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Critical Care Nurses

Typical education: Bachelor's degreeHigh pressure Bright Outlook

What they do

Provide specialized nursing care for patients in critical or coronary care units.

Kinds of work

  • Social: Helping, teaching, caring for and supporting other people.
  • Investigative: Science, research, figuring out how things work and solving complex problems.
  • Conventional: Organizing information, following clear procedures and working with data and details.

High pressure: How much pressure workers in this job report: deadlines, conflict, dealing with upset people, the cost of mistakes, responsibility for others' safety, competition and long hours. It varies a lot from one employer to the next. Source: U.S. Department of Labor worker surveys.

Pay, tasks and more

Salary

United States $97,550 Median per year · $46.90/hr Most earn $68,940–$137,470

BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, 2025.

What you might do

  • Set up and monitor medical equipment and devices such as cardiac monitors, mechanical ventilators and alarms, oxygen delivery devices, transducers, or pressure lines.
  • Assess family adaptation levels and coping skills to determine whether intervention is needed.
  • Monitor patients for changes in status and indications of conditions such as sepsis or shock and institute appropriate interventions.
  • Identify patients at risk of complications due to nutritional status.
  • Participate in the development, review, or evaluation of nursing practice protocols.
  • Ensure that equipment or devices are properly stored after use.

Job outlook

Bright Outlook Rapid Growth; Numerous Job Openings

United States
6% more jobs by 2035, faster than average · about 180,800 openings a year

Openings include new jobs and jobs left by workers who retire or change careers. Projections: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. "Bright Outlook": U.S. Department of Labor.

Where they work

  • General medical and surgical hospitals55.2%
  • Offices of physicians6.9%
  • Home healthcare services5.8%
  • Nursing care facilities (skilled nursing facilities)4.2%
  • Federal government, excluding postal service3.1%

Share of all workers in this career. Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, National Employment Matrix.

Experience before this job: 6 months to 1 year

Career path

How people usually get into this career, from school to their first job and beyond.

Typical education: Bachelor's degreeExperience before this job: 6 months to 1 year

Critical care nursing is not an entry-level job. Most people first earn a bachelor's degree in nursing, work as a registered nurse for about 6 months to 1 year, and then move into an intensive care or coronary care unit. Getting there usually takes about 5 to 6 years in total.

  1. Bachelor's degree in nursing (BSN), then pass the NCLEX licensing exam

    4 years

    You learn anatomy, medications, and patient care in classes and hospital clinical rotations, then earn your license as a registered nurse.

  2. Acute Care Nurse

    6 months to 1 year

    You work on a busy hospital floor, building skills in assessing patients, giving medications, and handling emergencies, which is the experience units look for.

  3. Critical Care Nurse

    Ongoing

    You care for patients in intensive care or coronary care units, monitoring very sick patients and working closely with doctors and other specialists.

Where it can lead

  1. Nurse Practitioner

    1-2 years of experience first

    You complete a master's degree (or doctoral program) to diagnose conditions, order tests, and prescribe treatment, usually with more independence than a bedside nurse.

  2. Clinical Nurse Specialist

    2-4 years of experience first

    You complete a master's degree to become an expert who guides nursing practice, trains other nurses, and leads improvements in patient care across a unit or hospital.

What you can do now

Ideas for high school and college students.

In high school

  • Take biology, chemistry, and health or anatomy classesThese classes build the science foundation you will need for a nursing degree and show you if you enjoy the subject.
  • Get certified in CPR and first aidMany schools and community groups offer these courses, and they show you can stay calm and act quickly in an emergency.
  • Volunteer at a hospital, nursing home, or clinicVolunteering lets you see how healthcare teams work and shows colleges that you are serious about caring for patients.
  • Get a starter job that involves helping peopleWorking as a camp counselor, babysitter, or store employee builds the communication and teamwork skills nurses use every day.
  • Join a health occupations club or science clubClubs like these, which many schools offer, let you learn from peers and sometimes from local healthcare professionals.

In college

  • Apply to a nursing program (BSN) and take the science prerequisitesA bachelor's degree in nursing is the typical starting point for this career, and courses like anatomy, microbiology, and chemistry are required.
  • Work as a nursing assistant or patient care techHands-on patient care experience, often available through campus or local hospital jobs, prepares you for the pace of a hospital unit.
  • Seek a clinical rotation or healthcare internshipHospital placements let you practice skills with real patients and make connections with the nurses who might hire you later.
  • Join a nursing or pre-health student organizationGroups on many campuses host guest speakers, skills workshops, and networking events that help you learn about specialties like critical care.
  • Earn advanced certifications like BLS or ACLS when eligibleLife support certifications are often required on critical care units and show employers you already know the basics of emergency care.

Tips for getting started

  • Look for a nursing program with strong hospital clinical placements, since that hands-on time is what helps you get hired into a busy unit.
  • Ask nurses you meet during volunteer or clinical work what the first year on a critical care unit is like, so you know what to expect.
  • Stay calm and organized under pressure. Practice this in school, in sports, or in any job, because critical care nurses use these skills every shift.

Related jobs that often lead here

Related jobs a step up

Education, experience and related careers: U.S. Department of Labor. The step-by-step path, where it can lead and what you can do now were written by AI as typical examples; many people take other ways.

College majors that lead here

Majors: U.S. Department of Education and BLS (CIP–SOC crosswalk). Earnings and debt: College Scorecard, typical across U.S. colleges.

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