Description
Direct ICU nursing staff in delivering high-acuity patient care in intensive and step-down settings. Ensure adherence to evidence-based critical care protocols, regulatory requirements, and professional standards.
- • Coordinate or conduct ICU-focused education and in-service training on ventilator management, sepsis, and hemodynamics.
- • Perform comprehensive critical care assessments, including neurologic, respiratory, and invasive hemodynamic evaluations.
- • Evaluate the quality and effectiveness of ICU nursing practice and systems.
- • Provide direct and consultative care, develop differential diagnoses, and prescribe treatments within scope and protocol.
- • Deliver specialized direct and indirect care for critically ill adults or pediatrics in ICU and step-down settings.
- • Maintain ICU policies, procedures, objectives, and infection prevention standards.
- • Collaborate with intensivists, hospitalists, respiratory therapists, pharmacists, and ancillary teams to optimize outcomes.
- • Develop ICU nursing philosophies, goals, priorities, and procedures.
- • Develop, implement, and evaluate ICU standards of nursing practice and clinical pathways.
- • Develop or assist with individualized critical care and treatment plans.
- • Make clinical recommendations on ventilator strategies, vasoactive therapy, renal replacement, and sedation.
- • Plan, evaluate, or modify ICU treatment programs based on assessments and patient data.
- • Present patients and families with information to support informed decisions, including risks and alternatives.
- • Instruct staff on assessment, implementation, and evaluation of ICU technologies, therapies, and resources.
- • Direct or supervise ICU nursing staff during complex therapies and high-risk procedures.
- • Identify training needs; lead simulation for airway emergencies, codes, massive transfusion, and proning.
- • Stay current with critical care literature; lead journal clubs and participate in professional organizations.
- • Monitor and evaluate patient conditions with continuous data, coordinating care with the interprofessional team.
- • Participate in critical care research and quality studies; review protocols and monitor compliance.
- • Coordinate ICU discharge and transfer planning to step-down or post-acute settings.
- • Prepare reports on ICU care activities, bundle compliance, device utilization, and outcomes.
- • Write nursing orders, care plans, and standing orders consistent with credentialing and policies.
- • Provide consultation on patient care, procedures, and post-ICU recovery to other providers and units.
- • Develop and maintain evidence-based ICU policies, order sets, and care standards.
- • Design and lead evaluation programs for ICU practice quality, safety, and effectiveness.
- • Design patient and family education on critical illness, delirium, mobility, and transitions of care.
- • Lead ICU readiness and compliance with regulatory and accreditation processes and core measures.
- • Chair or serve on ICU councils, practice committees, code blue, or rapid response teams.
- • Teach and coach ICU staff to advance competencies in ventilator weaning, early mobility, and CAM-ICU use.
- • Drive harm-reduction initiatives to prevent VAP, CLABSI, CAUTI, pressure injuries, and medication errors.
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O*NET occupational data (work activities, skills, knowledge).
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Last reviewed: Jan 2026
