Critical care Nurse

Job Description

Job Description

A Critical Care Nurse (ICU Nurse) provides direct, specialized care to patients experiencing life-threatening conditions, multi-organ failure, or severe surgical recovery.

Position Summary

• Title: Critical Care / Intensive Care Unit (ICU) Registered Nurse

• Reports To: Nurse Manager / Clinical Nursing Supervisor

• Patient Ratio: Typically 1:1 or 1:2 depending on acuity

Key Responsibilities

• Advanced Monitoring: Continuously evaluate vital signs, hemodynamics, cardiac rhythms, intracranial pressure, and arterial blood gas values.

• Life Support & Airway Management: Titrate continuous IV vasoactive infusions (sedatives, vasopressors, antiarrhythmics) and manage mechanical ventilation settings in coordination with respiratory therapy.

• Rapid Response: Identify subtle changes in clinical condition, initiate Code Blue procedures, and administer emergency resuscitation protocols.

• Interdisciplinary Collaboration: Conduct daily rounds with intensivists, pharmacists, and specialists to manage complex treatment plans.

• Family Support: Educate families on critical care prognoses, medical equipment, and end-of-life or palliative care decisions.

Core Requirements

Category Qualification

Education BSN (Bachelor of Science in Nursing) preferred; ADN considered

Licensure Active Registered Nurse (RN) license

Certifications BLS, ACLS required; CCRN (Critical Care Registered Nurse) preferred

Experience 1–2 years acute care or telemetry experience minimum (direct ICU entry programs vary)

Essential Skills

• High emotional resilience and rapid critical thinking under extreme pressure.

• Mastery of invasive lines (central lines, arterial lines, Swan-Ganz catheters).

• Proficient with continuous renal replacement therapy (CRRT) and cardiac assist devices (IABP, Impella, ECMO).