Critical Care Nurse Job Description
Critical Care Nurse Job Profile and Description
Often working in intensive care sections of hospitals, Critical Care Nurse are registered and practical nurses who are trained to provide care to patients with severe, complex, and acute diseases or serious and traumatic injuries that require close monitoring of vital signs, life sustaining devices and extensive treatment protocols and therapies.
Critical Care Nurse Duties and Responsibilities
- Strictly enforce no visitation on certain critical cases or in general in accordance with hospital rules for intensive care patients.
- Observe work shift schedules and extends if necessary for overtime work
- Assess patients’ pain levels and administer sedation as prescribed by the attending doctor.
- Set up and monitor instruments tracking patient’s vital signs for changes in status and indications of conditions
- Observe patients for changes in conditions such as sepsis or shock and perform suitable interventions.
- Set up medical equipment and life sustaining devices.
- Administer prescribed medication intravenously, orally, through gastric tubes, or by other approved methods.
- Administer defibrillators and life-resuscitating methods immediately in cases of sudden cardiac arrests
- Administer blood transfusion and blood products as necessary.
Critical Care Nurse Skills and Specifications
- Excellent organizational, supervisory and administrative skills
- Strong communication and interpersonal skills
- Excellent psychological and interpersonal skills dealing with mental patients.
Critical Care Nurse Education and Qualifications
- BS in Nursing with NCLEX certification either as a Registered Nurse or an Associate degree in nursing with certification as a practical Nurse is basic.
- 3-5 years experience in general nursing care in intensive care units is an advantage,
Critical Care Nurse Salary
The median annual salary for a registered Critical Care Nurse was $62,500 in 2008. The middle 50% earned between $51,700 and $76,600 with the bottom 10% getting close to $43,500 while the top 10$ got about $92,300.