Critical care nurses (CCNs) provide nursing care to critically ill patients who require constant attention and round-the-clock monitoring such as those with heart failure, strokes, respiratory failure, and trauma. They are trained to perform intensive medical interventions in response to sudden and subtle changes in a patient’s condition.
According to the American Association of Critical-Care Nurses, approximately 37 percent of all nurses working in a hospital setting are critical care nurses. Of the more than 500,000 practicing CCNs in the United States, nearly half spend a majority of their time caring for patients in a critical care setting.
Critical care nurses (CCNs) provide direct, hands-on care for critically ill or injured patients in pre-and postoperative medical settings. They are tasked with assessing the risks and benefits of proposed medical interventions, rendering life-saving treatment in emergency situations, and nursing patients back to health.
CCNs work in all areas of the healthcare system, including hospitals, intensive care units (ICUs), progressive care units, coronary care units, telemetry units, burn units, step-down units, nursing homes, hospices, outpatient clinics, and some trauma center emergency departments. They are employed in both private and public health facilities.
On a day-to-day basis, a critical care nurse will perform intensive medical interventions and maintain the life support systems of critically ill patients following surgery, injury, or life-threatening diseases. Critical care nurses are trained to identify sudden or subtle changes in a patient’s condition and to immediately provide emergency care.
Patients who are critically ill require more frequent nursing assessments and round-the-clock monitoring because their condition can change rapidly without warning. CCNs are typically responsible for only one or two patients at a time because their patients require constant attention.
Summary of Steps
01
Start your journey by obtaining a Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) degree, the foundation for a critical care nursing career.
02
Successfully pass the National Council Licensure Examination for Registered Nurses (NCLEX-RN) to become a licensed RN.
03
Acquire valuable experience by working in critical care units, such as ICU or ER, to develop specialized skills.
04
Pursue certification through the American Association of Critical-Care Nurses (AACN) to demonstrate expertise in critical care nursing.
Steps in Detail
In order to become a critical care nurse, you must first be a registered nurse. Registered nurses are trained to provide safe, quality patient care in hospitals or other healthcare facilities. There are two undergraduate nursing programs that meet the requirements to become a registered nurse – an Associate’s Degree in Nursing and a Bachelor of Science in Nursing. However, the demands and complexity of critical care nursing require a prospective critical care nurse to hold a Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN).
A Bachelor of Science in Nursing is a four-year degree that introduces students to topics such as nursing theory, clinical practice, health promotion, disease prevention, and patient care. Additionally, the curriculum includes advanced classes that focus on topics such as: pharmacology, cardiology, anatomy, physiology and nursing research.
After you have earned a Bachelor of Science in Nursing, you must pass the NCLEX-RN to become a registered nurse. The NCLEX-RN is a standardized exam that tests your nursing knowledge and ability to use critical thinking skills to make nursing judgments. It is administered by the National Council of State Boards of Nursing (NCSBN), and although each state has its own licensing board, it is accepted as valid in all states.
The NCLEX-RN exam is formulated under the framework, “Meeting Client Needs” and consists of four Client Needs categories and eight subcategories. The four major categories are:
To make the transition from registered nurse to critical care nurse, aspiring CCNs must gain the advanced skills and knowledge needed to perform intensive medical interventions such as intubation, mechanical ventilation, and administering intravenous sedation. Acquiring these skills requires extensive clinical experience working with critically ill patients in a setting such as an intensive care unit (ICU).
The eligibility requirements for CCRN Certification reflect this need for extensive clinical experience. Before a registered nurse can be certified to provide direct care to acutely/critically ill patients, they must complete one of the following clinical practice hour requirement options:
Two-Year Option | Five-Year Option |
---|---|
In the previous two years preceding application, candidates must practice as an RN or APRN for 1,750 hours in direct care of acutely or critically ill patients. 875 of those accumulated hours must be in the most recent year. | Candidates must practice as an RN or APRN for a minimum of five years with at least 2,000 hours in direct care of acutely or critically ill patients. 144 of those accumulated hours must be earned in the most recent year preceding application. |
After meeting the critical care experience requirements, a nurse with an unencumbered RN or APRN license may pursue certification as a CCRN through the American Association of Critical Care Nurses (AACN). The AACN is a professional organization that serves critical care nurses and other healthcare professionals working in the field of critical care.
The AACN CCRN Certification Examination is an evidence-based exam designed to assess competency in clinical practice as well as theory and concepts of practice (knowledge). Passing the CCRN Certification exam demonstrates that a nurse is able to provide safe, quality care for critically ill patients in a variety of clinical situations. Once you become certified as a CCRN, you will be eligible to work as a critical care nurse. The specialized certification is valid for three years and must be periodically renewed.
Critical care nursing is an area of specialization for RNs, which means that all critical care nurses are registered nurses and many are advanced practice registered nurses (APRNs). According to the most recent data released in May 2022 by the Bureau of Labor Statistics, registered nurses earned a mean annual wage of $89,010, or $42.80 per hour.
Critical Care Nurse salaries vary by state, with some CCNs earning substantially more due to high demand in certain metropolitan areas. CCNS in the following states earn the highest average annual salary.
State | Hourly Wage | Monthly Pay | Annual Salary |
---|---|---|---|
New York | $65.82 | $11,408 | $136,896 |
New Hampshire | $60.91 | $10,557 | $126,690 |
Vermont | $60.27 | $10,446 | $125,361 |
Maine | $59.67 | $10,343 | $124,120 |
Hawaii | $58.10 | $10,070 | $120,842 |
Massachusetts | $58.02 | $10,057 | $120,685 |
Tennessee | $57.68 | $9,998 | $119,981 |
Wyoming | $57.50 | $9,966 | $119,596 |
Arizona | $57.40 | $9,950 | $119,402 |
Nevada | $57.06 | $9,889 | $118,677 |
Many nurses question whether or not they should pursue CCRN certification. The path to certification requires a significant commitment on the part of the nurse – critical care nurses must complete a few thousand hours of clinical practice over the course of several years just to meet the eligibility requirements – and the certification exam is very difficult.
However, the rewards for this type of dedication and perseverance are significant. Nurses who earn CCRN certification often report that earning their CCRN credential is the single greatest accomplishment of their career. Additionally, the special recognition they receive from colleagues and patients can be very rewarding. Together, these benefits make a compelling case for pursuing CCRN certification. Other notable benefits include: