Intensive Care Specialist Nurse

An Intensive Care Specialist Nurse can also be known as an Acute Care Nurse, Emergency/Trauma Nurse, High Dependency Nurse or Critical Care and Emergency Nurse depending on the employer and their description of the role and the specific duties of the role which may alter slightly from workplace to workplace.  Responsibilities include evaluating a patient's condition and administering treatment, in accordance with accepted nurse practices and standards, as well providing constant support throughout recovery time.  Ultimately, they will work directly with patients to ensure they receive the attention and medical care needed based on their condition.  An Intensive Care Specialist Nurse has clinical skills that include the ability to evaluate, recognise and manage the disturbances associated with severe medical, surgical, obstetric and paediatric illness and to administer treatment. This usually involves invasive and non-invasive diagnostic techniques, monitoring, and treatment modalities designed to support vital organs.  An Intensive Care Specialist Nurse is responsible for the following:

• Delivering regular updates to doctors, patients and family
• Beginning treatment and monitor doses
• Responding to a medical emergency and alert the appropriate Doctors as needed
• Caring for patient needs throughout their recovery in the ICU unit
• Completing all necessary paperwork before transferring a patient
• Maintaining patient records
• Creating and implementing effective care plans

To become an Intensive Care Specialist Nurse, you must first have the relevant qualifications as a Registered Nurse (RNs), and have extensive industry experience.  Registered Nurses work as part of a multidisciplinary team alongside other skilled professionals including doctors, surgeons, specialists, therapists, specialty nurses, social workers and many others to provide ongoing patient care to people who are sick, disabled, injured or recovering from surgery.  Registered nurses deliver primary health care predominantly in hospitals, clinics, assisted living facilities, aged care facilities, Government or military institutions, community or school settings, in the home or in outpatient facilities.

Read about all other Specialty Nursing Roles here