Critical care nursing is also called intensive care unit (ICU) nursing, with a focus on the utmost care of the critically ill or unstable patients and requiring more frequent nursing assessments and the utilization of life-sustaining technology and drugs. Critically ill patients have life-threatening medical problems that require frequent monitoring, and they generally need tubes to assist with breathing as well as medications to regulate their blood pressure so Critical care nurses apply their specialized knowledge base to care for and maintain the life support of ill patients. They work in different units including general intensive care units, medical intensive care units, surgical intensive care units, trauma intensive care units, coronary care units, cardiothoracic intensive care units, burns unit, paediatrics and some trauma center emergency departments. As this units need extra care and these specialized nurses will apply their knowledge to take care and provide life support to the critically ill patients.
A critical care nurse is a professional nurse with a license. Who is responsible for ensuring that actually and critically ill patients and their families receive optimal care. The critical care nurse unit is a specially designed and equipped facility staffed by skilled personnel to provide effective and safe care for dependent patients. All nurses working in critical care should complete a clinical critical care course before assuming full responsibility for patient care.
