Chelsey Boutin Mackenzie Koppel

Critical care nurses care for patients who have suffered a heart attack, stroke, shock, severe trauma, respiratory distress or other severe medical issue. They make on average between $45,000 and $90,000 per year. INTRODUCTION TO THE ROLE

56.2% of all nurses work in a hospital setting, and CCU nurses are found wherever critically ill patients are found-ICU, pediatric ICU, NICU, cardiac care units, cardiac catheter labs, progressive care units, ER’s and recovery rooms. 503,124 CCU nurses in the US. Of these, 229,914 spend at least half their time in an intensive care unit (ICU); 92,826 spend at least half their time in step-down or transitional care units; 117,637 spend at least half their time in emergency departments; and 62,747 spend at least half their time in post-operative recovery. 37% of hospital nurses are CCU nurses. Of the 9.6% of male nurses, the vast majority are ICU nurses. The average age of a CCU nurse is 45. CURRENT STATUS IN NURSING IN KENTUCKY AND UNITED STATES REGARDING NATIONAL AND STATE DATA (NUMBERS, GENDER, ETHNICITY, AGE)

ICU nurses care for critically ill or unstable patients They work in intensive care units, emergency departments, and post- operative care and high dependency units. They also work on medical evacuation and transport teams. DESCRIBE THE PRACTICE SETTING AND PATIENT POPULATION FOR THIS ROLE.

CCU nurses must first be RN’s with experience in general patient care. Many employers today are hiring applicants with BSN degree rather than just a RN degree. Some CCU nurses choose to earn the Certified Critical Care Nurse (CCRN) designation offered through the American Association of Critical- Care Nurses (AACN). To earn a CCRN, a nurse must practice for a total of 1,750 hours within 2 years with acutely or critically ill patients. They must also focus on one specific population such as pediatrics, neonatal, or adults. EDUCATION AND CERTIFICATION

Responsibilities include: Assessing a patient’s condition and planning and implementing patient care plans Treating wounds and providing advanced life support Assisting physicians in performing procedures Observing and recording patient vital signs Ensuring that ventilators, monitors and other types of medical equipment function properly Administering intravenous fluids and medications Ordering diagnostic tests Collaborating with fellow members of the critical care team Responding to life-saving situations, using nursing standards and protocols for treatment Acting as patient advocate Providing education and support to patient families Care for pre-op and post-op patients ICU nurses are unique because they treat all age types. RESPONSIBILITIES: WHAT MAKES THIS ROLE UNIQUE FROM OTHER NURSING ROLES?

Intensive care unit nurses can be part of the American Association of Critical Care Nurses (AACN). They can also be in higher management of a specialized unit such as the NICU or the ER. LEADERSHIP: HOW CAN A NURSE IN THIS ROLE BE A LEADER IN AN ORGANIZATION, COMMUNITY, AND TO THE PROFESSION?

A new law in Massachusetts and California requires 1 ICU nurse for every patient unless that nurse is capable of caring 2 patients. The Good Samaritan Law encourages health care providers to help victims in an emergency situation and it protects the health care worker from potential liability. DISCUSS ONE OF THE FOLLOWING AS IT RELATES TO THE ROLE: CURRENT LEGISLATION OR REIMBURSEMENT

The AACN is beneficial because it empowers acute and critical care nurses to do their very best for patients, families and the profession. It also provides educational and professional development resources designed by and for members. Together, more than 100,000 AACN members strengthen the voice of nursing, shape best practices and influence the quality of care. Any nursing student, RN’s interested in acute and critical care, any LPN, any RN outside of the United States, or any healthcare consumer or member of the corporate or political community who is interested in working toward the advancement of a healthcare system driven by the needs of patients. SPECIALTY ORGANIZATIONS PERTINENT TO ROLE: WHAT IS REQUIRED TO JOIN? WHAT ARE THE BENEFITS?

Intensive care unit nurses can be a patient advocate by speaking up for an unconscious patient perceiving what they believe the patients needs are, finding out what the patients wishes are from the families and communicating them to the rest of the healthcare team, and on rare occasions a judge can rule for a patient advocate to make medical decisions for an unconscious patient with no family. PATIENT ADVOCACY: HOW CAN A NURSE IN THIS ROLE BE A PATIENT ADVOCATE? BE SPECIFIC

Intensive care nurses have a lot of responsibilities. It requires someone to be able to make quick decisions on the spot in stressful situations. You need to keep your emotions separate from your job because you have to be able to deal with death and help the family as well as yourself cope with the death of a patient. CONCLUSION

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