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29-1141.03 · Task explorer

Critical Care Nurses: reported tasks and exploration worksheet

Provide specialized nursing care for patients in critical or coronary care units.

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Read the task inventory

This source lists 29 tasks, including 29 marked Core and 0 marked Supplemental. Labels and dates are retained below. Employers can combine or divide these responsibilities differently; explore the task itself before assuming it belongs in every version of the role.

Task source dates: 08/2021.

29 tasks shown

Core · Task 18327 · 08/2021 · Occupational Expert

Evaluate patients' vital signs or laboratory data to determine emergency intervention needs.

Core · Task 18334 · 08/2021 · Occupational Expert

Monitor patients for changes in status and indications of conditions such as sepsis or shock and institute appropriate interventions.

Core · Task 18330 · 08/2021 · Occupational Expert

Administer medications intravenously, by injection, orally, through gastric tubes, or by other methods.

Core · Task 18333 · 08/2021 · Occupational Expert

Monitor patients' fluid intake and output to detect emerging problems, such as fluid and electrolyte imbalances.

Core · Task 18344 · 08/2021 · Occupational Expert

Prioritize nursing care for assigned critically ill patients, based on assessment data or identified needs.

Core · Task 18339 · 08/2021 · Occupational Expert

Compile and analyze data obtained from monitoring or diagnostic tests.

Core · Task 18340 · 08/2021 · Occupational Expert

Conduct pulmonary assessments to identify abnormal respiratory patterns or breathing sounds that indicate problems.

Core · Task 18335 · 08/2021 · Occupational Expert

Assess patients' pain levels or sedation requirements.

Core · Task 18337 · 08/2021 · Occupational Expert

Collaborate with other health care professionals to develop and revise treatment plans, based on identified needs and assessment data.

Core · Task 18341 · 08/2021 · Occupational Expert

Document patients' medical histories and assessment findings.

Core · Task 18338 · 08/2021 · Occupational Expert

Collect specimens for laboratory tests.

Core · Task 18332 · 08/2021 · Occupational Expert

Set up and monitor medical equipment and devices such as cardiac monitors, mechanical ventilators and alarms, oxygen delivery devices, transducers, or pressure lines.

Core · Task 18329 · 08/2021 · Occupational Expert

Administer blood and blood products, monitoring patients for signs and symptoms related to transfusion reactions.

Core · Task 18331 · 08/2021 · Occupational Expert

Advocate for patients' and families' needs, or provide emotional support for patients and their families.

Core · Task 18348 · 08/2021 · Occupational Expert

Assess family adaptation levels and coping skills to determine whether intervention is needed.

Core · Task 18328 · 08/2021 · Occupational Expert

Perform approved therapeutic or diagnostic procedures, based upon patients' clinical status.

Core · Task 18345 · 08/2021 · Occupational Expert

Assist physicians with procedures such as bronchoscopy, endoscopy, endotracheal intubation, or elective cardioversion.

Core · Task 18353 · 08/2021 · Occupational Expert

Supervise and monitor unit nursing staff.

Core · Task 18347 · 08/2021 · Occupational Expert

Identify malfunctioning equipment or devices.

Core · Task 18342 · 08/2021 · Occupational Expert

Document patients' treatment plans, interventions, outcomes, or plan revisions.

Core · Task 18343 · 08/2021 · Occupational Expert

Identify patients at risk of complications due to nutritional status.

Core · Task 18336 · 08/2021 · Occupational Expert

Assess patients' psychosocial status and needs, including areas such as sleep patterns, anxiety, grief, anger, and support systems.

Core · Task 18325 · 08/2021 · Occupational Expert

Identify patients' age-specific needs and alter care plans as necessary to meet those needs.

Core · Task 18350 · 08/2021 · Occupational Expert

Participate in professional organizations and continuing education to improve practice knowledge and skills.

Core · Task 18351 · 08/2021 · Occupational Expert

Participate in the development, review, or evaluation of nursing practice protocols.

Core · Task 18349 · 08/2021 · Occupational Expert

Coordinate patient care conferences.

Core · Task 18326 · 08/2021 · Occupational Expert

Provide post-mortem care.

Core · Task 18352 · 08/2021 · Occupational Expert

Plan, provide, or evaluate educational programs for nursing staff, interdisciplinary health care team members, or community members.

Core · Task 18346 · 08/2021 · Occupational Expert

Ensure that equipment or devices are properly stored after use.

Make the shortlist useful

  1. Choose one to three activities that tell you something different about the work. Avoid selecting several ways of describing the same interest.
  2. For each, write an example you can discuss or a question that would change your understanding of the role.
  3. Keep source task IDs with your notes so you can return to the same description. Do not include private employer or customer information.

The exported worksheet distinguishes the reported task from your own notes. It supports exploration, not a hiring decision or a validated assessment.

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Source and practice material

Occupational context uses the O*NET® 31.0 Database from the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration, under CC BY 4.0. View the occupation.

Skill Workbench selected and adapted the occupational information and added its own fictional cases, calculations, guidance and worksheets. USDOL/ETA has not approved, endorsed or tested these additions. O*NET® is a trademark of USDOL/ETA.