Careers in Nursing | Critical Care Nurse (CCRN)

Critical Care Nurse (CCRN)

Career Overview

Critical care nurses care for patients who are critically ill. They have a great deal of one-on-one contact with the patients and are often the main source of information for the family members. They are responsible for constantly monitoring the patient’s condition, as well as recognizing any subtle changes. These nurses use a great amount of technology within their practice, and function as integral members of the multidisciplinary healthcare team. Critical care nurses must possess the ability to collaborate with other members of the health care team such as physicians, case managers, therapists, and, especially, other nurses. They are responsible for all care given to the patient, from medication administration to tracheotomy and other ventilator care, as well as constant monitoring of the patient for any alterations in status. Responsibilities include monitoring, assessment, vital sign monitoring, ventilatory management, medication administration, intravenous insertion and infusion, central line care, Swan–Ganz catheters, and maintenance of a running record of the patient’s status. They must be prepared at all times to perform cardiopulmonary resuscitation and other life-saving techniques.

EDUCATIONAL REQUIREMENTS

RN preparation and advanced cardiac life support certification are required. A Bachelor of Science in Nursing and critical care nurse certification are preferred and may be required depending on the institution. Most institutions require at least 1 to 2 years of medical–surgical experience, although some hospitals are offering extended preceptorships to selected new graduates. Previous critical care experience is desired. In addition to prior experience, many institutions require nurses to pass a critical care course, usually offered in the hospital, and to complete 4 to 6 weeks of orientation to the unit. Certification in critical care or cardiac medicine is available from the American Association of Critical Care Nursing Certification Corporation.

CORE COMPETENCIES/SKILLS NEEDED

• Excellent assessment skills, ability to detect very subtle changes in a patient’s condition
• Strong organizational skills, ability to prioritize
• Communication skills and patient and family education skills
• Strong knowledge of anatomy and physiology, medications and their actions, interactions, side effects, and calculations
• Maturity and ability to handle end-of-life issues, such as when to cease  life-prolonging interventions or organ donation decisions
• Affinity for technology

RELATED WEBSITE AND PROFESSIONAL ORGANIZATION

• American Association of Critical-Care Nurses (www.aacn.org)