To become an ICU nurse, one needs a bachelor’s degree in registered nursing and on-the-job training. Some hospitals have training programs, while others require at least one or two years of experience. Certification exams in critical care can make it easier to get jobs in the future. Advanced degrees can raise pay and open up management jobs.
To become an ICU nurse, people will need to complete traditional academic studies and will need further study or on-the-job training. ICU (intensive care unit) nursing is usually classified as a subset of intensive care nursing. The recommendations for becoming an intensive care nurse apply equally to anyone wanting to focus on working in an ICU.
The first step to becoming an ICU nurse is to receive a bachelor’s degree in registered nursing and then take any exam or license application in a specific region by that region’s board of nursing. In places like the US, this is usually done on a state-by-state basis, and requirements on what it takes to obtain a license can vary slightly. A bachelor’s degree, however, is mandatory. Studying for this degree during your internship can help you take advantage of any training offered in ICU or critical care, as building knowledge in this area is vital.
There are actually different paths that people take to become an ICU nurse. Sometimes, upon graduating from nursing school and obtaining a license, people find immediate employment in this field. Most hospitals, unless they are understaffed, have no desire to hire an inexperienced nurse for any kind of intensive care work. This can lead to two different tactics in hiring practices.
One practice is to hire only registered nurses who have at least one or two years of experience working in a hospital. Alternatively, some hospitals have training programs for a person who wants to become an ICU nurse. People join these programs and are paid to work, often while under the supervision of more experienced critical care nurses. As long as their skills represent a certain level of competence, in a year or two these nurses in training will be reclassified as an ICU or critical care nurse.
By acquiring this experience, the person who wants to be an ICU nurse can also look for requirements to take certification exams in critical care. While it may require some extra money to take a test and some extra time to study, this certification is often favored by hospitals and can make it easier for you to get jobs in the future. Some nurses also decide they want to specialize in critical care and get a master’s degree and become an advanced practice nurse, or get a doctorate and become a registered nurse.
These last two steps are not necessary for most people who would like to become an ICU nurse. However, they can be attractive because they raise the basic level of pay, give the nurse greater responsibility in the ICU environment, and open up the possibility of nursing management jobs. Nursing professionals can also diagnose and prescribe. Finally, the most important part is to start with the nursing studies that lead to an RN, after which nurses will have a variety of ways to develop their careers in critical care.
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