Nurse Nurse?

Question

What type of Certification is needed to be a Trauma / ICU Nurse?

Answer 1

RN for ICU

LPN's cannot work with ventilators in most places, they need to take stable patients and Trauma and ICU are Unstable patients.

I am an Cardiac critical care RN.

Answer 2

LPN or RN

Answer 3

Typically, you need to be an RN (LPN - no way!) and they prefer an RN with a BS (bachelors of science) degree in Nursing.  You then need 2 years of experience with bedside care before they will allow you to work in the ER, ICU, surgery, etc.

Answer 4

Generally to be a trauma nurse, or unit nurse, you need to have your RN.  In our emergency room we do not allow LPNs to work, as they can not giver certain medicines or fill out certain parts of our paper work.  In the unit at our hospital, LPNs are hired, but their scope of practice is severely limited.  

Most hospitals do not hire LPNs anymore because they can do few things.  Those hospitals that do hire LPNs are forced to hire more Rn's so that they can sign off on all of the paperwork done by the LPN.  

I would recommend going to get your RN if you are considering nursing in any department, not just critical care.