To work as an ICU nurse, students must complete traditional academic studies and either additional study or on-the-job training. Critical care nursing is usually divided into two categories: ICU (intensive care unit) nursing and critical care nursing. Anyone who wants to work in an ICU should follow the same advice as those who want to become a critical care nurse.
To work as an ICU nurse, you must first earn a bachelor’s degree in registered nursing, then pass any required exams or apply for licensure with the appropriate nursing board in your area. In places like the United States, this is usually done by state, and the requirements for obtaining a license may differ slightly. However, a bachelor’s degree is required. Taking advantage of any ICU or critical care training offered while studying for this degree during practicum can be beneficial, as building expertise in this area is crucial.
In order to become an ICU nurse, people take a variety of paths. Some people find immediate employment in this field after graduating from nursing school and receiving their license. Unless they are severely understaffed, most hospitals are hesitant to hire an inexperienced nurse for any type of critical care position. This could lead to two different hiring strategies.
Only hiring nurses with at least a year or two of experience working in a hospital is one practice. Some hospitals, on the other hand, offer training programs for people interested in becoming ICU nurses. People would enroll in these programs and be paid to work while being monitored by more experienced critical care nurses. These training nurses would be reclassified as ICU or critical care nurses in a year or two years if their skills demonstrated a certain level of competency.
The person who wants to be an ICU nurse should look into the requirements for taking critical care certification exams while gaining this experience. Though it may cost more money to take the test and take more time to study, hospitals often favor this certification and it may make it easier to find work in the future. Some nurses decide to specialize in critical care and obtain a master’s degree or a doctorate, allowing them to work as advanced practice nurses or nurse practitioners.
Most people who want to work as an ICU nurse won’t need to complete the last two steps. They can be appealing, however, because they increase base pay, give nurses more responsibility in the ICU, and open up opportunities in nursing management. Nurse practitioners are also capable of diagnosing and prescribing. Finally, the most important step is to begin nursing studies that will lead to an RN license, after which nurses will have a variety of options for furthering their careers in intensive care.