ICU RN Job Description
Intensive-care-unit nurses, also known as ICU nurses, are registered nurses who specialize in caring for patients with complex, serious illnesses or injuries that require close monitoring. Most intensive-care-unit nurses work in hospitals. The American Association of Critical Care Nurses counts more than 500,000 members.
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Duties
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Reporting to a manager or department head, intensive-care-unit nurses monitor, evaluate and document patient care. They typically work in the intensive-care and critical-care units of a hospital and must implement a wide range of nursing concepts and procedures.
Skills/Training
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Intensive-care-unit nursing positions typically require an associate degree and certification as a registered nurse. Candidates must complete an approved nursing program, pass the National Council Licensure Examination and meet other licensing requirements that vary by state, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.
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Hours
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Work shifts for intensive-care-unit nurses often include weekends, evenings and holidays because acutely ill patients need around-the-clock care. Most intensive-care-unit nurses work at least 40 hours each week in full-time jobs, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.
Compensation
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Intensive-care-unit nurses earned a median base salary of $67,683 in June 2010, according to MySalary.com. The range for annual base salaries is $55,410 to $77,935. Experience level, geographic location and other factors affect individual compensation levels.
Job Prospects
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The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics projects that employment in the category of registered nurses, which includes intensive-care-unit nurses, will grow 22 percent through 2018. Intensive-care-unit nurses will find an especially high number of jobs in rural, low-income and other medically underserved areas.
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References
- Photo Credit operation nurse image by Andrey Rakhmatullin from Fotolia.com
