An Overview of Being a Part of Critical Care Nursing

As a leading nursing agency in the UK, we offer specialised services in placing trained critical care nursing professionals across the UK.

We consistently offer an extensive range of full and part-time opportunities for specialists A&E, ICU agency nurse jobs, HDU and ITU for both block bookings and ad hoc shifts. If you wish to work as a critical care nurse with some of the major healthcare centres across the UK, which can help you gain experience as well as career progression, then the below points may be of interest to you re critical care nursing.

Registration Requirements for Critical Care Nursing Role

In order to work as a critical care nurse in England, you have to meet the following basic requirements:

• Be eligible to work in the UK
• Hold a valid registration with the NMC
• A minimum of 6 months relevant and recent experience

Who is an Ideal Candidate?

Critical care nursing is a challenging profession, but at the same time, it is rewarding too. As specialists in placing ICU agency nurse jobs, A&E, HDU, and ITU nurses, we pride ourselves on finding the ideal candidate that matches every job role or requirement we receive.

ITU Nursing

The role of HDU and ITU nursing is intense but equally promising. ITU nurses offer 24 x 7 care as well as monitor patients who are seriously ill and need intensive care treatment. In order to work in an ICU team, you have to be a fully qualified registered general nurse and must be willing to work a high dependency area, be part of a multi-disciplinary unit team and care for critically ill patients.

ICU nurses can be split between paediatric or adult care. Critical care nurses must be prepared to work long, stretched hours, usually 12- hours’ shift and must function as a part of the team. Excellent interpersonal and multitasking skills are needed in order to work with patients as well as their families. Most importantly, such nurses must have the ability to remain calm under challenging situations.

With the number of intricate care cases on the increase, the amount of ITU nursing roles is expected to increase. The most difficult part that nurses have to handle is the end of life situations. But the rewards are endless when their role is involved in patient recovery.

A&E Nursing

The demand for A&E nurses has increased dramatically over the past number of years in the UK. Nurses working in this fast-paced environment, must be able to work well under stressful and pressurised situations. Nurse must also possess excellent clinical skills and a have a very positive attitude.

A&E nurses are expected to work a part of a team in areas like triage, minors, majors, and rhesus. For those working in triage, they have to make assessments and signpost (often deciding who gets seen to first) patients to the appropriate area of the A&E department. For those working with minors, they are expected to take care of patients according to their needs across a comprehensive range of cases. If you are working in majors, your role will involve operating as a part of the emergency team, dealing with severe cases, which can be life-threatening.

If you enjoy challenges, and are flexible and enjoy working in a fast-paced environment, critical care nursing could be for you. Just make sure you meet the minimum requirements and have the desired skills. Also check out the services of a nursing agency near you.

5 Nursing Specialities with Highest Earning Potentials

Something to consider before deciding what clinical area to work in. What are the highest paying nursing agency jobs in the market, and what speciality attracts the highest pay rates? It is sometimes said a high paid job can be more enjoyable. While selecting a nursing speciality is a combination of your interest and skill sets, your earning potentials can also play a key role in helping you decide. After working so hard through nursing school to get your qualification many nurses are now looking to maximise their earning potential.

Here we take a quick look at the specialities that attract a premium in the nursing sector.

Registered Anaesthetic Nurse

A certified registered anaesthetic nurse is responsible for assisting with administration of anaesthesia to patients. Such professionals work together with other anaesthesiologists, surgeons, and dentists, to safely administer anaesthesia medication before any major procedure is practiced on the patient.
Since, it is of utmost importance to administer the right amount of anaesthesia to a patient, nurses working in this field are often offered with high salaries. Scrub nurses working in operating theatre normally attract a premium due to their specific skill set.

Nurse Researcher

A nurse researcher is a professional working as an analysts, normally for private companies and hospitals. These experts’ research studies on the basis of data gathered on specific pharmaceutical, medical, or nursing practices or products. Roles in these areas can again command higher salaries especially if they involve working in the private sector. Nurses will a lot of experience can negotiate an attractive rate or package depending on the client.

Children’s Nurse

As a children’s nurse, or RSCN works with children of all ages suffering from, illness, diseases and disorders of different kinds. At the same time, children’s nurses are expected to be calm, patient, and efficient in handling children of various behavioural problems.
Children’s nurses are also responsible for educating children as well as parents on physical, mental, and sexual development issues, which can occur from a particular disorder. With increasing issues among children’s health, such nurses are gaining increased popularity and have a higher earning potential.

Certified Nurse Midwife

A certified midwife nurse if one of the highest paying agency nurse roles. They are responsible for advice on family planning, assist in labour and delivery of the new born, performing gynaecological exams, neonatal and prenatal care.

Such experts usually work full-time in private and NHS hospitals. Many midwifes work full time for agencies taking shifts that suite their availability. This gives them flexibility, allowing them to earn high rates of pay without the commitment of a full time job.

Gerontological Nurse Practitioner

With advanced degrees in geriatrics, you can become a Gerontological nurse practitioner. Your role will involve diagnosing and managing patients, often with long-term illness and handling debilitating conditions. At the same time, you have to provide timely assessments to family members of the patient.
GNPs are expected to approach nursing holistically and focus particularly on maintaining a comfortable beside support for the elderly patients.

Though these are a few of the nursing specialities with highest earning potentials, but there are other lucrative options also available, like ENPs, A&E, and ITU which can provide you with a rewarding career.

ITU Nursing Trends What You Need To Know

Highly stressful situations, ethical dilemmas, and critical decisions are all a part of the environment of an intensive therapy unit ( ITU). Despite these challanges, ITU nurses opt to work in this clinical area. Read the below to learn more about ITU nursing and its challenges.

What Is ITU Nursing?

ITU nursing focuses on the care of critically ill, unstable, or post-surgery patients. It also deals with patients suffering from life-threatening injuries and diseases. Considering these complex conditions, ITU nurses need to possess sharp clinical skills and ability to communicate clearly with other medical practioners. Working in the ITU is like a continued education. Every patient is different and gives you an opportunity to improve your experience and skills.

What Makes ITU Nurses Special?

Agency nurse ITU jobs demand great responsibility from nurses. You will need sound clinical judgment, have the ability to demonstrate caring practices, collaborate with a multidisciplinary team and provide patient and family support. These are just some of the qualities required to work in this clinically specialised area.

Standards Of Care

Assessment: The assessment for acute and critically ill patients start by collecting relevant patient data.
Diagnosis: The collected data is then analysed, and appropriate diagnosis is determined.
Outcome Identification: Every ITU patient is different. As an ITU nurse, you may need to identify individual, and plausible outcomes for the patient.

Planning: You will then be required to create an appropiate care paln. This may include interventions for reaching the desired outcomes.

Implementation: The interventions identified must be implemented in this stage for the successful execution of the plan.
Evaluation: Continuous evaluation or patient monitoring is needed for patient well-being.

Other Challanges

Respecting the right of a patient’s decision making process and autonomy is one of the primary responsibilities of an ITU nurse. Agency nurse ITU jobs will also require you to intervene when you feel that the patient well-being is under threat. You will have to help the patient to get the necessary care considering the patients beliefs, values, and rights. The job will also require you to act as a liaison between healthcare professionals and the patient’s family.

Technological Advances And Their Impact On ITU

While patient care technology has transformed the concept of nursing, it is also becoming increasingly complex. The same technology if not monitoted correctly can lead to adverse events and errors. As an ITU nurse, you will be dealing with many specialised instruments like nasogastric tubes, ostomy appliances, oxygen tanks and regulators, traction systems, and code carts.

Indirect nursing care delivery makes use of robotics, radio frequency identification, computerised staffing, and inventory systems. You will need to be well-versed with using these instruments.

Working in intensive care is a specialised role. A quick thinking mind, an understanding mindset, and the ability to grow yourself as a professional are some of the key attributes required. Mastering these principles will provide you with ultimate job satisfaction and fulfillment.

Career Path For A Nursing Professional

Are you looking forward to a bright nursing career? Becoming a nurse helps you make a tangible difference in people’s lives. It is a rewarding role that is diverse and complex. Here is what you need to become a nurse in the UK.

Getting Started

High paid nurses need to complete a course or a nursing degree recognised by the Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC). You will typically study three years for a degree with 50% classroom and 50% practical training. Once qualified, you will have to be fully registered with the NMC before applying for qualified nursing jobs. Another option is to take up a nursing degree apprenticeship. This route will let you take up the degree path along with your current role, which should be in a healthcare setting.

Specialisations

ITU Nurses: High paid nurses working in the intensive therapy unit (ITU) provide direct care to patients in life-threatening situations. From accidents, brain injuries, and complicated surgeries, ITU nurses face a challenging task. As an ITU nurse, you are required to work closely with physicians or other healthcare professionals in the team. You must be physically, emotionally, and mentally strong to treat critical ill patients. You will be a specialist in evaluating the patients condition, recognising complications, and administering the right care to the patients when required.

Registered Children’s Nurse: consider a career as a RSCN. Again you will need to complete 3 years study in children’s nursing to become a registered sick children’s nurse. A qualified RSCN will provide acute and preventive care to children and adolescents. You will need excellent observation skills and be sensitive as you will be dealing with very young patients. RSCNs can also end up working in the community with sick chillren, in Paediatrics ICU or even in a school setting.

Specialised Nurses: Specialty nursing covers many different areas. Some of the more common areas include A&E, ICU, HDU, ITU Paediatrics and operating theatre, including anaesthetics. As a certified registered anaesthetic nurse, you will be assisting administering anaesthesia to patients. Other specialities like an orthopedic nurse, and neonatal nurse can also be considered.

Cardiology Nurses: Your job here will be to ensure high standards of care to patients with varying cardiac conditions. This may also include pre or post-operative care for device insertion and angiography. You could will be working in various cardiology departments like cardiorespiratory and coronary care unit. This speciality will give you a lot of learning opportunities as advancements in technology is very progressive in this area.

Education And Qualifications For Nursing

Entry requirements for a diploma and a degree are different. However, both courses require 5 GCSE passed with grade C or above in English and science, preferably biology. Degree courses will need an additional 2 A level qualifications. As above , holding A levels in biology will give you a greater advantage over others who don’t.

Once you have completed your nursing course, you must hold full membership with the NMC before beginning able to practise. You can advance your knowledge with on-the-job training and gain the practical skills necessary to excel as a nurse in the UK. There are also many post grad further training opportunities available.

Nursing is a fulfilling career option. It offers many challenges and opportunities to grow professionally. A large number of options are available for you to explore before deciding your career path. Once qualified you can travel the world with a nursing qualification and UK trained nurses are always in high demand world wide.

Potential Career Path for Band 6 Agency Nurse in ITU Department

In the ITU or Intensive Therapy Unit, nurses provide consistent care and monitoring for the patients in critical conditions. It is the ward in NHS hospitals where mechanical and medical interventions are available for patients suffering from organ malfunctioning. For example, patients having difficulty in breathing are given breathing support on ventilators for the circulation of oxygen in the lungs. Since this ward has the equipment to monitor every bodily function closely, this equipment is often monitored by ITU nurses.

What to Expect from Nursing Care in ITU?

If you are looking for agency nurse ITU jobs, it is important to understand the level of patient care in this department. The patients in the ITU departments fall into many categories. Some will include patients suffering from a heart attack, stroke, organ failure, or after a severe accident. Another category will include patients admitted after major surgery for the administration of fluids and medications by IV.

What Do You Need to Become an ITU Nurse?

Although there’s no specific degree required for direct entry into an ITU department, you should have the right mix of skills and experience. Mostly, nurses with a degree or diploma can apply for an intensive care setting if they have the right experience. In a NHS hospital, Band 5 and Band 6 nurses will work in the critical care units. The salaries are excellent, and so are the benefit packages. However due to staff shortages in the NHS there is a need for agency nurses with the skill sets to cover and fill agency nurse ITU jobs.

What Are the Future Career Prospects for ITU Nurses?

After gaining experience of 4-5 years in critical care, you could progress to Band 6 Charge or Senior Nurse Charge. With these positions, you may also get an opportunity to do a master’s degree, become a mentor, or get training in an ITU-related subjects area like Advanced Trauma Nurse Training. Depending on the particular hospital and openings that become available, you may progress quicker through the ranks.

What Is the Salary Range for ITU Nurses?

If you’re applying for ITU nursing jobs in the NHS, you can expect to get paid a Band 5 nurse rate. The salary will start at £23,023. This will increase annually in accordance with NHS agenda for change pay rates to £29,608. A full list of pay scales is available on the NHS websites.

If you are going to apply for a NHS band 6 nurse ITU job the salaries will start at £28,050. This can increase to £36,644 over 8 years . The salaries in the private sector vary by employer. There may be benefits offered by NHS hospitals or private sector. So, you should check the job details clearly before applying.

The NHS will have to follow the above pay scales and pay points. The private sector may offer a more competitive package as the private sector does not have to follow NHS agenda for change pay rules. Often nursing agencies will pay a premium for highly skilled agency nurses that can run or manage and ITU department. To find out more on ITU jobs contact Nursing Personnel a reputable nursing agency in London.