Critical care nursing, or intensive care unit (ICU) nursing, is a specialty focused on the care of unstable, chronically ill or post-surgical patients and those at risk from life-threatening diseases and injuries.
What do critical care nurses do?
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Critical care nurses care for a broad range of patients including medical, surgical, neonatal, pediatric, neurology, cardiac, pulmonary, transplant, and trauma/burn, to name a few. Critically ill patients often require frequent hemodynamic monitoring and mechanical assistance for failing organs. Critical care nurses should master cardiopulmonary resuscitation techniques and the use of life-saving equipment such as cardioverters, defibrillators and mechanical ventilation.
What do critical care nurses need to know?
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A profession in critical care nursing requires:
- an understanding of human anatomy and physiology.
- sharp clinical assessment skills.
- vast knowledge about diseases and conditions.
- ongoing education related to recommended ICU treatment options.
More critical care nursing resources
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- Nursing Pocket Cards, including arterial blood gas analysis and mechanical ventilation
- Guideline Summaries, including ARDS and sepsis
- Blog posts, with infographics, mnemonics, tips, and more
- Journals
- Articles and nursing continuing professional development (NCPD) activities
- Headlines and news stories
- Society partners
Use this Critical Care Nursing Certification Review Course to study for the critical care nursing specialty certification from the American Association of Critical-Care Nurses (AACN), which grants the credential CCRN® (Adult).