RN Registered Nurses take care of people who are sick, injured, convalescent or disabled. They care for patients by assessing, planning, intervention, implementation and evaluation, under general supervision, and in accordance with established practices and philosophy. Registered Nurses work with other professionals to ensure patient care is delivered effectively to achieve desired patient outcomes. The RN must effectively interact with the patient and family members while maintaining the standard of professional nursing. There are many travel assignments and jobs available for the Registered Nurse as the Bureau of Labor Statistics notes that nursing is one of the top 10 occupations with the largest job growth. Where would you like to visit? Work in a great environment and enjoy free time seeing places you have always wanted to visit. Many great opportunities await the Registered Nurse in today’s market!

ICU Registered Nurses specialize in providing care in intensive care units of hospitals and are always in high demand. The percentage of critically ill patients requiring expert care continues to rise as health care advances. ICU RN also work in specialized units and sometimes provide care to people of all ages, though most provide care to either children or adults. RN ICU nurses must be proficient in a wide variety of high-level nursing skills and need to be experts in evaluating and administering care, while recognizing complications. A successful ICU RN will excel at interpersonal communication, leadership, strategic planning, critical thinking and decision-making. Intensive Care Nursing is a complex and challenging specialty and these nurses must use their advanced skills to care for critically ill and high risk patients.

Intensive Care Unit Nurses must work closely with physicians and other members of the health care team and must be skilled in assessment of patients as well as being capable of using high tech equipment whern necessary. Mental, physical and emotional stamina is necessary for the ICU RN to work with seriously ill patients and their family members. The ICU RN will treat wounds and provide advanced life support. The RN can assist physicians in performing procedures and administer intravenous fluids and medications. Immediate and intensive nursing care when a patient suffers a stroke, shock, severe trauma, heart attack or other severe medical issue. The ICU RN is adept at providing such care in settings where the patient can be given complex assessments and treatment.

Different settings for care would be available and may alter duties and responsibilities accordingly. In a small hospital setting the ICU RN would likely provide care across the spectrum, while in a large medical center the ICU are likely to be separated and specialized. The ICU RN provides most of the direct care to patients in life threatening situations within the Intensive Care Unit. Some ICU nurses specialize in caring for newborns in neonatal intensive care units or for children in pediatric ICUs.

The Intensive Care Unit Registered Nurse will assess, plan, implement and evaluate health care services for patients with a broad range of health conditions. The types of patients cared for would depend on the type of setting in which you are working. But all intensive care units provide care of extremely ill patients or those with life-threatening health problems.

Work Conditions

Working conditions in this field may be intense as patients require constant monitoring, medication and medical intervention in order to survive. Shifts will be day and night, weekends and holidays. There is a lot of bending, lifting and squatting involved as well.

Education Requirements

ICU RN, like all Registered Nurses, must first finish a two-year associate’s degree or a four-year bachelor’s degree in nursing before beginning their careers. Some settings may require certification before employment as well. There is a Nursing Certificate from the American Nurses Credentialing Center for this field.