The Critical Care Registered Nurse systematically and continuously collects and assesses data in collaboration with the multidisciplinary team to provide therapeutic care with the patient and/or family. He/she performs all required elements of a nursing assessment including but not limited to physical examination, assessment of readiness to learn, psychosocial assessment, functional assessment and utilization of patient/family specific assessment scales as required. The Critical Care Registered Nurse is an active member of the multidisciplinary team and collaborates in the development, execution and evaluation of the multidisciplinary plan of care or critical pathway. The Critical Care Registered Nurse must be proficient in a wide variety of high-level nursing skills. Critical Care nurse should be a specialist in evaluating intensive care patients, recognizing complications, administering care and coordinating with other members of the critical care team. Successful critical care nurses also excel at interpersonal communication, leadership, strategic planning, critical thinking and decision-making.
The Critical Care Registered Nurse considers factors related to safety, effectiveness and cost in planning and delivering care. The Registered Nurse’s decisions and actions with patients and families are determined in an ethical manner.