Critical Care Registered Nurse
Critical care nurses are crucial in the medical field by monitoring and treating patients that have life-threatening illnesses and injuries. CCN’s work environment is fast-paced and has no room for mistakes and constantly be on their A-game.
Critical Care Nurse Duties
Critical care nurses usually require the same skills as registered nurses but undergo further training to care for acute or critical illnesses. The typical day for a CCN would be monitoring critical medical support equipment and tending to patients that have life-threatening injuries. Key skills for a CNN include:
- Ability to access and treat patients swiftly and accurately
- Critical thinker in a fast-paced environment
- Good communicator between patients and families
- Physically fit for long, intensive shifts
According to, salary.guide, the following is a list of some of the duties that a CNN would carry out:
- Monitor patient conditions during treatments, procedures, or activities.
- Analyze test data or images to inform diagnosis or treatment.
- Treat medical emergencies.
- Administer non-intravenous medications.
- Operate diagnostic or therapeutic medical instruments or equipment.
- Prepare medical supplies or equipment for use.
- Administer intravenous medications.
- Test patient heart or lung functioning.
- Monitor patient progress or responses to treatments.
- Monitor patient progress or responses to treatments.
- Record patient medical histories.
- Develop medical treatment plans.
- Monitor patient conditions during treatments, procedures, or activities.
- Analyze test data or images to inform diagnosis or treatment.
- Administer blood or other fluids intravenously.
- Assist healthcare practitioners during examinations or treatments.
- Collect biological specimens from patients.
- Collaborate with healthcare professionals to plan or provide treatment.
- Record patient medical histories.
- Examine medical instruments or equipment to ensure proper operation.
Critical Care Nurse Work Environment
There are multiple environments that a CCN will be surrounded by, such as the ICU, which stands for intensive care unit and is the most common environment that a CNN will work in. It’s very important for a CNN to be able to adapt and stay calm under high-stress situations and make decisions that could result in life or death while they’re in the ICU. They could also be working as a step-down unit in the ICU, which is where a CNN will take care of and look after a patient that doesn’t need as much immediate care and illness/injuries aren’t as serve as someone entering the ICU but aren’t stable enough to be sent medical floor or home. Another environment that a CNN could work in is at home, called a TeleICU, where a critical care nurse supports other nurses that are in the ICU.
Requirements For Becoming A Critical Care Nurse
A critical care nurse requires having an undergraduate degree. The quickest way to get that completed would be to get an AND, but a BSN comes with more advantages in the eyes of the medical field. The next step would be to pass the NCLEX-RN and receive an RN licensure; every state requires all nurses to have an RN license. The last step would be to acquire acute care experience to qualify to be a critical care nurse.
Salary for a Critical Care Nurse
According to, salary.guide, a CNN salary in 2021 can range from $53,410 to $116,230 yearly and $25,68 to $55.88 hourly.
For more information regarding nursing salaries, visit salary.guide
