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Overview:
Critical care nurses care for acutely and critically ill patients
of all ages and diagnoses. Care involves complex assessment
and high intensity interventions, often involving sophisticated
technology. Critical care nurses also attend to the psychosocial
and emotional needs of patients, their families and significant
others.
Typical
venues: primarily in hospitals in intensive care units,
cardiac care units, emergency departments and recovery rooms;
critical care nurses are also moving into home health care
and outpatient surgery centers.
Education:
active RN licensure
Certification
available: certification offered through:
AACN
Certification Corp.
101 Columbia
Aliso Viejo, Calif. 92656-1491
(949) 362-2000
certification
as an acute care nurse practitioner (ACNP) offered through:
American
Nurses Credentialing Center
600 Maryland Ave., SW, Suite 100 West
Washington, D.C. 20024-2571
(800) 284-2378
General
certification information, including links to FAQs
Specific
information about nurse practitioner certification
Job
outlook: Nursing as a whole will be one of the top 10
fastest growing professions in the United States in the next
decade, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. Current
shortages of critical care nurses in particular makes the
employment outlook excellent.
Opportunities:
Great need for critical care nurses; intense, high-energy
field
Challenges:
Patients now sicker than ever; patient care more complex;
need to keep up with ever-changing technology
For
More Information:
American
Association of Critical-Care Nurses
101 Columbia
Aliso Viejo, Calif. 92656-1491
(800) 899-2226
Fax (949) 362-2020
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