Successful critical care nurses are highly motivated to learn and take on responsibility. I tell my nurses that when I stop learning, I'm leaving. Resources such as seminars, conferences, continuing education modules, and journal articles help them keep up on their fast-paced specialty. If you want a highly predictable life, critical care is not for you. Critical care nurses must be able to explore that which is not well known.
Critical care involves many professionals working in an intense setting in a small geographic area.
Physicians and nurses work closely and cooperatively. Successful nurses are able to work with multiple disciplines toward a common goal. Coordinating services and helping the patient and family make the best decision for the patient is key for critical care nurses. Many hospitals, local colleges, nursing organizations and even professional seminar schools offer classes specific to critical care. Classes on dysrhythmias, hemodynamic monitoring, 12-lead ECGs, and indepth assessment are important in expanding your clinical knowledge.