needs of the patients.
Are ICU nurses management employees?
ICU nurses may develop into lead or nurse manager positions, but this is usually after several years of experience and a master’s degree.
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