Critical Care Nurse Overview
Required Education and Training To Become a Critical Care Nurse
Best Schools to become a Critical Care Nurse in U.S. 2024
Western Governors University
In-State Tuition:$7,404
Out-of-State Tuition:$7,404
Admission Rate:N/A
Graduation Rate:49%
Total Enrollment:156,935
Grand Canyon University
In-State Tuition:$16,407
Out-of-State Tuition:$16,407
Admission Rate:78%
Graduation Rate:45%
Total Enrollment:101,816
Post University
In-State Tuition:$15,329
Out-of-State Tuition:$15,329
Admission Rate:N/A
Graduation Rate:32%
Total Enrollment:17,034
Capella University
In-State Tuition:$14,328
Out-of-State Tuition:$14,328
Admission Rate:N/A
Graduation Rate:N/A
Total Enrollment:39,727
Chamberlain University-Illinois
In-State Tuition:$19,117
Out-of-State Tuition:$19,117
Admission Rate:91%
Graduation Rate:38%
Total Enrollment:26,687
University of Massachusetts-Boston
In-State Tuition:$14,542
Out-of-State Tuition:$35,515
Admission Rate:81%
Graduation Rate:51%
Total Enrollment:15,586
Critical Care Nurse Job Description:
- Provide advanced nursing care for patients with acute conditions such as heart attacks, respiratory distress syndrome, or shock.
- May care for pre- and post-operative patients or perform advanced, invasive diagnostic or therapeutic procedures.
Required Skills and Competencies To Become a Critical Care Nurse
Job Duties for Critical Care Nurses
Document data related to patients' care, including assessment results, interventions, medications, patient responses, or treatment changes.
Manage patients' pain relief and sedation by providing pharmacologic and non-pharmacologic interventions, monitoring patients' responses, and changing care plans accordingly.
Perform emergency medical procedures, such as basic cardiac life support (BLS), advanced cardiac life support (ACLS), and other condition-stabilizing interventions.
Technologies and Skills Used by Critical Care Nurses
Electronic mail software
- IBM Lotus Notes
- Microsoft Outlook
Medical software
- GE Healthcare Centricity EMR
- eClinicalWorks EHR software
Presentation software
- Microsoft PowerPoint
Basic Skills
- Keeping track of how well people and/or groups are doing in order to make improvements
- Listening to others, not interrupting, and asking good questions
Problem Solving
- Noticing a problem and figuring out the best way to solve it
Social
- Looking for ways to help people
- Understanding people's reactions