Critical Care Nurse

Critical care nurses must be BCLS certified but also need ACLS certification.  Many places prefer you have at least one year of experience in Med-Surg or a similar setting to grow your skills.

Apply for work in your critical care interest area. These units often offer internships and residencies to learn needed skills.

• Adult Intensive care unit (ICU)
• Pediatric ICU
• Neonatal ICU

Other high acuity areas that are considered to be critical care:  Emergency department, Step-down units, Cardiac care units, Telemetry units, Progressive care units.

You can apply for your CCRN in (Adult, Pediatric or Neonatal) from the AACN after completing the required clinical hours in either two or five years.

You can also advance by getting an MSN or doctoral degree with a critical care focus as a Clinical Nurse Specialist (CNS) or an acute care nurse practitioner specializing in areas such as ED or ICU.

• Assess and monitor patients for changes in ventilation, cardiac and renal status
• Administer IV medications, dressing changes, catheter care and prevent skin breakdown
• Attend rounds with the care team and report patient status or needs
• Provide family and patient reassurance and teaching

Adult, pediatric, or neonatal settings all have different cases, as does surgical ICU or medical ICUs.

1. Complete an ADN or BSN program in nursing
2. Pass the NCLEX-RN exam and apply for your RN license
3. Have one to two years of experience working as an RN in a Med-Surg or similar setting 
4. Apply to work in a critical care unit
5. Apply for your CCRN after completing the required clinical hours

American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC)

• Mission: “The mission of the American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC), a subsidiary of the American Nurses Association, is to promote excellence in nursing and healthcare globally through credentialing programs.”
• Cost: Access provided through membership of the ANA; annual membership begins at $174 and can vary depending on your state of residence.
• Perks: Advance your career with free development resources and webinars; stay current with the most up-to-date nursing news; save money with big discounts on CE, certification, publications and more; network and connect with Registered Nurses (RN) for support and advice; make your voice heard with opportunities to tell policymakers what you think; and, receive state nurse association member benefits.

American Association of Critical-Care Nurses (AACN)

• Mission: “Patients and their families rely on nurses at the most vulnerable times of their lives. Acute and critical care nurses rely on AACN for expert knowledge and the influence to fulfill their promise to patients and their families. AACN drives excellence because nothing less is acceptable.”
• Cost: $52-78, annually.
• Perks: Access to unlimited free CEs keep your knowledge – and your license – up to date, AACN’s award-winning journals put the latest news and views at your fingertips, exclusive access to clinical toolkits and evidence-based resources supports optimal patient outcomes, innovative online learning programs hone your skills and advance your career, and discounts for certification, conferences and online products help you maintain your edge, and more.