ICU Nurse Job – Paying Close Observation and Extra Care to Patients
The travel ICU RN jobs in Louisiana involve assisting in treating acutely ill patients with life-threatening conditions who require complex assessment, high-intensity therapies and interventions, and continuous nursing vigilance, in settings like intensive cardiac care units.
To be recruited for intensive care until nursing jobs, RN’s must have an applicable degree in nursing and recent acute care experience. The American Association of Critical Care Nurses has found that many hospitals require nurses to spend a year or more on a medical-surgical floor before moving to the intensive care unit.
Experienced Nurse
Usually, the ICU nurses would be part of a specialized team in the hospital or clinic that takes care of patients in critical or near-fatal conditions. The travel nurse could gain more experience; it allows nurses to give each patient high-quality care. Only highly experienced and proficient registered nurses are made part of the outstanding team as nurses.
Essential functions carried out by the ICU nurses are:
- Providing adequate care to the patient;
- Keeping them under close observation all through;
- Educating and supporting the patient’s family on the care of the patient;
- Providing directions and guidance to the licensed practical nurses;
- Giving advice and recommendations to the nursing assistants in the unit.
- ICU Nursing Job Features
The ICU registered nurses’ main job is to provide life support equipment like ventilators and the feeding tubes that would adequately support the patient’s life. In the process, they also closely observe the heartbeats, blood pressures, and respiratory signals of distress in the patients. Administering IVs, providing medications and inserting catheters, etc. are also a part of their job.
Job Requirements
For being eligible for the ICU nursing job, either a two-year associate degree, a three-year hospital training diploma, or a four-year bachelor’s degree are necessary. Becoming a registered ICU nurse requires passing out the written examination for the certification.
ICU Registered Nurse Certifications
Certification for the ICU nursing career requires voluntary accreditation as one of the Critical Care Registered Nurses or CCRN from the American Association of Critical-Care Nurses. Specific amounts of clinical practice hours in nursing and passing out a special examination in writing are requirements for the certification.
ICU Nurse Salary
ICU nurse salary rates vary depending on factors including experience, certifications, and location. Intensive Care Unit (ICU) nurses can earn up to $26,800 per 13-week assignment. ICU nurse job description won’t be complete without a reference to the career prospects and compensations. By the end of 2009, registered ICU nurses were drawing around $73,000 annually in the United States. It is also advisable to make career searches at some comprehensive and informative travel nursing career online for more information.
