Critical care nursing is a fast-paced nursing specialty that focuses on treating patients with life-threatening conditions. To become a critical care nurse, you must earn a nursing degree and license to start practicing as an RN. Additionally, pursuing optional critical care certifications can pave the way for more career opportunities.
Critical care nursing is an immensely rewarding career path for individuals who wish to make a meaningful impact on people’s lives. Critical care nurses, often referred to as ICU nurses, work in intensive care units and focus on treating patients experiencing life-threatening conditions. To meet their patients’ diverse and urgent needs, ICU nurses must be quick on their feet and excel in high-intensity, team-based environments.
At Felician University, our Accelerated Bachelor of Science in Nursing (ABSN) program prepares students for rewarding careers in diverse clinical environments. The program instills the knowledge, skills and confidence needed to provide compassionate patient care in various nursing specialties, including critical care nursing.
Below, we will explore critical care nursing and how to become an ICU nurse.
What is an ICU Nurse?
An ICU nurse is a nursing professional who assesses, treats and monitors patients experiencing life-threatening injuries or illnesses. The ICU is equipped to provide 24-hour care and specialized treatments to support patients in their recovery.
Critical care nurses are an essential part of the care team. They work closely with physicians and other team members to implement treatment plans and monitor patients for changes in condition so the team can quickly intervene when necessary.
Nursing is a diverse field filled with opportunities to expand one’s skill set and specialize, and the critical care field is no different. ICU nurses can pursue specialized certification, allowing themselves to focus on the nursing specialty that interests them the most, from specific medical care to a concentration in patient populations.
Types of ICU nurses include:
- Pediatric ICU nurses
- Neonatal ICU nurses
- Cardiac ICU nurses
- Neurological ICU nurses
- Burn ICU nurses
- Transplant ICU nurses
ICU Nurse Duties and Responsibilities
The ICU is a fast-paced unit requiring critical care nurses to respond quickly to various patient needs. The day-to-day responsibilities change depending on patient conditions and the number of patients in the unit. However, ICU nurses can expect to perform any of the following patient care tasks throughout a shift.
Head-to-Toe Patient Assessment
From the moment patients arrive and throughout their stay, an ICU nurse must assess their condition. ICU nurses take vital signs, dress wounds and address immediate needs before a physician sees a patient. The nurses will continually monitor and periodically assess patients for changes in condition.
Patient Documentation
Nurses must accurately enter a patient’s medical history and their own observations, such as the patient’s responses and changes in condition, into medical records. Nurses must also record information about any medication they administered, including times of day and amounts.
Patient Education
Strong communication skills are integral to nursing. Because nurses see patients more often than physicians do, ICU nurses have more time to educate patients and their families about conditions, treatments and discharge planning.
Collaboration
Nursing is a team-based sport. ICU nurses must collaborate with other nurses and care teams to deliver various types of patient care and promote positive patient outcomes. ICU nurses must work together to stabilize and treat patients throughout an ICU stay.
Medical Equipment and Technology
ICU nurses must be skilled in utilizing various types of medical equipment and technology. ICUs are equipped to address a wide range of critical conditions, requiring nurses to use and monitor the following:
- Catheters
- Feeding tubes
- Tracheostomy tubes
- Ventilators
- Oxygen therapy
- Dialysis machines
How to Become an ICU Nurse
If you are drawn to fast-paced, team-based environments, becoming an ICU nurse may be right for you. The path toward critical care nursing requires you to earn a nursing degree, then your nursing license, before seeking jobs in the ICU. Additional certifications are available if you choose to strengthen your qualifications or pursue a specific ICU specialty.
1. Enroll in a Nursing Program
You must earn a nursing degree before becoming a registered nurse. Two pathways qualify you for the National Council Licensure Examination for Registered Nurses (NCLEX-RN): an associate degree in nursing (ADN) and a Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN).
Many people are drawn toward earning an ADN because they can complete the program in significantly less time than traditional BSN programs require. ADN programs typically take two years to complete; traditional BSN programs take four years.
However, BSN degrees are becoming the preferred credential because BSN-educated nurses have demonstrated the ability to excel in critical thinking, leadership and the administration of diverse patient care across inpatient and outpatient environments. The American Association of Colleges of Nursing references several studies indicating that a higher proportion of BSN-educated nurses in workplace settings yields improved patient outcomes.
An accelerated BSN program may be the optimal choice if you have a non-nursing bachelor’s degree or at least 60 college credits from an accredited institution. At Felician, our accelerated BSN program allows you to earn a BSN in as few as 16 months.
The program builds on your previous education, so you can focus primarily on nursing courses, thereby expediting the timeline. Felician ABSN students have two course delivery options that allow them to earn their BSN in as few as 16 months: the hybrid option combines online coursework with in-person labs and clinical rotations, and the on-ground option is entirely in-person.
Specific program details vary by school, but Felician ABSN students can expect the following from their nursing curriculum:
- Nursing Coursework: Our online or in-person coursework establishes foundational nursing and science concepts.
- Skills and Simulation Labs: Our in-person, experiential simulation labs translate the knowledge gained from coursework into psychomotor skills. Students practice nursing skills in a simulation lab and then apply these skills to simulated clinical scenarios.
- Clinical Rotations: Felician has partnered with the Atlantic Health System to offer clinical rotations throughout the Parsippany and Rutherford, New Jersey, areas. During clinicals, students provide direct patient care under the supervision of healthcare staff and instructors.
Nursing clinicals are an essential part of your nursing education. Read more to learn what every student should know about nursing clinicals.
2. Pass the NCLEX-RN
After earning a nursing degree, students must pass the NCLEX-RN to obtain their nursing license and start practicing as licensed RNs. The NCLEX-RN is divided into four sections: safe and effective care environments, health promotion and maintenance, psychosocial integrity and physiological integrity.
Rather than testing your memorization of nursing concepts, the NCLEX gauges your ability to synthesize and apply nursing concepts and procedures, thereby testing your clinical judgment.
NCLEX preparation should start during your first year of nursing school. Studying consistently, reviewing practice questions and exams and participating in study groups throughout your time as a nursing student will solidify the building blocks and help you track your progress. After graduation, students are advised to devote the weeks leading to the exam to full-time study.
On exam day, students should arrive at the testing site early, well rested and comfortably dressed. To be admitted, they must also supply a valid photo ID and provide a signature and palm vein scan.
After passing the NCLEX, you will be granted a nursing license, and you must register with your state board of nursing to practice.
Strong study habits are important throughout nursing school, not just when studying for the NCLEX. Explore these nursing school study tips.
3. Work as an ICU Nurse
Once you are prepared to work as a licensed RN, you can apply for entry-level positions in an ICU. As a critical care nurse, you will work as part of a team, administering diverse patient care and treating a wide range of conditions. After gaining at least two years of clinical ICU experience, ICU nurses can pursue additional certification, leading to career advancement and other exciting opportunities.
4. Earn Optional Certification
You do not require Critical Care Registered Nurse (CCRN) certification to work as an ICU nurse, but it can open more career opportunities. The American Association of Critical-Care Nurses offers CCRN certification, and eligibility typically depends on verifiable practice hours and licensing status.
The American Association of Critical-Care Nurses provides CCRN certification in various critical care specialties, such as adult, pediatric and cardiac health. Individuals who wish to pursue a specialty must possess certification in that specialty from a nationally accredited organization before pursuing specialized ICU certification.
ICU Nurse Salary and Career Outlook
The U.S. Bureau of Labor and Statistics (BLS) does not collect ICU nurse salary data; instead, it compiles data across most nursing specialties. As of May 2023, RNs’ national median annual salary was $86,070, significantly higher than the national median for all occupations.
The U.S. Bureau of Labor and Statistics also notes that RNs in New Jersey earned a median annual salary between $94,670 and $137,690 during the same period.
Your salary is dependent on experience, certifications, location and the specific healthcare facility. According to the BLS, government industries typically pay the most, followed by hospitals, which include state, local and private facilities.
The job outlook for RNs, including ICU nurses, is also strong. According to the BLS, RN employment is projected to grow by 6% between 2022 and 2032, double the projected 3% for all occupations.
Take the First Steps with Felician University
Regardless of where your nursing career takes you, Felician University’s ABSN program can help you take the first steps. The ABSN curriculum prepares students to excel in their career — whether they pursue critical care nursing or other nursing specialties — through nursing coursework, experiential labs and hands-on clinicals. Upon graduation, students are ready to confidently take the NCLEX-RN and embark on their careers.
If you have a non-nursing bachelor’s degree or at least 60 college credits from an accredited institution, you may meet the ABSN admissions requirements. Our dedicated admissions team is available to help guide you through the admissions process and meet our prerequisite requirements in time for your preferred start date in January, May or September.
Contact an admissions counselor today to learn how you can take the first steps toward a rewarding nursing career.