Looking for ICU nurse jobs? Being an Intensive Care Unit nurse is a line of work with a high demand and lots of expected job growth. The randomness of life means accidents can happen anytime. As long as there are drive by shootings, car crashes, and senior citizens falling down stairs, ICU nurses will be there to save the day.
According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, job growth for ICU nurses is expected to be 6% in by 2032. Given an aging population, that number could rise.
The role of ICU nurses is critical. It’s a great career for both new nurses, and experienced nurses looking for a career change.
Required Skills for ICU Nurse Jobs
To be attentive and alert are critical skills for an ICU nurse. Patients in the Intensive Care Unit face serious or even life-threatening conditions. A patient’s condition can shift rapidly resulting in serious complications, or sometimes death. While ICU patients may not be in as immediate danger as ER patients, ICU nurses need to be able to think on their feet and respond quickly.
Required Education
A RN, BSN, or ADN, is needed to become an ICU nurse. Once you’ve obtained your degree from an accredited nursing program, you will need to pass the NCLEX examination.
Future ICU nurses must work no less than two years in an ICU environment before becoming an ICU nurse themselves. Next, you will need to become ICU certified. The most popular certification is the Certification of Adult Critical Care Nurses (CCRN). You must fulfil one of the two following requirements to be eligible for the CCRN exam.
- Practice as an RN or APRN for 1,750 hours in direct care of critically ill pediatric patients within two years. 875 of those hours must be accrued in the most recent year preceding application.
- Practice as an RN or APRN for at least five years with a minimum of 2,000 hours in direct care of critically ill pediatric patients. 144 of those hours must be accrued in the year preceding application.
Once ready to take the exam, applicants have 90 days to make an appointment at an American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC) approved center. The exam costs $344.
Polish Your Resume
Making adjustments to your resume using keywords and phrases from your chosen job listing will give you a leg up when applying. Below is a template to inspire your own ICU nurse resume.
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