Description
Deliver advanced, evidence-based nursing care to critically ill patients in intensive and coronary care units as a Critical Care Nurse (CCN), including continuous monitoring, invasive hemodynamic assessment, ventilator and life-support management, and rapid intervention.
- • Identify age-specific needs and adjust care plans.
- • Provide post-mortem care.
- • Evaluate vital signs, hemodynamics, and labs to determine emergency interventions.
- • Perform approved therapeutic and diagnostic procedures based on clinical status.
- • Administer blood products and monitor for transfusion reactions.
- • Administer and titrate medications, including vasoactive, analgesic, and sedative infusions.
- • Advocate for patients and families and provide emotional support.
- • Set up, operate, and monitor equipment such as cardiac monitors, mechanical ventilators, oxygen devices, invasive pressure lines, and alarms.
- • Track fluid intake and output and address fluid or electrolyte imbalances.
- • Monitor for deterioration, sepsis, or shock and initiate rapid response or code protocols.
- • Assess pain, agitation, and sedation needs.
- • Assess psychosocial status, including sleep, anxiety, grief, anger, and support systems.
- • Collaborate with intensivists, physicians, respiratory therapists, pharmacists, and other team members to develop and revise care plans.
- • Collect specimens for laboratory testing.
- • Analyze data from monitors and diagnostics, including waveforms and arterial blood gases.
- • Perform pulmonary assessments and evaluate readiness for ventilator weaning.
- • Document histories, assessments, and clinical findings.
- • Document treatment plans, interventions, outcomes, and revisions.
- • Identify patients at risk for complications related to nutrition and coordinate nutrition support.
- • Prioritize care for assigned critically ill patients based on acuity and assessment data.
- • Assist with procedures such as bronchoscopy, endoscopy, endotracheal intubation, and elective cardioversion.
- • Clean, decontaminate, and properly store equipment and devices after use.
- • Recognize and report malfunctioning equipment or device alarms.
- • Assess family coping and adaptation and intervene or refer as needed.
- • Coordinate interdisciplinary patient care conferences and handoffs.
- • Participate in professional organizations and continuing education to maintain CCN competencies.
- • Contribute to the development, review, and evaluation of nursing practice protocols and order sets.
- • Plan, deliver, or evaluate educational programs for nursing staff, the care team, or the community.
- • Supervise, mentor, and monitor unit nursing staff.
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Tasks & skills:
O*NET occupational data (work activities, skills, knowledge).
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Last reviewed: Jan 2026
