Critical Care Nurses
Critical care nurses provide specialized nursing care for patients in critical or coronary care units who have serious or life-threatening conditions. They work in hospital intensive care units (ICUs) and coronary care units (CCUs), monitoring patients closely, administering medications and treatments, and responding quickly to changes in patient condition.
Four short assessments and your background, scored against critical care nurses and 13,000 other careers — with the reasons. Free.
A day in the work
Critical care nurses spend their shifts monitoring vital signs, operating medical equipment, and administering medications to unstable patients. They document detailed patient information, communicate frequently with doctors and other care team members, and respond promptly to alarms and patient needs. Work involves physical tasks like repositioning patients and adjusting equipment, along with clinical decision-making during emergencies. Shifts typically last 12 hours and may include nights, weekends, or holidays.
Who this work suits
Holland code SIC. Social work is helping, teaching and working closely with people. Aptly’s interest assessment scores you on the same six scales.
You likely do well in this work if you're driven to understand complex medical situations and solve problems under pressure. You tend to be drawn to helping others through direct care, and you're comfortable with both the social demands of patient interaction and the investigative thinking required to monitor and assess critically ill patients.
What it takes
Preparation: Considerable preparation (most need a bachelor’s degree and several years of experience). Most people in this occupation hold a bachelor’s degree.
Skills that matter most
Knowledge areas
Who is hiring
Openings right now
- Registered Nurse - Critical Care · Veterans Health Administration · Wilkes Barre, Pennsylvania · $64058–$119679
- Registered Nurse (Critical Care) · Veterans Health Administration · Oklahoma City, Oklahoma · $75016–$139502
- Registered Nurse - Critical Care · Veterans Health Administration · Multiple Locations · $88236–$153766
- Registered Nurse- Critical Care with EDRP · Veterans Health Administration · Temple, Texas · $79295–$139966
- Critical Care Registered Nurse · Veterans Health Administration · Albany, New York · $70922–$143180
- Critical Care Registered Nurse · Veterans Health Administration · Tulsa, Oklahoma · $82817–$149876
- Critical Care Registered Nurse · Veterans Health Administration · Muskogee, Oklahoma · $82817–$149876
- Registered Nurse - Critical Care · Veterans Health Administration · Columbia, South Carolina · $80126–$145031
Openings are read from employers’ own career pages and public job boards and change daily. Search all openings (free account) to filter by distance, pay and how well you qualify.
Pay by state
| State | 25th pct | Median | 75th pct | Employed |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| California | $122,440 | $140,270 | $173,170 | 338,940 |
| Hawaii | $101,200 | $136,320 | $144,140 | 12,940 |
| Oregon | $107,220 | $129,010 | $134,420 | 39,730 |
| Washington | $103,100 | $124,200 | $134,240 | 69,260 |
| Alaska | $97,700 | $109,480 | $129,100 | 7,510 |
| New York | $94,840 | $109,440 | $129,660 | 205,810 |
| New Jersey | $99,710 | $106,500 | $127,730 | 92,680 |
| Massachusetts | $87,460 | $104,550 | $136,110 | 88,200 |
| Nevada | $86,850 | $103,670 | $120,270 | 27,070 |
| Connecticut | $86,120 | $102,740 | $121,840 | 40,110 |
| District of Columbia | $85,850 | $102,540 | $127,800 | 11,440 |
| Minnesota | $88,940 | $101,510 | $114,760 | 70,110 |
All 50 states, D.C. and Puerto Rico
Certifications people in this field hold
- Acute Care Clinical Nurse Specialist (Pediatric) (CCNS-P) — American Association of Critical-Care Nurses
- Adult Tele-ICU Acute/Critical Care Nursing Certification (CCRN-E) — American Association of Critical-Care Nurses
- Acute Care Nurse Practitioner (Adult-Gerentology) (ACNPC-AG) — American Association of Critical-Care Nurses
- Certified Nephrology Nurse - Nurse Practitioner (CNN-NP) — Nephrology Nursing Certification Commission
- Certified Managed Care Nurse (CMCN) — American Board of Managed Care Nursing
- Certified Continence Care Nurse (CCCN) — Wound, Ostomy, Continence Nursing Certification Board
Training
Aptly members see WIOA-approved programs, colleges and certificates near them, with completion and earnings data, on every Path plan.
Job titles in this occupation
Related occupations
Four short assessments and your background, scored against critical care nurses and 13,000 other careers — with the reasons. Free.
O*NET-SOC 29-1141.03 · O*NET OnLine. Pay: BLS OEWS May 2025, annual, U.S. Employment counts are national.