About This Career Path
Provide advanced nursing care for patients in critical or coronary care units.
Salary Breakdown
Critical Care Nurses
Average
$67,490
ANNUAL
$32.45
HOURLY
Entry Level
$51,110
ANNUAL
$24.57
HOURLY
Mid Level
$65,000
ANNUAL
$31.25
HOURLY
Expert Level
$88,310
ANNUAL
$42.46
HOURLY
Projected Jobs
Critical Care Nurses
77,260
Projected job openings through 2028
Sample Career Roadmap
Critical Care Nurses
Degree Recommendations
Vincennes University
Ivy Tech Community College
Ivy Tech Community College
Ivy Tech Community College
Ivy Tech Community College
University of Saint Francis
Purdue University West Lafayette
Vincennes University
Purdue University Northwest
Indiana University Southeast
University of Saint Francis
Purdue University West Lafayette
Vincennes University
Purdue University Northwest
Indiana University Southeast
Purdue University Global
Purdue University Global
Purdue University Northwest
Purdue University Northwest
Purdue University Global
Top Expected Tasks
Critical Care Nurses
01
Evaluate patients' vital signs or laboratory data to determine emergency intervention needs.
02
Monitor patients for changes in status and indications of conditions such as sepsis or shock and institute appropriate interventions.
03
Set up and monitor medical equipment and devices such as cardiac monitors, mechanical ventilators and alarms, oxygen delivery devices, transducers, or pressure lines.
04
Administer medications intravenously, by injection, orally, through gastric tubes, or by other methods.
05
Assess patients' pain levels or sedation requirements.
06
Conduct pulmonary assessments to identify abnormal respiratory patterns or breathing sounds that indicate problems.
07
Monitor patients' fluid intake and output to detect emerging problems such as fluid and electrolyte imbalances.
08
Document patients' medical histories and assessment findings.
09
Prioritize nursing care for assigned critically ill patients, based on assessment data or identified needs.
10
Compile and analyze data obtained from monitoring or diagnostic tests.
11
Administer blood and blood products, monitoring patients for signs and symptoms related to transfusion reactions.
Knowledge, Skills & Abilities
Critical Care Nurses
Common knowledge, skills & abilities needed to get a foot in the door.
KNOWLEDGE
Medicine and Dentistry
KNOWLEDGE
Psychology
KNOWLEDGE
Biology
KNOWLEDGE
English Language
KNOWLEDGE
Customer and Personal Service
SKILL
Active Listening
SKILL
Service Orientation
SKILL
Reading Comprehension
SKILL
Speaking
SKILL
Critical Thinking
ABILITY
Oral Comprehension
ABILITY
Oral Expression
ABILITY
Problem Sensitivity
ABILITY
Deductive Reasoning
ABILITY
Inductive Reasoning
Related Careers
Health Sciences
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