Critical care nursing or intensive care nursing, is a specialty focused on the care of unstable, chronically ill or post surgical patients and those at risk from life threatening diseases and injuries.

1. ESTAM FORMATION UNIVERSITY
SEME CAMPUS, BENIN REPUBLIC

2. NAME: OKON GIFT INI
DEPARTMENT: NURSING
FACULTY: HEALTH
SCIENCE
LEVEL: 200

3. PRESENTATION
ON
CRITICAL CARE NURSING

4. DEFINITION
Critical care nursing or
intensive care nursing, is a
specialty focused on the care
of unstable, chronically ill or
post surgical patients and
those at risk from life
threatening diseases and
injuries.

5. INTRODUCTION
Critical care nursing involves working with
doctors and specialists to assess, treat, and
monitor critically ill patients while also providing
their basic care. They are responsible for
assessing a patients condition and treatment,
taking vital signs, communicating with patients
and their families, setting IV line, administering
medication.
However, the nurses under this specialty need
more knowledge of equipment and charting than
other registered nurses. They practically
knowledgeable in anatomy and physiology. It is a
demanding and rewarding career because it
involves a patient first assessment to end of life
care and also caring for people who are at their
very worst, physically.

6. RESPONSIBILITIES OF CRITICAL
CARE NURSE
 Monitor exact, detailed reports and records of the ICU.
 monitor and record symptoms and changes in patients conditions and
information to the physicians
 Administering Ivs fluids and medication as per doctor order.
 Monitor all aspect of patients care including diet and physical activity.
 Treating wounds and providing advanced life support.
 Ensuring that ventilators, monitors and other types of medical
equipment function properly.
 Ensure tat equipment or devices are properly stored after use.
 Identify mal-functioning equipment or devices.
 Care for pre and post operative patients when they require ICU care.
 Providing education and support to patient’s families.

7. SKILLS OF A CRITICAL CARE NURSE/ICU NURSE
There are many skills that can contribute to the success of an ICU nurse which include:
 Compassion: it allows you to comfort your patients and help them recover by showing them you
care about their wellness.
 Critical thinking: This helps in making quick decision about treatment for patient in emergency
situation. This is a valuable skill because the choices you make affect the well being of patients and
their families.
 Passion: it is important for you to be passionate about your career as an ICU nurse and make you
feel more fulfilled in your job which can improve your performance and satisfaction.
 Team work: your ability to work with a team may determine how well you can perform the duties of
an ICU nurse. In the ICU, many patients efficiently work together to treat patients. Sometimes under
the Doctor’s direction or Surgeon.
 Communication: it is another useful skill for an ICU nurse. You may need to communicate with
colleagues, patients, families to discuss treatment plans, diagnosis and next step.

8. HOW TO BE A CRITICAL CARE NURSE/ICU NURSE
Consider the following:
Get a nursing degree
Pass the NCLEX-RN(NATYIONAL COUNCIL LICENSURE
EXAMINATION FOR REGISTERED NURSES)
Receive state licensure
Gain nursing experience
Get an ICU nurse certification
Apply for ICU nursing jobs

9. SPECIALTIES CRITICAL CARE
NURSE/ICU NURSES PURSUE
Here are some specialties an ICU nurse can consider
 Cardiac: this area of health care involves heart-related emergencies,
surgeries and catheterization. Duties includes monitoring heart rate
and vitals, using inter cardiac devices and administering medications.
 Neurological: A neurological specialty handles nervous system injuries,
including brain and spinal cord trauma. nurses in this focus may
conduct motor function and cognitive assessment and use intracranial
devices.
 Medical: The medical area of intensive care involves patients with
emergency infections, illnesses or withdrawal symptoms. This
specialization requires the use of ventilators, medication and
intravenous fluid.
 Trauma: Patients in the trauma area of healthcare may have critical
injuries that require immediate attention. Trauma ICU nurses may
perform quick assessments of patients conditions and have a broad
knowledge of many different injuries
 Neonatal: The neonatal intensive care unit or NICU, cares for new born
with critical injuries or illnesses. Responsibilities for this role includes
monitoring, feeding and medicating babies as well as updating parents

10. CONCLUSION
Critical care /ICU nurses are those specially
nurses who handle critical care patients with life
threatening conditions within the confines of the
intensive care unit. How ever, this are usually
who have had major surgery or recovery from
accident or experiencing multiple organ failure.
nurses in other words handle patients who are
on the demarcation line between life and death.

11. References:
www.wgu.edu.
www.nursingtimes.net.
www.nurse.org.