Nursing is a health care profession centered on the care of individuals and their families. Nurses provide compassionate care designed to maintain quality of health and improve quality of life. Furthermore, nurses collaborate with physicians, therapists and other healthcare professionals to coordinate recovery plans and successfully treat illness. As professional health care providers, nurses require extensive knowledge and training in multiple levels of patient care in order to assess, diagnose and implement interventions. Although, nurses are well-rounded professionals in multiple levels of competent care, they are not without specializations. This paper will expose an area of nursing specialized in intensive and critical care, and will cover requirements and challenges related to the profession.
Intensive Care Unit Nurses (ICU) are health care providers specialized in outmost care for patients in critical conditions. Working in Critical Care is a post registration specialty. In order to become an ICU Nurse, aspiring nursing students must achieve an Associate or Bachelor's degree in Nursing and pass the National Council Licensure …show more content…
Professional transitions are stressful and challenging. For nursing students interested in working in critical care environments, transitioning can be the most stressful time in their careers. However, research conducted by Registered General Nurse Catherine E O’Kane reveled that the integration of new qualified personnel into the ICUs provides a good learning environment, despite initial anxieties (O’Kane, 2012). Furthermore, senior ICU nurses provided the necessary support transitioning students required in order to perform and care for their
Intensive Care Unit Nurses (ICU) are health care providers specialized in outmost care for patients in critical conditions. Working in Critical Care is a post registration specialty. In order to become an ICU Nurse, aspiring nursing students must achieve an Associate or Bachelor's degree in Nursing and pass the National Council Licensure …show more content…
Professional transitions are stressful and challenging. For nursing students interested in working in critical care environments, transitioning can be the most stressful time in their careers. However, research conducted by Registered General Nurse Catherine E O’Kane reveled that the integration of new qualified personnel into the ICUs provides a good learning environment, despite initial anxieties (O’Kane, 2012). Furthermore, senior ICU nurses provided the necessary support transitioning students required in order to perform and care for their