Critical Care Nursing

The American Association of Critical Care Nurses defines critical care nursing as the "specialty within nursing that deals specifically with human responses to life-threatening problems…responsible for ensuring that acutely and critically ill patients and their families receive optimal care." Critically ill patients are often unstable, with complex healthcare needs that require intense nursing care. Critical care nurses and nurse practitioners often work in intensive-care units (ICUs), including medical, surgical, pediatric, and neonatal ICUs, cardiac care units, cardiac catheter labs, telemetry units, progressive care units, emergency departments, and recovery rooms.