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Date: 10/24/2026

Critical Care Nurses

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

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    Work Activities

    Work Activities

    • Prioritize nursing care for assigned critically ill patients, based on assessment data or identified needs.
    • Monitor patients for changes in status and indications of conditions such as sepsis or shock and institute appropriate interventions.
    • Assess patients' pain levels or sedation requirements.
    • Document patients' medical histories and assessment findings.
    • Collaborate with other health care professionals to develop and revise treatment plans, based on identified needs and assessment data.
    • Evaluate patients' vital signs or laboratory data to determine emergency intervention needs.
    • Administer blood and blood products, monitoring patients for signs and symptoms related to transfusion reactions.
    • Provide post-mortem care.
    • Coordinate patient care conferences.
    • Plan, provide, or evaluate educational programs for nursing staff, interdisciplinary health care team members, or community members.
    • Collect specimens for laboratory tests.
    • Perform approved therapeutic or diagnostic procedures, based upon patients' clinical status.
    • Monitor patients' fluid intake and output to detect emerging problems, such as fluid and electrolyte imbalances.
    • Assist physicians with procedures such as bronchoscopy, endoscopy, endotracheal intubation, or elective cardioversion.
    • Compile and analyze data obtained from monitoring or diagnostic tests.
    • Identify patients at risk of complications due to nutritional status.
    • Set up and monitor medical equipment and devices such as cardiac monitors, mechanical ventilators and alarms, oxygen delivery devices, transducers, or pressure lines.
    • Monitor patients for changes in status and indications of conditions such as sepsis or shock and institute appropriate interventions.
    • Assess family adaptation levels and coping skills to determine whether intervention is needed.
    • Identify patients at risk of complications due to nutritional status.
    • Participate in professional organizations and continuing education to improve practice knowledge and skills.
    • Provide post-mortem care.
    • Participate in the development, review, or evaluation of nursing practice protocols.
    • Ensure that equipment or devices are properly stored after use.
    • Set up and monitor medical equipment and devices such as cardiac monitors, mechanical ventilators and alarms, oxygen delivery devices, transducers, or pressure lines.
    • Document patients' treatment plans, interventions, outcomes, or plan revisions.
    • Ensure that equipment or devices are properly stored after use.
    • Coordinate patient care conferences.
    • Provide post-mortem care.
    • Administer medications intravenously, by injection, orally, through gastric tubes, or by other methods.
    • Supervise and monitor unit nursing staff.
    • Advocate for patients' and families' needs, or provide emotional support for patients and their families.
    • Administer blood and blood products, monitoring patients for signs and symptoms related to transfusion reactions.
    • Identify malfunctioning equipment or devices.
    • Conduct pulmonary assessments to identify abnormal respiratory patterns or breathing sounds that indicate problems.
    • Assess patients' psychosocial status and needs, including areas such as sleep patterns, anxiety, grief, anger, and support systems.
    • Plan, provide, or evaluate educational programs for nursing staff, interdisciplinary health care team members, or community members.
    • Administer medications intravenously, by injection, orally, through gastric tubes, or by other methods.
    • Perform approved therapeutic or diagnostic procedures, based upon patients' clinical status.
    • Identify patients' age-specific needs and alter care plans as necessary to meet those needs.

    Skills

    • Coordination

      Changing what is done based on other people's actions.

    • Management of Financial Resources

      Making spending decisions and keeping track of what is spent.

    • Operation and Control

      Using equipment or systems.

    • Operations Monitoring

      Watching gauges, dials, or display screens to make sure a machine is working.

    • Systems Evaluation

      Measuring how well a system is working and how to improve it.

    • Management of Personnel Resources

      Selecting and managing the best workers for a job.

    • Management of Material Resources

      Managing equipment and materials.

    • Speaking

      Talking to others.

    • Learning Strategies

      Using the best training or teaching strategies for learning new things.

    • Active Learning

      Figuring out how to use new ideas or things.

    • Science

      Using scientific rules and strategies to solve problems.

    • Negotiation

      Bringing people together to solve differences.

    • Troubleshooting

      Figuring out what is causing equipment, machines, wiring, or computer programs to not work.

    • Technology Design

      Making equipment and technology useful for customers.

    • Judgment and Decision Making

      Thinking about the pros and cons of different options and picking the best one.

    • Installation

      Installing equipment, machines, wiring, or computer programs.

    • Quality Control Analysis

      Testing how well a product or service works.

    • Mathematics

      Using math to solve problems.

    • Instructing

      Teaching people how to do something.

    • Operations Analysis

      Figuring out what a product or service needs to be able to do.

    • Equipment Maintenance

      Planning and doing the basic maintenance on equipment.

    • Monitoring

      Keeping track of how well people and/or groups are doing in order to make improvements.

    • Active Listening

      Listening to others, not interrupting, and asking good questions.

    • Service Orientation

      Looking for ways to help people.

    • Equipment Selection

      Deciding what kind of tools and equipment are needed to do a job.

    • Writing

      Writing things for co-workers or customers.

    • Reading Comprehension

      Reading work-related information.

    • Persuasion

      Talking people into changing their minds or their behavior.

    • Complex Problem Solving

      Noticing a problem and figuring out the best way to solve it.

    • Repairing

      Repairing machines or systems using the right tools.

    • Programming

      Writing computer programs.

    • Systems Analysis

      Figuring out how a system should work and how changes in the future will affect it.

    • Social Perceptiveness

      Understanding people's reactions.

    • Time Management

      Managing your time and the time of other people.

    • Critical Thinking

      Thinking about the pros and cons of different ways to solve a problem.

    WorkKeys®

    Applied Math
    4
    Workplace Documents
    5
    Graphic Literacy
    4

    Abilities

    • Selective Attention

      Paying attention to something without being distracted.

    • Extent Flexibility

      Bending, stretching, twisting, or reaching with your body, arms, and/or legs.

    • Peripheral Vision

      Seeing something to your side when your are looking ahead.

    • Speech Recognition

      Recognizing spoken words.

    • Glare Sensitivity

      Seeing something even if there is a glare or very bright light.

    • Flexibility of Closure

      Seeing hidden patterns.

    • Manual Dexterity

      Holding or moving items with your hands.

    • Perceptual Speed

      Quickly comparing groups of letters, numbers, pictures, or other things.

    • Memorization

      Remembering words, numbers, pictures, or steps.

    • Speed of Closure

      Quickly knowing what you are looking at.

    • Stamina

      Exercising for a long time without getting out of breath.

    • Trunk Strength

      Using your lower back and stomach.

    • Finger Dexterity

      Putting together small parts with your fingers.

    • Auditory Attention

      Paying attention to one sound while there are other distracting sounds.

    • Sound Localization

      Noticing the direction that a sound came from.

    • Inductive Reasoning

      Making general rules or coming up with answers from lots of detailed information.

    • Control Precision

      Quickly changing the controls of a machine, car, truck or boat.

    • Dynamic Strength

      Exercising for a long time without your muscles getting tired.

    • Time Sharing

      Doing two or more things at the same time.

    • Speed of Limb Movement

      Quickly moving your arms and legs.

    • Gross Body Coordination

      Moving your arms, legs, and mid-section together while your whole body is moving.

    • Night Vision

      Seeing at night or under low light.

    • Information Ordering

      Ordering or arranging things.

    • Problem Sensitivity

      Noticing when problems happen.

    • Deductive Reasoning

      Using rules to solve problems.

    • Arm-Hand Steadiness

      Keeping your arm or hand steady.

    • Wrist-Finger Speed

      Making fast, simple, repeated movements of your fingers, hands, and wrists.

    • Multilimb Coordination

      Using your arms and/or legs together while sitting, standing, or lying down.

    • Explosive Strength

      Jumping, sprinting, or throwing something.

    • Spatial Orientation

      Knowing where things are around you.

    • Depth Perception

      Deciding which thing is closer or farther away from you, or deciding how far away it is from you.

    • Speech Clarity

      Speaking clearly.

    • Written Expression

      Communicating by writing.

    • Fluency of Ideas

      Coming up with lots of ideas.

    • Far Vision

      Seeing details that are far away.

    • Reaction Time

      Quickly moving your hand, finger, or foot based on a sound, light, picture or other command.

    • Static Strength

      Lifting, pushing, pulling, or carrying.

    • Dynamic Flexibility

      Quickly and repeatedly bending, stretching, twisting, or reaching out with your body, arms, and/or legs.

    • Visualization

      Imagining how something will look after it is moved around or changed.

    • Oral Comprehension

      Listening and understanding what people say.

    • Visual Color Discrimination

      Noticing the difference between colors, including shades and brightness.

    • Originality

      Creating new and original ideas.

    • Category Flexibility

      Grouping things in different ways.

    • Mathematical Reasoning

      Choosing the right type of math to solve a problem.

    • Response Orientation

      Quickly deciding if you should move your hand, foot, or other body part.

    • Rate Control

      Changing when and how fast you move based on how something else is moving.

    • Written Comprehension

      Reading and understanding what is written.

    • Hearing Sensitivity

      Telling the difference between sounds.

    • Oral Expression

      Communicating by speaking.

    • Near Vision

      Seeing details up close.

    • Gross Body Equilibrium

      Keeping your balance or staying upright.

    • Number Facility

      Adding, subtracting, multiplying, or dividing.

    Knowledge

    • Biology

      Knowledge of plant and animal organisms, their tissues, cells, functions, interdependencies, and interactions with each other and the environment.

    • Foreign Language

      Knowledge of the structure and content of a foreign (non-English) language including the meaning and spelling of words, rules of composition and grammar, and pronunciation.

    • Philosophy and Theology

      Knowledge of different philosophical systems and religions. This includes their basic principles, values, ethics, ways of thinking, customs, practices, and their impact on human culture.

    • Personnel and Human Resources

      Knowledge of principles and procedures for personnel recruitment, selection, training, compensation and benefits, labor relations and negotiation, and personnel information systems.

    • Design

      Knowledge of design techniques, tools, and principles involved in production of precision technical plans, blueprints, drawings, and models.

    • Administration and Management

      Knowledge of business and management principles involved in strategic planning, resource allocation, human resources modeling, leadership technique, production methods, and coordination of people and resources.

    • Administrative

      Knowledge of administrative and office procedures and systems such as word processing, managing files and records, stenography and transcription, designing forms, and workplace terminology.

    • Sales and Marketing

      Knowledge of principles and methods for showing, promoting, and selling products or services. This includes marketing strategy and tactics, product demonstration, sales techniques, and sales control systems.

    • Customer and Personal Service

      Knowledge of principles and processes for providing customer and personal services. This includes customer needs assessment, meeting quality standards for services, and evaluation of customer satisfaction.

    • Physics

      Knowledge and prediction of physical principles, laws, their interrelationships, and applications to understanding fluid, material, and atmospheric dynamics, and mechanical, electrical, atomic and sub-atomic structures and processes.

    • Computers and Electronics

      Knowledge of circuit boards, processors, chips, electronic equipment, and computer hardware and software, including applications and programming.

    • Engineering and Technology

      Knowledge of the practical application of engineering science and technology. This includes applying principles, techniques, procedures, and equipment to the design and production of various goods and services.

    • Building and Construction

      Knowledge of materials, methods, and the tools involved in the construction or repair of houses, buildings, or other structures such as highways and roads.

    • Economics and Accounting

      Knowledge of economic and accounting principles and practices, the financial markets, banking, and the analysis and reporting of financial data.

    • Psychology

      Knowledge of human behavior and performance; individual differences in ability, personality, and interests; learning and motivation; psychological research methods; and the assessment and treatment of behavioral and affective disorders.

    • Sociology and Anthropology

      Knowledge of group behavior and dynamics, societal trends and influences, human migrations, ethnicity, cultures, and their history and origins.

    • Geography

      Knowledge of principles and methods for describing the features of land, sea, and air masses, including their physical characteristics, locations, interrelationships, and distribution of plant, animal, and human life.

    • Education and Training

      Knowledge of principles and methods for curriculum and training design, teaching and instruction for individuals and groups, and the measurement of training effects.

    • Fine Arts

      Knowledge of the theory and techniques required to compose, produce, and perform works of music, dance, visual arts, drama, and sculpture.

    • Law and Government

      Knowledge of laws, legal codes, court procedures, precedents, government regulations, executive orders, agency rules, and the democratic political process.

    • Communications and Media

      Knowledge of media production, communication, and dissemination techniques and methods. This includes alternative ways to inform and entertain via written, oral, and visual media.

    • Transportation

      Knowledge of principles and methods for moving people or goods by air, rail, sea, or road, including the relative costs and benefits.

    • Medicine and Dentistry

      Knowledge of the information and techniques needed to diagnose and treat human injuries, diseases, and deformities. This includes symptoms, treatment alternatives, drug properties and interactions, and preventive health-care measures.

    • Therapy and Counseling

      Knowledge of principles, methods, and procedures for diagnosis, treatment, and rehabilitation of physical and mental dysfunctions, and for career counseling and guidance.

    • English Language

      Knowledge of the structure and content of the English language including the meaning and spelling of words, and rules of composition and grammar.

    • History and Archeology

      Knowledge of historical events and their causes, indicators, and effects on civilizations and cultures.

    • Public Safety and Security

      Knowledge of relevant equipment, policies, procedures, and strategies to promote effective local, state, or national security operations for the protection of people, data, property, and institutions.

    • Telecommunications

      Knowledge of transmission, broadcasting, switching, control, and operation of telecommunications systems.

    • Production and Processing

      Knowledge of raw materials, production processes, quality control, costs, and other techniques for maximizing the effective manufacture and distribution of goods.

    • Food Production

      Knowledge of techniques and equipment for planting, growing, and harvesting food products (both plant and animal) for consumption, including storage/handling techniques.

    • Mechanical

      Knowledge of machines and tools, including their designs, uses, repair, and maintenance.

    • Chemistry

      Knowledge of the chemical composition, structure, and properties of substances and of the chemical processes and transformations that they undergo. This includes uses of chemicals and their interactions, danger signs, production techniques, and disposal methods.

    • Mathematics

      Knowledge of arithmetic, algebra, geometry, calculus, statistics, and their applications.

    Career Video

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    Pay

    • Ohio Annual Salary 82510/yr
    • Typical Salary
    • Ohio Hourly Wage 39.67/hr
    • Typical Hourly Wage

    Ohio Employment Trends

    • Currently Employed 135,860
    • Yearly Projected Openings 7630

    Typical Education

    Personality

    Social: People interested in this work like activities that include helping people, teaching, and talking.They do well at jobs that need:
    • Sincerity
    • Adaptability
    • Perseverance
    • Empathy
    • Stress Tolerance
    • Self-Control

    Tools

    • ASTM rated surgical masks/ tie back mask
    • Acute care fetal or maternal monitoring units
    • Anesthesia nerve block kit or tray
    • Apnea monitors
    • Arterial blood gas monitors
    • Arterial line catheters
    • Autotransfusion units
    • Bedpans
    • Blanket frames or lifters
    • Blood collection syringes
    • Blood pressure cuff kits
    • Blood warming or transfusion systems
    • Cardiac output CO monitoring units
    • Cardiac pacemaker generators or cardiac resynchronization therapy pacemakers CRT-P
    • Central venous catheters
    • Clinical trapeze bars
    • Continuous arteriovenous dialysis CAVHD units or related products
    • Continuous passive motion CPM devices
    • Crutches
    • Desktop computer
    • Diagnostic or interventional vascular catheters for general use
    • Electrocardiography EKG transmitters or telemetry devices
    • Electrocardiography EKG units
    • Electronic blood pressure units
    • Emergency or resuscitation carts
    • End tidal carbon dioxide monitors
    • Endoscopic hemostatic balloons or needles or tubes or accessories
    • Endotracheal or tracheotomy sets
    • Endotracheal tubes
    • Enema kits
    • Enteral feeding infusion pump tubing sets
    • Flow sensors or regulators or components
    • Full body immersion hydrotherapy baths or tanks
    • Geriatric chairs
    • Glucose monitors or meters
    • Goggles
    • Gurneys or scissor lifts
    • Head or neck traction supplies
    • Intermittent positive pressure breathing IPPB machines
    • Intraaortic balloon pumps
    • Intracranial pressure ICP monitoring units
    • Intravenous infusion pumps for general use
    • Intravenous or arterial catheter trays
    • Intubation laryngoscopes/ laryngoscope blades
    • Intubator components
    • Laboratory graduated cylinders
    • Lancets
    • Latex intermittent urinary catheterization kits
    • Manual resuscitators
    • Medical acoustic stethoscopes
    • Medical aspiration or irrigation syringes
    • Medical nasal cannulas
    • Medical or surgical suction or vacuum appliances
    • Medical oxygen masks or parts
    • Medical staff isolation or cover gowns
    • Medical syringes with needle
    • Medical ultrasound or doppler or echocardiograph transducer
    • Medical ultrasound or doppler or echocardiograph transducer accessories
    • Medication or pill dispensers
    • Mobile medical services automated external defibrillators AED or hard paddles
    • Multichannel intravenous infusion pumps
    • Multiparameter vital sign units
    • Nasogastric tubes
    • Nebulizers
    • Nitrile medical exam or non surgical procedure gloves
    • Non invasive bi level machines
    • Non invasive continuous positive air pressure machines
    • Notebook computer
    • Ophthalmoscopes or otoscopes or scope sets
    • Orthopedic splint systems
    • Orthopedic traction hardware or weights
    • Ostomy appliances
    • Oxygen concentrators
    • Patient bed or table scales for general use
    • Patient care beds for specialty care
    • Patient controlled analgesia infusion pumps
    • Patient floor scales
    • Patient lifts
    • Patient shifting boards
    • Patient stabilization or fall prevention devices
    • Perfusion oxygen or hematocrit saturation monitors
    • Pericardiocentesis needles or kits
    • Personal digital assistant PDAs or organizer
    • Pleural cavity drainage units or containers
    • Pocket calculator
    • Pulse oximeter units
    • Skin staple removers or kits
    • Specimen collection container
    • Spirometers
    • Surgical clamps or clips or forceps
    • Surgical drains or drain sets
    • Surgical irrigation sets
    • Surgical scalpels or knives or blades or trephines
    • Surgical scissors
    • Surgical shave kits or prep razors or clippers
    • Suture removal kits or trays or packs or sets
    • Tablet computer
    • Tablet crushers
    • Therapeutic heating or cooling blankets or drapes
    • Therapeutic ice packs or pillows
    • Thoracentesis sets or trays
    • Tourniquets
    • Transcutaneous electric nerve stimulation units
    • Tympanic medical thermometers
    • Urinalysis test strips
    • Vacuum blood collection tubes or containers
    • Vascular or compression socks
    • Vascular sequential compression pump
    • Ventricular assist devices
    • Walkers or rollators
    • Wheelchairs

    Technology

    • Cloud-based data access and sharing software
    • Document management software
    • Human resources software
    • Information retrieval or search software
    • Internet browser software
    • Medical software
    • Office suite software

    Tags

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