Critical Care Nursing Is In High Demand
The employment of registered nurses is expected to experience a much faster growth than the average for all occupations, about 22 percent from 2008 to 2018, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. While all types of nurses will experience a demand for their expertise, there will be a need for some specializations more than others. Among them is a nursing specialty that concerns the life-or-death decisions of patient care: critical care nursing.
The job of a critical care nurse is to provide care for high-risk patients that have either actual or potentially life-threatening health issues. These types of nurses are responsible for ensuring that both critically-ill patients and their families receive the best possible care. They must rely on their experience, skills, and knowledge to provide this care, as well as create comfortable and caring environments. Critical-care nurses may find themselves interceding for their patients in emergency situations, monitoring the quality of care their patient is receiving, and providing education to assist the patient and families in critical decisions.
Critical-care nurses work anywhere critically ill patients are, such as emergency departments, intensive care units, cardiac care units, telemetry units, cardiac catheter labs, progressive care units, and recovery rooms. According to 2004 study by the Department of Health and Human Services, "The Registered Nurse Population," critical care nurses account for 37 percent of the total number of nurses that work in hospitals. Of those, 229,914 spent at least half of their time in an intensive care unit, 92,826 in step-down or transitional care unit, 117,637 in emergency departments, and 62,747 in post-operative recovery. But job opportunities are not limited to hospitals because these types of nurses also work in nursing schools, home healthcare, managed care organizations, health clinics, and outpatient surgery centers.
Critical care nurses must be able to think and act quickly in high-stress situations. They must be constantly attentive to their patients as they require high-intensity therapies and complex assessments. If you want to be a critical-care nurse, you must first earn your license as a registered nurse. Since replication of an intensive-care unit is impossible, most training has to occur through experience. While certification is not required to work in critical care, if you want to validate your experience you can become a Certified Critical Care Nurse. Certification can be earned by practicing a minimum of two years in critical care and then taking an examination through the American Association of Critical-Care Nurses Certification Corporation.
Top Online Nursing Programs
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University of Phoenix - RN to BSN. 27 Nursing Degrees. Students interested in reaching their career goals in the healthcare industry as a nurse will reach them at the University of Phoenix. University of Phoenix allows working adults the convenience of taking classes when they can.
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South University - A.S. in Allied Health Science. As an accredited online college, South University offers a respectable Associate’s Degree in Allied Health Science for those seeking to pursue a career in healthcare. The program is offered completely online, allowing students to learn in their own time without sacrificing their current responsibilities.
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LA College - A.A. in Health Care Administration. With a handful of online health programs, LA College is a great choice for students seeking entry-level positions in the healthcare industry. Their Associate’s degree in Health Care Administration will provide students with the basis for a multitude of job opportunities in hospitals, doctor’s offices, clinics, and many others.
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Post University - BS in Mgmt. For Registered Nurses. Post University is dedicated in helping students achieve their personal and professional goals in a timely manner, allowing them to pursue their careers in healthcare more quickly. The Bachelor of Science in Management for Registered Nurses degree will prepare nurses to obtain administrative and management roles that require critical-thinking, decision-making, and leadership skills.
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Herzing University - BSN-Bridge Program. With nursing constituting as the largest healthcare occupation today, Herzing University has created quality nursing programs to fulfill the increasing demand in the industry. At Herzing, students receive hands-on training in order to help them enter the workforce with confidence.
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The College Network - 10 universities offering Nursing Degrees. The College Network is one of the nation's top providers in providing high quality nursing degrees online. Students have the opportunity to pursue a variety of HealthCare degrees that that will allow them to further their career in Nursing.
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Jones International University - B.A. in Health Care Mgmt. Jones International University offers a Bachelor’s program in Health Care Management that will help students become skilled and effective managers in the healthcare industry. Students could work in a variety of different settings upon completion of the program.
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Virginia College - BS in Health Services Management. Virginia College is dedicated in helping students achieve their goals and aspirations to advance in the health care industry. Their Bachelor’s degree in Health Services Management will prepare students for a variety of career options in assistant management or administrative positions within a healthcare facility.
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Western Governors University - B.S. in Nursing. Western Governors University is an accredited online university offering a variety of nursing and healthcare programs for students of all ages. Their Nursing program will incorporate patient education, health promotion, nursing roles, technology, and many other health related subjects.
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Baker College - B.S. in Nursing. Baker College allows students to complete their Nursing degree completely online, at their own pace and time. Their program provides current registered nurses with the opportunity to advance and continue their growth.
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Keiser University - B.A. in Health Services Administration. With several degree options in the healthcare field, Keiser University prepares students for a variety of positions in any healthcare setting. Their mission is to help students develop skills and knowledge that will prepare them for leadership positions upon graduation.
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Indiana State University - LPN to BSN. Students looking to jump start a career will find accredited an accredited RN to BSN nursing degree from the Indiana State University. Indiana State University was originally founded in 1865 and over this time has prepared thousands of students for new, exciting careers.
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