Acute & Critical Care Nursing salary guide

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Published BLS wages for this family. BLS OEWS May 2025.

Medical-Surgical Nurse (Med-Surg RN) SOC 29-1141, Registered Nurses. broader match.
Telemetry Nurse (Tele RN, Med-Surg/Tele RN) SOC 29-1141, Registered Nurses. broader match.
Progressive Care Nurse (PCU, Step-Down, Intermediate Care RN) SOC 29-1141, Registered Nurses. broader match.
ICU Nurse (Adult Critical Care RN, MICU RN) SOC 29-1141, Registered Nurses. broader match.
CVICU Nurse (Cardiovascular ICU, Open Heart Recovery RN) SOC 29-1141, Registered Nurses. broader match.
Neuro ICU Nurse (Neuro Critical Care RN) SOC 29-1141, Registered Nurses. broader match.
Surgical / Trauma ICU Nurse (SICU, TICU RN) SOC 29-1141, Registered Nurses. broader match.
Emergency Room Nurse (ER Nurse, ED RN) SOC 29-1141, Registered Nurses. broader match.
Trauma Nurse (Trauma Bay RN) SOC 29-1141, Registered Nurses. broader match.
Float Pool Nurse (Resource RN, Flex Team RN) SOC 29-1141, Registered Nurses. broader match.
Charge Nurse (Relief Charge RN) SOC 29-1141, Registered Nurses. broader match.
Critical Care Transport / Flight Nurse SOC 29-1141, Registered Nurses. broader match.
Oncology Nurse (Inpatient Hem/Onc, BMT RN) SOC 29-1141, Registered Nurses. broader match.
Transplant Nurse SOC 29-1141, Registered Nurses. broader match.
Acute Inpatient Rehab Nurse SOC 29-1141, Registered Nurses. broader match.
Psychiatric Nurse (Behavioral Health RN, Inpatient Psych RN) SOC 29-1141, Registered Nurses. broader match.
Clinical Nurse Leader (CNL) SOC 29-1141, Registered Nurses. broader match.

What work does acute and critical care nursing cover on a typical shift?

These nurses watch for changes, give ordered treatments, and respond when a patient worsens. On a unit or in the ED, they review monitors, chart findings, speak with providers, and hand off care clearly. We ask how they track details during a busy shift and what they report right away.

In interviews, we ask for recent bedside examples. We want to hear who they notified, what they documented, and when they escalated concerns. For charge and float roles, we also ask how they moved between rooms, teams, or service lines.

Which bedside skills matter most when we hire for med-surg, telemetry, and step-down?

For these roles, we look for safe medication work, IV care, focused assessments, and consistent charting. Telemetry and step-down nurses also read rhythm strips, watch trends, and call the right clinician with clear facts. We ask about their usual assignment and how they managed competing needs.

We also ask what they do at the start of shift. That shows how they review orders, compare handoff notes, and spot what changed overnight. If they work with aides, we ask which tasks stay with them and which tasks they delegate.

What changes when we hire for ICU, CVICU, neuro ICU, or surgical trauma ICU?

These roles call for closer monitoring and faster response to change. Nurses review lines, drains, vents, and infusion plans, then act within the orders set by the care team. We ask who they contact first when readings shift and how they document the event after care is handed off.

For specialty ICU work, we ask about the patient types they see most often. A CVICU nurse may manage post-procedure recovery. A neuro ICU nurse may follow neurologic checks closely. A surgical trauma ICU nurse may balance post-op care with sudden changes in status.

How do emergency, trauma, transport, and flight nursing jobs differ on the floor or in transit?

Emergency and trauma nurses move between arrivals, procedures, and unexpected changes. Transport and flight nurses work with a tighter handoff window and must know what to report before movement starts. We ask how they prepare equipment, who confirms the plan, and what they do if the patient changes en route.

We also ask about team roles. In the ED, a nurse may work with physicians, techs, and charge staff across several rooms. In transport, the nurse often carries more responsibility for monitoring and reporting during transfer, but the provider team sets the care plan.

What should we ask when hiring float pool, charge, oncology, transplant, rehab, or psych nurses?

These jobs still depend on bedside judgment, but the setting changes the focus. Float pool nurses need to adapt to different units and routines. Charge nurses need to assign work, answer questions, and step in when the unit gets busy. Specialty inpatient nurses may manage longer stays, more teaching, or different safety checks.

We ask what decisions belong to the nurse and what stays with the provider or supervisor. That matters in every setting. We also ask how they handle handoff, family questions, and conflict at the bedside without losing track of the patient.

How can a hiring manager compare candidates without overreading a title or specialty label?

We compare the actual work, not just the job name. A candidate may have the right specialty title but little recent bedside work in your setting. Another may come from a related unit and already know your pace, charting flow, and handoff style. We ask for concrete shift examples instead of general statements.

That approach helps when a role sits between areas, such as progressive care, acute rehab, or behavioral health. We look at the patient mix, the team structure, and the amount of independent judgment expected. Then we help you decide whether the person fits the day-to-day work you need done.

What else should you ask about this edition?

What should we ask a telemetry nurse candidate before moving to interview?

Ask how they read rhythms during a normal shift and what they do when a strip changes. Ask which findings they report right away and which they chart for the next handoff. Those answers show how they work, not just what they have seen.

How do we screen a charge nurse for a busy unit?

Ask what they do when staffing changes during the day and how they reassign tasks. Ask how they handle calls from providers, family questions, and staff concerns at the same time. You want to hear how they keep the unit moving and who they involve for bigger decisions.

What matters most when hiring for ICU or CVICU?

Ask about the exact patient types they care for and the equipment they use. Then ask what changes they watch first and how they report those changes to the care team. That gives you a better picture of current bedside practice than a title alone.

How should we compare an ED nurse with a transport or flight nurse?

Compare how each person handles handoff, monitoring, and communication during active care. An ED nurse may work across many rooms and rapid arrivals. A transport or flight nurse may carry more responsibility during movement, so ask how they prepare before departure and what they report on arrival.