Critical Care
Nursing is a specialty where nurses deal with
life-threatening patients or patients who are at a high risk
for these health problems. These nurses work predominantly
in the hospital setting and in various units such as
intensive care units, pediatric or neonatal intensive care
units, emergency departments, cardiac care, cardiac catheter
labs, recovery rooms, and progressive care units. Some
critical care nurses also work in home health, outpatient
surgery centers and managed care facilities.
 According
to American Association of Critical Care Nurses (AACN),
critical care nurses practice in settings where patients
require complex assessment, high intensity therapies and
interventions, and continuous nursing vigilance.
They rely upon a specialized
body of knowledge, skills, and experience to provide care to
patients and families and create environments that are
healing, humane and caring. Critical Care Nurses provide a
variety of roles besides a bedside nurse. They are also
educators, researchers and, most of all, patient advocate. (http://www.aacn.org,
2001)
The level of education
required to be a Critical Care Nurse you need to be a
Registered Nurse and may do so by earning a diploma,
associate’s degree or bachelor’s degree. The majority of
nurses will obtain their critical care education and
training by their employers. There are also certifications
that can be obtained by nurses working in
critical care and whether this is required, will vary from
facility to facility and depending on the area of specialty.
Most Critical Care Nurses become certified in ACLS. Other
examples of certification in critical care areas are TNCC
(trauma nurses), balloon pump (cardiac nurses), PALS
(pediatric nurses) certification and Pediatric Critical Care
Nurses obtain PALS certification.
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