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Occupation information for

Critical Care Nurses
District Of Columbia

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description

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

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details

Currently Employed: 10,076

Yearly Projected Openings: 390

Typical Hourly Wage: $30.69 - $42.02

Typical Annual Salary: $63,800 - $87,400

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typical training

Typical education needed for entry: Associate's degree

Typical work experience needed for a job in this occupation: None

Typical on-the-job training once you have a job in this occupation: None

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typical job duties

  • Monitor patients for changes in status and indications of conditions such as sepsis or shock and institute appropriate interventions.
  • Assess patients' pain levels and sedation requirements.
  • Evaluate patients' vital signs and laboratory data to determine emergency intervention needs.
  • Administer medications intravenously, by injection, orally, through gastric tubes, or by other methods.
  • Set up and monitor medical equipment and devices such as cardiac monitors, mechanical ventilators and alarms, oxygen delivery devices, transducers, and pressure lines.
  • Prioritize nursing care for assigned critically ill patients based on assessment data and identified needs.
  • Document patients' medical histories and assessment findings.
  • Advocate for patients' and families' needs, or provide emotional support for patients and their families.
  • Conduct pulmonary assessments to identify abnormal respiratory patterns or breathing sounds that indicate problems.
  • Administer blood and blood products, monitoring patients for signs and symptoms related to transfusion reactions.

tools & technology


Tools:
  • Cardiac output CO monitoring units or accessories
  • Cardiac ultrasound or doppler or echo units or cardioscopes
  • Medical staff isolation or surgical masks
  • Suction kits
  • Therapeutic heating or cooling blankets or drapes

Technology:
  • Information retrieval or search software
  • Internet browser software
  • Medical software