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Critical Care Nurses

It's a bright outlook for

This career will grow rapidly in the next few years.

Learn more about what they do.

Provide specialized nursing care for patients in critical or coronary care units.

Related: Acute Care Nurses Clinical Nurse Specialists Nurse Practitioners Paramedics Registered Nurses

Industries: Health & Counseling

Summary
Details

Collect specimens for laboratory tests.
Identify patients' age-specific needs and alter care plans as necessary to meet those needs.
Participate in professional organizations and continuing education to improve practice knowledge and skills.
Assess patients' pain levels or sedation requirements.
Administer blood and blood products, monitoring patients for signs and symptoms related to transfusion reactions.
Compile and analyze data obtained from monitoring or diagnostic tests.
Assess family adaptation levels and coping skills to determine whether intervention is needed.
Document patients' medical histories and assessment findings.
Monitor patients for changes in status and indications of conditions such as sepsis or shock and institute appropriate interventions.
Conduct pulmonary assessments to identify abnormal respiratory patterns or breathing sounds that indicate problems.
Supervise and monitor unit nursing staff.
Administer medications intravenously, by injection, orally, through gastric tubes, or by other methods.
Assess patients' psychosocial status and needs, including areas such as sleep patterns, anxiety, grief, anger, and support systems.
Participate in the development, review, or evaluation of nursing practice protocols.
Prioritize nursing care for assigned critically ill patients, based on assessment data or identified needs.
Identify malfunctioning equipment or devices.
Assist physicians with procedures such as bronchoscopy, endoscopy, endotracheal intubation, or elective cardioversion.
Plan, provide, or evaluate educational programs for nursing staff, interdisciplinary health care team members, or community members.
Plan, provide, or evaluate educational programs for nursing staff, interdisciplinary health care team members, or community members.
Set up and monitor medical equipment and devices such as cardiac monitors, mechanical ventilators and alarms, oxygen delivery devices, transducers, or pressure lines.
Document patients' treatment plans, interventions, outcomes, or plan revisions.
Advocate for patients' and families' needs, or provide emotional support for patients and their families.
Monitor patients' fluid intake and output to detect emerging problems, such as fluid and electrolyte imbalances.
Set up and monitor medical equipment and devices such as cardiac monitors, mechanical ventilators and alarms, oxygen delivery devices, transducers, or pressure lines.
Collaborate with other health care professionals to develop and revise treatment plans, based on identified needs and assessment data.
Monitor patients for changes in status and indications of conditions such as sepsis or shock and institute appropriate interventions.
Administer medications intravenously, by injection, orally, through gastric tubes, or by other methods.
Administer blood and blood products, monitoring patients for signs and symptoms related to transfusion reactions.
Evaluate patients' vital signs or laboratory data to determine emergency intervention needs.

Learning Strategies
- Using the best training or teaching strategies for learning new things.
Monitoring
- Keeping track of how well people and/or groups are doing in order to make improvements.
Complex Problem Solving
- Noticing a problem and figuring out the best way to solve it.
Equipment Maintenance
- Planning and doing the basic maintenance on equipment.
Active Learning
- Figuring out how to use new ideas or things.
Operations Monitoring
- Watching gauges, dials, or display screens to make sure a machine is working.
Systems Evaluation
- Measuring how well a system is working and how to improve it.
Critical Thinking
- Thinking about the pros and cons of different ways to solve a problem.
Coordination
- Changing what is done based on other people's actions.
Quality Control Analysis
- Testing how well a product or service works.
Persuasion
- Talking people into changing their minds or their behavior.
Negotiation
- Bringing people together to solve differences.
Programming
- Writing computer programs.
Systems Analysis
- Figuring out how a system should work and how changes in the future will affect it.
Writing
- Writing things for co-workers or customers.
Management of Financial Resources
- Making spending decisions and keeping track of what is spent.
Service Orientation
- Looking for ways to help people.
Time Management
- Managing your time and the time of other people.
Repairing
- Repairing machines or systems using the right tools.
Judgment and Decision Making
- Thinking about the pros and cons of different options and picking the best one.
Troubleshooting
- Figuring out what is causing equipment, machines, wiring, or computer programs to not work.
Management of Material Resources
- Managing equipment and materials.
Speaking
- Talking to others.
Science
- Using scientific rules and strategies to solve problems.
Active Listening
- Listening to others, not interrupting, and asking good questions.
Social Perceptiveness
- Understanding people's reactions.
Mathematics
- Using math to solve problems.
Operation and Control
- Using equipment or systems.
Instructing
- Teaching people how to do something.
Technology Design
- Making equipment and technology useful for customers.
Management of Personnel Resources
- Selecting and managing the best workers for a job.
Equipment Selection
- Deciding what kind of tools and equipment are needed to do a job.
Installation
- Installing equipment, machines, wiring, or computer programs.
Operations Analysis
- Figuring out what a product or service needs to be able to do.
Reading Comprehension
- Reading work-related information.

Night Vision
- Seeing at night or under low light.
Depth Perception
- Deciding which thing is closer or farther away from you, or deciding how far away it is from you.
Speed of Closure
- Quickly knowing what you are looking at.
Manual Dexterity
- Holding or moving items with your hands.
Wrist-Finger Speed
- Making fast, simple, repeated movements of your fingers, hands, and wrists.
Response Orientation
- Quickly deciding if you should move your hand, foot, or other body part.
Rate Control
- Changing when and how fast you move based on how something else is moving.
Extent Flexibility
- Bending, stretching, twisting, or reaching with your body, arms, and/or legs.
Time Sharing
- Doing two or more things at the same time.
Reaction Time
- Quickly moving your hand, finger, or foot based on a sound, light, picture or other command.
Oral Comprehension
- Listening and understanding what people say.
Visual Color Discrimination
- Noticing the difference between colors, including shades and brightness.
Explosive Strength
- Jumping, sprinting, or throwing something.
Inductive Reasoning
- Making general rules or coming up with answers from lots of detailed information.
Mathematical Reasoning
- Choosing the right type of math to solve a problem.
Speech Clarity
- Speaking clearly.
Speech Recognition
- Recognizing spoken words.
Near Vision
- Seeing details up close.
Hearing Sensitivity
- Telling the difference between sounds.
Sound Localization
- Noticing the direction that a sound came from.
Flexibility of Closure
- Seeing hidden patterns.
Control Precision
- Quickly changing the controls of a machine, car, truck or boat.
Multilimb Coordination
- Using your arms and/or legs together while sitting, standing, or lying down.
Gross Body Equilibrium
- Keeping your balance or staying upright.
Selective Attention
- Paying attention to something without being distracted.
Memorization
- Remembering words, numbers, pictures, or steps.
Static Strength
- Lifting, pushing, pulling, or carrying.
Stamina
- Exercising for a long time without getting out of breath.
Perceptual Speed
- Quickly comparing groups of letters, numbers, pictures, or other things.
Dynamic Flexibility
- Quickly and repeatedly bending, stretching, twisting, or reaching out with your body, arms, and/or legs.
Fluency of Ideas
- Coming up with lots of ideas.
Oral Expression
- Communicating by speaking.
Gross Body Coordination
- Moving your arms, legs, and mid-section together while your whole body is moving.
Originality
- Creating new and original ideas.
Information Ordering
- Ordering or arranging things.
Written Comprehension
- Reading and understanding what is written.
Deductive Reasoning
- Using rules to solve problems.
Peripheral Vision
- Seeing something to your side when your are looking ahead.
Far Vision
- Seeing details that are far away.
Auditory Attention
- Paying attention to one sound while there are other distracting sounds.
Glare Sensitivity
- Seeing something even if there is a glare or very bright light.
Visualization
- Imagining how something will look after it is moved around or changed.
Arm-Hand Steadiness
- Keeping your arm or hand steady.
Speed of Limb Movement
- Quickly moving your arms and legs.
Dynamic Strength
- Exercising for a long time without your muscles getting tired.
Trunk Strength
- Using your lower back and stomach.
Written Expression
- Communicating by writing.
Category Flexibility
- Grouping things in different ways.
Problem Sensitivity
- Noticing when problems happen.
Finger Dexterity
- Putting together small parts with your fingers.
Spatial Orientation
- Knowing where things are around you.
Number Facility
- Adding, subtracting, multiplying, or dividing.

Administration and Management
- Knowledge of business and management principles involved in strategic planning, resource allocation, human resources modeling, leadership technique, production methods, and coordination of people and resources.
Food Production
- Knowledge of techniques and equipment for planting, growing, and harvesting food products (both plant and animal) for consumption, including storage/handling techniques.
Chemistry
- Knowledge of the chemical composition, structure, and properties of substances and of the chemical processes and transformations that they undergo. This includes uses of chemicals and their interactions, danger signs, production techniques, and disposal methods.
Customer and Personal Service
- Knowledge of principles and processes for providing customer and personal services. This includes customer needs assessment, meeting quality standards for services, and evaluation of customer satisfaction.
Production and Processing
- Knowledge of raw materials, production processes, quality control, costs, and other techniques for maximizing the effective manufacture and distribution of goods.
Mathematics
- Knowledge of arithmetic, algebra, geometry, calculus, statistics, and their applications.
Personnel and Human Resources
- Knowledge of principles and procedures for personnel recruitment, selection, training, compensation and benefits, labor relations and negotiation, and personnel information systems.
Mechanical
- Knowledge of machines and tools, including their designs, uses, repair, and maintenance.
Public Safety and Security
- Knowledge of relevant equipment, policies, procedures, and strategies to promote effective local, state, or national security operations for the protection of people, data, property, and institutions.
Fine Arts
- Knowledge of the theory and techniques required to compose, produce, and perform works of music, dance, visual arts, drama, and sculpture.
Biology
- Knowledge of plant and animal organisms, their tissues, cells, functions, interdependencies, and interactions with each other and the environment.
English Language
- Knowledge of the structure and content of the English language including the meaning and spelling of words, rules of composition, and grammar.
Foreign Language
- Knowledge of the structure and content of a foreign (non-English) language including the meaning and spelling of words, rules of composition and grammar, and pronunciation.
Geography
- Knowledge of principles and methods for describing the features of land, sea, and air masses, including their physical characteristics, locations, interrelationships, and distribution of plant, animal, and human life.
Computers and Electronics
- Knowledge of circuit boards, processors, chips, electronic equipment, and computer hardware and software, including applications and programming.
Design
- Knowledge of design techniques, tools, and principles involved in production of precision technical plans, blueprints, drawings, and models.
Engineering and Technology
- Knowledge of the practical application of engineering science and technology. This includes applying principles, techniques, procedures, and equipment to the design and production of various goods and services.
Medicine and Dentistry
- Knowledge of the information and techniques needed to diagnose and treat human injuries, diseases, and deformities. This includes symptoms, treatment alternatives, drug properties and interactions, and preventive health-care measures.
Transportation
- Knowledge of principles and methods for moving people or goods by air, rail, sea, or road, including the relative costs and benefits.
Telecommunications
- Knowledge of transmission, broadcasting, switching, control, and operation of telecommunications systems.
Economics and Accounting
- Knowledge of economic and accounting principles and practices, the financial markets, banking, and the analysis and reporting of financial data.
Education and Training
- Knowledge of principles and methods for curriculum and training design, teaching and instruction for individuals and groups, and the measurement of training effects.
Law and Government
- Knowledge of laws, legal codes, court procedures, precedents, government regulations, executive orders, agency rules, and the democratic political process.
Sociology and Anthropology
- Knowledge of group behavior and dynamics, societal trends and influences, human migrations, ethnicity, cultures, and their history and origins.
Psychology
- Knowledge of human behavior and performance; individual differences in ability, personality, and interests; learning and motivation; psychological research methods; and the assessment and treatment of behavioral and affective disorders.
Communications and Media
- Knowledge of media production, communication, and dissemination techniques and methods. This includes alternative ways to inform and entertain via written, oral, and visual media.
History and Archeology
- Knowledge of historical events and their causes, indicators, and effects on civilizations and cultures.
Physics
- Knowledge and prediction of physical principles, laws, their interrelationships, and applications to understanding fluid, material, and atmospheric dynamics, and mechanical, electrical, atomic and sub-atomic structures and processes.
Building and Construction
- Knowledge of materials, methods, and the tools involved in the construction or repair of houses, buildings, or other structures such as highways and roads.
Sales and Marketing
- Knowledge of principles and methods for showing, promoting, and selling products or services. This includes marketing strategy and tactics, product demonstration, sales techniques, and sales control systems.
Administrative
- Knowledge of administrative and office procedures and systems such as word processing, managing files and records, stenography and transcription, designing forms, and workplace terminology.
Philosophy and Theology
- Knowledge of different philosophical systems and religions. This includes their basic principles, values, ethics, ways of thinking, customs, practices, and their impact on human culture.
Therapy and Counseling
- Knowledge of principles, methods, and procedures for diagnosis, treatment, and rehabilitation of physical and mental dysfunctions, and for career counseling and guidance.

Education

Bachelor's degree

Work Experience

No work experience

Training

No on-the-job training

Education and Training Opportunities

Washington Annual Salary

112180/yr

Washington Hourly Wage

53.93/hr

Currently Employed

69,180

Yearly Projected Openings

5150

Social: People interested in this work like activities that include helping people, teaching, and talking. They do well at jobs that need:

Attention to Detail
Integrity
Dependability
Stress Tolerance
Concern for Others
Cooperation

Acute care fetal or maternal monitoring units
Anesthesia nerve block kit or tray
Apnea monitors
Arterial blood gas monitors
Arterial line catheters
Autotransfusion units
Bedpans
Blanket frames or lifters
Blood collection syringes
Blood pressure cuff kits
Blood warming or transfusion systems
Cardiac output CO monitoring units
Cardiac pacemaker generators or cardiac resynchronization therapy pacemakers CRT-P
Central venous catheters
Clinical trapeze bars
Continuous arteriovenous dialysis CAVHD units or related products
Continuous passive motion CPM devices
Crutches
Desktop computers
Diagnostic or interventional vascular catheters for general use
Electrocardiography EKG transmitters or telemetry devices
Electrocardiography EKG units
Electronic blood pressure units
Electronic medical thermometers
Emergency or resuscitation carts
End tidal carbon dioxide monitors
Endoscopic hemostatic balloons or needles or tubes or accessories
Endotracheal or tracheotomy sets
Endotracheal tubes
Enema kits
Enteral feeding infusion pump tubing sets
Flow sensors or regulators or components
Full body immersion hydrotherapy baths or tanks
Geriatric chairs
Glucose monitors or meters
Goggles
Gurneys or scissor lifts
Head or neck traction supplies
Intermittent positive pressure breathing IPPB machines
Intraaortic balloon pumps
Intracranial pressure ICP monitoring units
Intravenous infusion pumps for general use
Intravenous or arterial catheter trays
Intubation laryngoscopes
Intubator components
Laboratory graduated cylinders
Lancets
Manual resuscitators
Medical acoustic stethoscopes
Medical aspiration or irrigation syringes
Medical exam or non surgical procedure gloves
Medical nasal cannulas
Medical or surgical suction or vacuum appliances
Medical oxygen masks or parts
Medical staff isolation or cover gowns
Medical syringes with needle
Medical ultrasound or doppler or echocardiograph transducer
Medical ultrasound or doppler or echocardiograph transducer accessories
Medication or pill dispensers
Mobile medical services automated external defibrillators AED or hard paddles
Multichannel intravenous infusion pumps
Multiparameter vital sign units
Nasogastric tubes
Nebulizers
Non invasive bi level machines
Non invasive continuous positive air pressure machines
Notebook computers
Ophthalmoscopes or otoscopes or scope sets
Orthopedic splint systems
Orthopedic traction hardware or weights
Ostomy appliances
Oxygen concentrators
Patient bed or table scales for general use
Patient care beds for specialty care
Patient controlled analgesia infusion pumps
Patient floor scales
Patient lifts
Patient shifting boards
Patient stabilization or fall prevention devices
Perfusion oxygen or hematocrit saturation monitors
Pericardiocentesis needles or kits
Personal digital assistant PDAs or organizers
Pleural cavity drainage units or containers
Pocket calculator
Pulse oximeter units
Skin staple removers or kits
Specimen collection container
Spirometers
Surgical clamps or clips or forceps
Surgical drains or drain sets
Surgical irrigation sets
Surgical isolation or surgical masks
Surgical scalpels or knives or blades or trephines
Surgical scissors
Surgical shave kits or prep razors or clippers
Suture removal kits or trays or packs or sets
Tablet computers
Tablet crushers
Therapeutic heating or cooling blankets or drapes
Therapeutic ice packs or pillows
Thoracentesis sets or trays
Tourniquets
Transcutaneous electric nerve stimulation units
Urinalysis test strips
Urinary catheterization kits
Vacuum blood collection tubes or containers
Vascular or compression apparel or support
Vascular sequential compression devices or tubing
Ventricular assist devices
Walkers or rollators
Wheelchairs