Occupation Summary

Critical Care Nurses

O*NET 29-1141.03

Description:

Provide specialized nursing care for patients in critical or coronary care units.

Annual Wages:
$91,685.00
Employment Rate:
Employment is expected to increase by 14.59%.
Education Level:
Bachelor's Degree. According to O*Net, the majority of people employed in this occupation have this level of education.
Endorsement:
Public Service, Science Technology Engineering and Math (STEM)

  1. Identify patients' age-specific needs and alter care plans as necessary to meet those needs.
  2. Provide post-mortem care.
  3. Evaluate patients' vital signs or laboratory data to determine emergency intervention needs.
  4. Perform approved therapeutic or diagnostic procedures, based upon patients' clinical status.
  5. Administer blood and blood products, monitoring patients for signs and symptoms related to transfusion reactions.
  6. Administer medications intravenously, by injection, orally, through gastric tubes, or by other methods.
  7. Advocate for patients' and families' needs, or provide emotional support for patients and their families.
  8. Set up and monitor medical equipment and devices such as cardiac monitors, mechanical ventilators and alarms, oxygen delivery devices, transducers, or pressure lines.
  9. Monitor patients' fluid intake and output to detect emerging problems, such as fluid and electrolyte imbalances.
  10. Monitor patients for changes in status and indications of conditions such as sepsis or shock and institute appropriate interventions.
  11. Assess patients' pain levels or sedation requirements.
  12. Assess patients' psychosocial status and needs, including areas such as sleep patterns, anxiety, grief, anger, and support systems.
  13. Collaborate with other health care professionals to develop and revise treatment plans, based on identified needs and assessment data.
  14. Collect specimens for laboratory tests.
  15. Compile and analyze data obtained from monitoring or diagnostic tests.
  16. Conduct pulmonary assessments to identify abnormal respiratory patterns or breathing sounds that indicate problems.
  17. Document patients' medical histories and assessment findings.
  18. Document patients' treatment plans, interventions, outcomes, or plan revisions.
  19. Identify patients at risk of complications due to nutritional status.
  20. Prioritize nursing care for assigned critically ill patients, based on assessment data or identified needs.
  21. Assist physicians with procedures such as bronchoscopy, endoscopy, endotracheal intubation, or elective cardioversion.
  22. Ensure that equipment or devices are properly stored after use.
  23. Identify malfunctioning equipment or devices.
  24. Assess family adaptation levels and coping skills to determine whether intervention is needed.
  25. Coordinate patient care conferences.
  26. Participate in professional organizations and continuing education to improve practice knowledge and skills.
  27. Participate in the development, review, or evaluation of nursing practice protocols.
  28. Plan, provide, or evaluate educational programs for nursing staff, interdisciplinary health care team members, or community members.
  29. Supervise and monitor unit nursing staff.


National Industry Employment Patterns


Industry % of Critical Care Nurses employed Annual Growth Rate
General medical and surgical hospitals 55.2 0.34
Offices of physicians 6.6 0.28
Home health care services 5.5 1.86
Outpatient care centers 4.9 1.71
Nursing care facilities (skilled nursing facilities) 4 -0.27
Employment services 3.7 0.54
Specialty (except psychiatric and substance abuse) hospitals 2.3 0.89
Elementary and secondary schools 2 0.02


Labor Market Information


2024 Statewide average hourly wage $44.08
2024 National average hourly wage $47.32
2022 National employment 3,172,500
2022 Texas employment 233,854
Texas projected employment by 2032 267,981
Texas projected annual employment and Turnover openings through 2032 16,904




TEXAS COUNTY MAP BY WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT AREA
* Due to confidentiality rules, not all regions may have the data displayed. The sum of all the regions may not be equal to the state total.


Top 10 Relevant Knowledge Areas Relevant Importance Levels
Medicine and Dentistry
Knowledge of the information and techniques needed to diagnose and treat human injuries, diseases, and deformities. This includes symptoms, treatment alternatives, drug properties and interactions, and preventive health-care measures.
94.80%
Customer and Personal Service
Knowledge of principles and processes for providing customer and personal services. This includes customer needs assessment, meeting quality standards for services, and evaluation of customer satisfaction.
84.20%
Psychology
Knowledge of human behavior and performance; individual differences in ability, personality, and interests; learning and motivation; psychological research methods; and the assessment and treatment of behavioral and affective disorders.
82.20%
English Language
Knowledge of the structure and content of the English language including the meaning and spelling of words, rules of composition, and grammar.
82.20%
Biology
Knowledge of plant and animal organisms, their tissues, cells, functions, interdependencies, and interactions with each other and the environment.
77.80%
Mathematics
Knowledge of arithmetic, algebra, geometry, calculus, statistics, and their applications.
75.60%
Therapy and Counseling
Knowledge of principles, methods, and procedures for diagnosis, treatment, and rehabilitation of physical and mental dysfunctions, and for career counseling and guidance.
74.20%
Education and Training
Knowledge of principles and methods for curriculum and training design, teaching and instruction for individuals and groups, and the measurement of training effects.
74.20%
Sociology and Anthropology
Knowledge of group behavior and dynamics, societal trends and influences, human migrations, ethnicity, cultures, and their history and origins.
65.20%
Chemistry
Knowledge of the chemical composition, structure, and properties of substances and of the chemical processes and transformations that they undergo. This includes uses of chemicals and their interactions, danger signs, production techniques, and disposal methods.
63.00%


Top 10 Relevant Skill Areas Relevant Importance Levels
Monitoring
Monitoring/Assessing performance of yourself, other individuals, or organizations to make improvements or take corrective action.
82.40%
Social Perceptiveness
Being aware of others' reactions and understanding why they react as they do.
80.00%
Reading Comprehension
Understanding written sentences and paragraphs in work-related documents.
80.00%
Active Listening
Giving full attention to what other people are saying, taking time to understand the points being made, asking questions as appropriate, and not interrupting at inappropriate times.
80.00%
Speaking
Talking to others to convey information effectively.
80.00%
Critical Thinking
Using logic and reasoning to identify the strengths and weaknesses of alternative solutions, conclusions, or approaches to problems.
80.00%
Service Orientation
Actively looking for ways to help people.
80.00%
Complex Problem Solving
Identifying complex problems and reviewing related information to develop and evaluate options and implement solutions.
77.60%
Active Learning
Understanding the implications of new information for both current and future problem-solving and decision-making.
77.60%
Coordination
Adjusting actions in relation to others' actions.
77.60%


Top 10 Relevant Abilities Relevant Importance Levels
Problem Sensitivity
The ability to tell when something is wrong or is likely to go wrong. It does not involve solving the problem, only recognizing that there is a problem.
82.40%
Oral Comprehension
The ability to listen to and understand information and ideas presented through spoken words and sentences.
82.40%
Oral Expression
The ability to communicate information and ideas in speaking so others will understand.
80.00%
Deductive Reasoning
The ability to apply general rules to specific problems to produce answers that make sense.
80.00%
Inductive Reasoning
The ability to combine pieces of information to form general rules or conclusions (includes finding a relationship among seemingly unrelated events).
80.00%
Speech Recognition
The ability to identify and understand the speech of another person.
80.00%
Speech Clarity
The ability to speak clearly so others can understand you.
80.00%
Near Vision
The ability to see details at close range (within a few feet of the observer).
77.60%
Information Ordering
The ability to arrange things or actions in a certain order or pattern according to a specific rule or set of rules (e.g., patterns of numbers, letters, words, pictures, mathematical operations).
77.60%
Written Expression
The ability to communicate information and ideas in writing so others will understand.
77.60%


  • Assisting and Caring for Others
    -- Providing personal assistance, medical attention, emotional support, or other personal care to others such as coworkers, customers, or patients.
  • Getting Information
    -- Observing, receiving, and otherwise obtaining information from all relevant sources.
  • Making Decisions and Solving Problems
    -- Analyzing information and evaluating results to choose the best solution and solve problems.
  • Identifying Objects, Actions, and Events
    -- Identifying information by categorizing, estimating, recognizing differences or similarities, and detecting changes in circumstances or events.
  • Updating and Using Relevant Knowledge
    -- Keeping up-to-date technically and applying new knowledge to your job.
Other Activities


  • Relationships
    - Occupations that satisfy this work value allow employees to provide service to others and work with co-workers in a friendly non-competitive environment. Corresponding needs are Co-workers, Moral Values and Social Service.
  • Support
    - Occupations that satisfy this work value offer supportive management that stands behind employees. Corresponding needs are Company Policies, Supervision: Human Relations and Supervision: Technical.



Tools

Acute care fetal or maternal monitoring units: Fetal monitors;

Anesthesia nerve block kit or tray: Epidural catheters;

Apnea monitors: Apnea monitors;

Arterial blood gas monitors: Arterial blood gas testing equipment;

Arterial line catheters: Arterial line catheters;

Autotransfusion units: Autotransfusion systems;

Bedpans: Bedpans;

Blanket frames or lifters: Foot cradles;

Blood collection syringes: Blood drawing syringes;

Blood pressure cuff kits: Sphygmomanometers;

Blood warming or transfusion systems: Blood warming equipment;

Cardiac output CO monitoring units: Hemodynamic monitors; Cardiac monitors;

Cardiac pacemaker generators or cardiac resynchronization therapy pacemakers CRT-P: Transvenous pacemakers; Transcutaneous pacemakers;

Central venous catheters: Multiple lumen central line catheters;

Clinical trapeze bars: Clinical trapeze traction bars;

Continuous arteriovenous dialysis CAVHD units or related products: Kidney dialysis equipment;

Continuous passive motion CPM devices: Continuous passive motion CPM equipment;

Crutches: Crutches;

Desktop computers: Desktop computers;

Diagnostic or interventional vascular catheters for general use: Angiocaths; Pulmonary artery catheters;

Electrocardiography EKG transmitters or telemetry devices: Telemetry monitors;

Electrocardiography EKG units: Electrocardiography EKG machines;

Electronic blood pressure units: Blood pressure monitors;

Electronic medical thermometers: Digital medical thermometers;

Emergency or resuscitation carts: Crash carts;

End tidal carbon dioxide monitors: End tidal carbon dioxide monitors;

Endoscopic hemostatic balloons or needles or tubes or accessories: Straight hemostats;

Endotracheal or tracheotomy sets: Tracheotomy sets;

Endotracheal tubes: Endotracheal ET tubes;

Enema kits: Enema equipment;

Enteral feeding infusion pump tubing sets: Enteral feeding sets;

Flow sensors or regulators or components: Oxygen flowmeters;

Full body immersion hydrotherapy baths or tanks: Therapeutic whirlpool baths;

Geriatric chairs: Geriatric chairs;

Glucose monitors or meters: Blood glucometers;

Goggles: Safety goggles;

Gurneys or scissor lifts: Medical gurneys;

Head or neck traction supplies: Halo traction equipment; Crutchfield tongs;

Intermittent positive pressure breathing IPPB machines: Mechanical intermittent positive pressure ventilators;

Intraaortic balloon pumps: Intra-aortic balloon pumps IABP;

Intracranial pressure ICP monitoring units: Intracranial pressure monitors;

Intravenous infusion pumps for general use: Intravenous infusion pumps;

Intravenous or arterial catheter trays: Intravenous IV administration sets;

Intubation laryngoscopes: Flexible laryngoscopes;

Intubator components: Intubation sets;

Laboratory graduated cylinders: Graduated glass laboratory cylinders;

Lancets: Lancets;

Manual resuscitators: Manual resuscitation bags;

Medical acoustic stethoscopes: Mechanical stethoscopes;

Medical aspiration or irrigation syringes: Bulb syringes;

Medical exam or non surgical procedure gloves: Medical examination protective gloves;

Medical nasal cannulas: Medical nasal cannulas;

Medical or surgical suction or vacuum appliances: Tracheal suctioning equipment; Oral suctioning equipment; Nasal suctioning equipment;

Medical oxygen masks or parts: Oxygen delivery masks;

Medical staff isolation or cover gowns: Protective gowns;

Medical syringes with needle: Hypodermic syringes;

Medical ultrasound or doppler or echocardiograph transducer: Ultrasound transducers;

Medical ultrasound or doppler or echocardiograph transducer accessories: Doppler ultrasound equipment; Echocardiogram equipment;

Medication or pill dispensers: Automated medicine dispensing equipment;

Mobile medical services automated external defibrillators AED or hard paddles: Automated external defibrillators AED;

Multichannel intravenous infusion pumps: Multiple line infusion pumps;

Multiparameter vital sign units: Transport cardiac monitors;

Nasogastric tubes: Nasogastric tubes;

Nebulizers: Handheld nebulizers; Electronic compressor nebulizers;

Non invasive bi level machines: Bilevel positive airway pressure BiPAP ventilators;

Non invasive continuous positive air pressure machines: Continuous positive airway pressure CPAP ventilators;

Notebook computers: Laptop computers;

Ophthalmoscopes or otoscopes or scope sets: Otoscopes;

Orthopedic splint systems: Orthopedic splinting equipment;

Orthopedic traction hardware or weights: Traction weights;

Ostomy appliances: Ostomy equipment;

Oxygen concentrators: Oxygen concentrators;

Patient bed or table scales for general use: Bed scales;

Patient care beds for specialty care: Specialty patient care beds;

Patient controlled analgesia infusion pumps: Patient controlled analgesia PCA pumps;

Patient floor scales: Medical scales;

Patient lifts: Hoyer lifts;

Patient shifting boards: Transfer boards;

Patient stabilization or fall prevention devices: Patient restraints;

Perfusion oxygen or hematocrit saturation monitors: Venous oxygen saturation SVO2 monitors;

Pericardiocentesis needles or kits: Pericardiocentesis kits;

Personal digital assistant PDAs or organizers: Personal digital assistants PDA;

Pleural cavity drainage units or containers: Chest drains;

Pocket calculator: Handheld calculators;

Pulse oximeter units: Pulse oximeters;

Skin staple removers or kits: Surgical staple removers;

Specimen collection container: Specimen collection containers;

Spirometers: Incentive spirometers;

Surgical clamps or clips or forceps: Occlusion clamps;

Surgical drains or drain sets: Incision drainage equipment;

Surgical irrigation sets: Surgical irrigation sets;

Surgical isolation or surgical masks: Protective medical face masks; Protective face shields;

Surgical scalpels or knives or blades or trephines: Surgical scalpels;

Surgical scissors: Straight surgical scissors;

Surgical shave kits or prep razors or clippers: Surgical razors;

Suture removal kits or trays or packs or sets: Suture removal kits;

Tablet computers: Tablet computers;

Tablet crushers: Pill crushers; Pill splitters;

Therapeutic heating or cooling blankets or drapes: Cooling blankets; Hyper/hypothermia blankets;

Therapeutic ice packs or pillows: Ice collars;

Thoracentesis sets or trays: Thoracentesis trays;

Tourniquets: Tourniquets;

Transcutaneous electric nerve stimulation units: Transcutaneous electric nerve stimulation TENS equipment;

Urinalysis test strips: Urinalysis test strips;

Urinary catheterization kits: Urinary catheters;

Vacuum blood collection tubes or containers: Evacuated blood collection tubes;

Vascular or compression apparel or support: Pneumatic boots;

Vascular sequential compression devices or tubing: Sequential compression devices;

Ventricular assist devices: Ventricular assist devices VAD;

Walkers or rollators: Patient walkers;

Wheelchairs: Wheelchairs;


Technology

Cloud-based data access and sharing software: Google Drive; Microsoft SharePoint;

Human resources software: Oracle Taleo;

Information retrieval or search software: PEPID RN Critical Care RNCC; American Association of Critical Care Nurses AACN Medicopeia;

Internet browser software: Web browser software;

Medical software: NextGen Healthcare Information Systems EMR; Allscripts Professional EHR; Amkai AmkaiCharts; Bizmatics PrognoCIS EMR; Cerner Millennium; ChartWare EMR; e-MDs software; eClinicalWorks EHR software; Epic Systems; GE Healthcare Centricity EMR; SOAPware EMR; StatCom Patient Flow Logistics Enterprise Suite; SynaMed EMR; Texas Medical Software SpringCharts EMR; Medical software; MEDITECH Healthcare Information System HCIS; MEDITECH software; Medscribbler Enterprise; MicroFour PracticeStudio.NET EMR;

Office suite software: Microsoft Office software;

Word processing software: Word processing software;


Related O*NET occupational titles for Critical Care Nurses include:
  • 29-1141.01 Acute Care Nurses
  • 29-1141.02 Advanced Practice Psychiatric Nurses
  • 29-1141.04 Clinical Nurse Specialists
  • 29-2061.00 Licensed Practical and Licensed Vocational Nurses
  • 29-1161.00 Nurse Midwives
  • 29-1171.00 Nurse Practitioners
  • 31-1131.00 Nursing Assistants
  • 29-2043.00 Paramedics
  • 29-1141.00 Registered Nurses
  • 29-1126.00 Respiratory Therapists


Sources of Additional Information
  • For more information about registered nurses, including credentialing, visit: American Nurses Association
  • For more information about nursing education and being a registered nurse, visit: American Society of Registered Nurses
  • Johnson & Johnson, Discover Nursing
  • National League for Nursing
  • National Student Nurses' Association
  • For more information about undergraduate and graduate nursing education, nursing career options, and financial aid, visit: American Association of Colleges of Nursing
  • For more information about the National Council Licensure Examination (NCLEX-RN) and a list of individual state boards of nursing, visit: National Council of State Boards of Nursing
  • For more information about clinical nurse specialists, including a list of accredited programs, visit: National Association of Clinical Nurse Specialists
  • Occupational Requirements Survey

  • For a profile highlighting selected BLS data on occupational requirements, see
  • Registered nurses (PDF)
  • CareerOneStop

  • For a career video on registered nurses, visit: Registered Nurses
  • Acute Care Nurses
  • Advanced Practice Psychiatric Nurses
  • Clinical Nurse Specialists
  • Critical Care Nurses
  • Registered Nurses

  • Contact Texas Workforce Commission
    Labor Market and Career Information  |  101 E. 15th Street, Annex Room 0252  |  Austin, Texas 78778
    Official Website  |  1-800-822-PLAN (7526)  |  512.936.3200

    ** The information in this report may be derived from many sources like O*NET, BLS (Bureau of Labor Statistics), OOH (Occupational Outlook Handbook), and Career One Stop.