IGNOU
- Fees: ₹ 6500
What is Critical Care Nursing
Critical Care Nursing - The profession of nursing has been evolving over time. The role in itself is a very broad one. Providing care for the unhealthy, advocating for health promotion and educating on the prevention of injury and illness are some of the traits that make this profession a noble one. Critical care Nursing is the field of nursing wherein the focus is on critically ill or unstable patients, i.e. people suffering from extensive injury or life-threatening diseases. It is a very challenging area. A critical care nurse is a licensed professional who ensures that such patients and their family members receive the best kind of nursing care. Professionals from this course also take care of pre- and post-operative patients. They are also known as ICU (Intensive care unit) nurses very often. More than half of the critical care nurses work in Cardiac care units, Cardiac catheter labs, Emergency departments, ICUs, Pediatric ICUs, Progressive care units, Recovery rooms and Telemetry units.
Nurses can enter critical care immediately after obtaining a license/degree, or they can transition into this speciality after years of practice. Most of them are usually registered nurses (RN) with some additional training in Critical care nursing.
Critical Care Nursing Course Highlights
Parameters | Diploma | Undergraduate | Postgraduate |
Popular courses | Diploma in Nursing | Bachelor of Science in Nursing | M.Sc. Nursing |
| Certificate in Critical care nursing | Bachelor of Science in Nursing (Post basic) | Certificate in Critical care nursing |
Minimum duration | 6 months | 3 years | 6 months |
Maximum duration | 2 years | 3 years | 2 years |
Admission criteria | Direct admission mostly | Entrance test | Entrance test Interview |
Minimum fees | Rs. 20,000 | Rs. 8,500 | Rs. 30,000 |
Maximum fees | Rs. 95,000 | Rs. 1.3 Lakh | Rs. 1 Lakh |
Minimum salary | Rs. 2 Lakh | Rs. 3 Lakh | Rs. 3.5 Lakh |
Maximum salary | Rs. 5 Lakh | Rs. 5 Lakh | Rs. 6.5 Lakh |
Expected jobs | Head nursing services, Nursing In-charge, Emergency Nurses, Nursing Assistant etc. | Clinical Nurse Specialist, Nurse Anesthetist, Nurse educator, Nurse midwife, Staff nurse, Nurse Practitioner | Registered nurse, Nursing in charge, Nursing supervisor, nursing executive, nurse educator, clinical nurse manager, nursing director |
Eligibility Criteria (UG & PG) of Critical Care Nursing
The eligibility criteria can vary from college to college. Nevertheless, here is a broad overview of minimum requirements for the various courses.
For Certificate Course In Critical Care Nursing
- Candidates should either have a Bachelor of Science in nursing or Master of Science in Nursing or working as a registered nurse (RN) for 2-3 years minimum.
For Bachelor Of Science In Nursing
For Bachelor Of Science In Nursing (Post Basic)
- Candidates should have the GNM (General Nursing and Midwifery) course after attaining the 10+2 or equivalent qualification. Science subjects are usually preferred.
- Candidates should also be an RN (Registered nurse) with any of the State Nursing Registration Councils.
- For Master Of Science In Nursing
- Candidates should have a B.Sc Nursing or a Post basic BSc nursing with at least 55% in graduation from an Indian Nursing Council recognized university.
- In case the candidate holds a B.Sc Nursing (post-basic) degree, work experience of minimum 1 year is required.
Critical Care Nursing Entrance Exams
For certification in Critical care nursing, most of the institutes, take direct admission while some may conduct their own entrance tests. For Bachelor’s and Master’s in Nursing, some of the well-known entrance exams are:
NEET: National Testing Agency (NTA) conducts NEET. It has 180 questions from Physics, Chemistry and Biology and is a national-level examination.
CENTAC: CENTAC is a state-level combined exam for getting admissions into various PG programs.
SAAT: It is a university-level exam conducted both in online and offline mode for admissions to various Undergraduate and postgraduate courses.
College Predictors VIEW ALL
Scope of Critical Care Nursing in India and Abroad
With the expansion of the healthcare industry and increasing awareness of people, Medical courses are the hot seats amongst various courses. Individuals, after completing this course, will have a plethora of job opportunities to explore. While most of them work in Intensive care units in Private or government hospitals, some might even make a career as educators in nursing colleges or training Institute. The latter usually happens after having gained a lot of experience. This is a professional course, which eventually ensures a salary at the end of its completion. Not only this, but the hospitals also offer compensations and insurance to the nurses and their immediate families which not all people might be able to afford on their own.
The present ratio of nurse-patient is a humiliating one but with this pandemic, the importance of healthcare professionals is out in the open. The demand for such professionals is going to rise exponentially in the future, and so will their remuneration. The opportunities for qualified Critical care nurses are vast and are available abroad as well.
Course Fees Critical Care Nursing
| Minimum Fees | Maximum Fees | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Private | Government | Private | Government | |
| UG |
1.05 Lakhs
B.Sc. in Critical Care Nursing at BLDE University, Bijapur
|
---
Data not available
|
4.21 Lakhs
B.Sc.(Hons) in Critical Care Nursing at Royal Global University, Guwahati
|
---
Data not available
|
| PG |
52.70 K
P.G.D in Critical Care Nursing at OPJS University, Rajgarh
|
2.38 K
M.Sc. in Critical Care Nursing at All India Institute of Medical Sciences New Delhi
|
4.12 Lakhs
M.Sc. in Critical Care Nursing at Shree Guru Gobind Singh Tricentenary University, Gurgaon
|
2.38 K
M.Sc. in Critical Care Nursing at All India Institute of Medical Sciences New Delhi
|
| DOCTORAL |
30.00 K
Ph.D in Critical Care Nursing at Kalinga Institute of Medical Sciences, Bhubaneswar
|
2.71 Lakhs
D.M. in Critical Care Nursing at Tata Memorial Hospital, Mumbai
|
66.00 Lakhs
D.M. in Critical Care Nursing at Sri Ramachandra Institute of Higher Education and Research, Chennai
|
2.71 Lakhs
D.M. in Critical Care Nursing at Tata Memorial Hospital, Mumbai
|
| DIPLOMA |
20.00 K
Diploma in Critical Care Nursing at Baby Memorial College of Nursing, Calicut
|
6.50 K
Diploma in Critical Care Nursing at Indira Gandhi National Open University, New Delhi
|
4.00 Lakhs
Diploma in Critical Care Nursing at Swami Vivekanand Subharti University, Meerut
|
15.60 K
Diploma in Critical Care Nursing at Sri Venkateswara Institute of Medical Sciences, Tirupati
|
Course Subjects
Diploma in Nursing
Subjects taught in this course are:
- Anatomy & psychology, Sociology, Fundamentals of nursing, Professional trends and adjustment
- Medical-surgical nursing 1, Communicable diseases, skin, ear, nose and throat, community health nursing 1, ward management
- Midwifery and Gynecological nursing, pediatric nursing, nutrition, Medical-surgical nursing 2, Health economics, community health nursing 2.
Bachelor Of Science In Nursing
- English, anatomy, physiology, nutrition, biochemistry, nursing foundation, psychology
- Sociology, pharmacology, pathology, genetics, medical-surgical nursing, community health nursing 1, EVS, Microbiology
- Medical-surgical nursing, child health nursing, mental health nursing
- Midwifery and obstetrical nursing, Community health nursing 2, nursing research, management of nursing service and education
Master Of Science In Nursing
The course is divided into 4 semesters that is spread over 2 years. Subjects taught in the course are:
- Nursing education, advance nursing practise, nursing research and statistics, clinical speciality-1 (medical-surgical nursing, mental health nursing and community health nursing)
- Nursing management, nursing research, clinical speciality-2 (medical-surgical nursing, mental health nursing and community health nursing)
Careers in Critical Care Nursing
After the completion of the course, most of the nurses join a hospital (private or govt.) as an Intensive care unit (ICU) nurse. Some even opt for working as a critical care nurse for families at their home, old age homes and at health care centres. With an increase in experience, they can become an educator and help nurture young individuals like them. In order to excel in this profession, one needs to have compassion and care for the patients and should be dedicated towards their well-being. Employment opportunities are aplenty in public sector healthcare institutions as well as private sector healthcare institutions.
Upcoming trends
With the shift in the healthcare landscape, some of the trends, which are about to make an entry or already have are:
· Chatbot services and telehealth to make healthcare accessible easily
· More and more specializations to choose from
· New Nursing faculty positions will open up
· Increased demand for Family nurses
· Higher education in the field of nursing
· Smart beds and computerized staff
Students also liked
Job Profiles and Top Recruiters
Job Profiles After Critical Care Nursing Courses
Job Profile | Job Description |
Registered nurse (RN) | These are responsible for administering the medical care, communicating everything between the doctor, patients and his/her family, performing diagnostic tests, and dealing with patients on a daily basis. |
Critical care nurse | Apart from the general patients, they also look for pre- and post-operative patients. They also help in administrative duties. |
Clinical nurse manager | They are employed in the managerial work and ensure that the unit is operating within the fixed budget. They also keep track of patients admitted, discharged, and assigning new patients to the nurses. |
Nursing Instructor | They are responsible for teaching students the different aspects and hurdles of being a critical care nurse. They are usually offered jobs in this role after some experience in actual hospitals or healthcare centres. |
Rehabilitation specialist | They help patients with psychological disorders or addictions to learn and try being healthy (both physically and mentally) |
Critical care nurses can also work as staff nurses during no rush hours or when there are lesser patients in ICU. They usually take care of the patients and keep the families updated about the patients’ health. |
Top Recruiters
The top recruiters involve not only the big private players but also some of the government hospitals.
- Apollo hospitals enterprises
- Fortis healthcare
- Medanta Medicity
- Columbia Asia hospital
- Global hospitals
- MAX hospital
- Wockhardt hospitals
- Manipal hospital
Average Salary
The salary of a critical care nurse is usually higher in the government sector initially. Also, with a higher degree and experience, there is an increase in salary as well.
Job Position | Average Annual Salary (approx.) |
Registered nurse (RN) | Rs. 2.5 Lakh p.a. |
Critical care nurse | Rs. 3.25 Lakh p.a. |
Rehabilitation specialist | Rs. 2.4 Lakh p.a. |
Staff nurse | Rs. 2.5 Lakh p.a. |
Clinical nurse manager | Rs. 2.7 Lakh p.a. |
Nurse educator | Rs. 3.3 Lakh p.a. |
**The salary figures mentioned anywhere in this article is just for reference purposes. Please treat them as such. Actual salaries may vary depending on respective candidates, employer, job location and numerous other factors.
Required Skillset for Critical Care Nursing
Critical care nursing is a very challenging area. Since the life of an individual is partially in the hands of the individual, the level of skill set should be unparalleled. Some of the important qualities that make the career graph of a critical care nurse steeper are:
Technical ICU Nursing skills: Hands-on technical complemented with proper education is the best way to kick start the list. To ensure that patients get the best of the care recruiters generally tend to prefer technically proficient nurses.
Ability to work under pressure: A Critical care nurse has to deal with many unfavourable circumstances both in the ICU as well as in front of the family of patients. Keeping that delicate balance of empathy and fortitude is very important.
Self-Care: While looking out for the patients, nurses sometimes tend to forget to heed to their own needs. In this field, job-related burnout is a common phenomenon.
Course Curriculum for Critical Care Nursing
The course is designed to produce specially trained nurses in Critical Care. The modules covered include Assessment & care of the critically ill patient, Airway and mechanical ventilation, Drugs, Nutrition & Blood products in Critical care, Procedure & Investigations in Critical care, Special Consideration (Medico-legal, Pregnancy & Trauma) and Infection control. The course has some credits of more than 50% of which is reserved for practical. The objective of the course is to help individuals acquire proficiency in using their skills for treating critically ill patients.
Popular Online Medicine Courses and Certifications
Popular Critical Care Nursing Entrance Exams in India
Popular Critical Care Nursing Colleges in India VIEW ALL
SGT University
- Fees: ₹ 412500
AIIMS Rishikesh
- Exams: INI CET
SVIMS Tirupati
- Fees: ₹ 15600
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Question: Is my nursing degree from India valid in the US?
Answer :
Yes. Your nursing degree in India is valid in the US and several other western countries, but it is not sufficient for you to practice. To be able to practice one has to qualify the nursing entrance exam conducted in the country at the national level.
Question: How much salary increment should one expect after doing MSc in nursing?
Answer :
Data says that the average salary of a nurse with a master’s degree is 50% more than that of the one with a bachelor’s degree. Nevertheless, a lot depends upon the experience and knowledge of the individual as well.
Question: Is the job of a nurse worth the hassle?
Answer :
Initially, the job of a nurse might not pay you very high, but there is a very good chance of making a lifelong career out of it. The stress of the work is usually higher than in other occupations, but the satisfaction of helping someone with their lives is also incomparable.
Question: Which sectors employ a specialist in critical care nursing apart from hospitals?
Answer :
Critical care nurses can join the army, nursing homes, old age homes, health care centres, etc. Also, they can also offer their services at home.
Question: Is the job of a critical care nurse very stressful?
Answer :
The job of a critical nurse can be a very exhausting one. In addition, it takes up a lot of toll on the patient’s family as well as the nurse. The best way out is to have emotional empathy while being detached.
Question: What are the major duties of a critical care nurse?
Answer :
The job of a critical care nurse involves providing education and support to the patients, monitoring them, safeguarding them, keeping a vigilant eye on their health conditions and serving as a liaison between the patient, the patient’s family and other healthcare professionals.
Questions related to Critical Care Nursing
Showing 6 out of 6 Questions
59 Views
online course available for critical care nursing
15th Jul, 2022
Hello,
Courses in Critical Care Nursing can be of 2-5 years of duration. Critical care nursing course aims to specialize nurses with specialized knowledge and skills. By taking these courses, candidates can get jo into many big government and private hospitals. There are many sites and institutes that offer online course for critical care nursing. Some of them are:
- Advanced Fellowship in Critical Care Medicine offered by Medvarsity
- Certificate in Nursing Care offered by Tech Mahindra SMART Academy for Healthcare, Mumbai
- Advanced certificate in Covid-19 and Critical Care Essentials by Medvarsity
- Advanced Certificate in critical care nursing by Medvarsity
- Introduction to Critical care Nursing offered by University of Glasgow, Glasgow via Futurelearn .
There are many more courses. You can visit to the link provided for more details. Link: Critical care nursing
Hope it helps.
All the best!!
Answer later 78 Views
BSC Nursing elegible for MSc critical care nursing
14th Mar, 2022
Hello aspirant,
I hope that you are doing absolutely great.
With reference to your above mentioned query, i would like to tell you that the eligibility criteria for Msc nursing Critical care are as follows :
- Candidates should have the GNM ( General Nursing and Midwifery ) course after attaining the 10+2 or equivalent qualification. Science subjects are usually preferred.
- Candidates should also be an RN (Registered nurse) with any of the State Nursing Registration Councils.
- For Master Of Science In Nursing
- Candidates should have a B.Sc Nursing or a Post basic BSc nursing with at least 55% in graduation from an Indian Nursing Council recognized university.
- In case the candidate holds a B.Sc Nursing (post-basic) degree, work experience of minimum 1 year is required.
Further, to know more about the Critical care nursing course you can prefer following the below mentioned link : https://www.careers360.com/courses/critical-care-nursing-course
I hope that this will help.
62 Views
what are tha colleges offering MSc critical care nursing course in india
Student Expert
9th Mar, 2022
Dear student,
Colleges in India offering M.Sc Critical Care Nursing course are given below.
**Christian Medical College, Vellore
**SRM Medical College Hospital and Research Centre, Chennai
**Raj Kumari Amrit Kaur College of Nursing
**King George's Medical University
**All India Institute of Medical Sciences, New Delhi
**GITAM University, Vishakapatnam
**Jawaharlal Institute of Postgraduate Medical Education and Research, Puducherry
**University College of Nursing, Faridkot
**SGT University, Gurgaon
**All India Institute of Medical Sciences, Jodhpur
For more information you can go through below mentioned link.
Hope this information was helpful to you.
All The Best!!
147 Views
what is best after bsc nursing critical care nursing or MSc nursing
6th Jun, 2021
Hi,
The life of a critical care nurse is very challenging. This requires you to be physically and emotionally strong and requires a lot of stamina as well. But it comes with good amount of salary. The demand of this sector is increasing day by day. If you really want to pursue BSc nursing critical care considering all the things mentioned above, then go for it.
Hope that helps.
