ICU nurse jobs

ICU Nurse jobs: frequently asked questions

(Updated Dec 2024)

Welcome to our ICU Nurse jobs page, featuring the very latest ICU nursing roles across the UK, as well as frequently asked questions below.

What is an ICU Nurse?

An ICU Nurse supports patients facing critical care emergencies within intensive care units (ICUs).

They work within hospitals and have to monitor and manage a huge range of complex equipment, as well as patients in very serious conditions. ICU Nurses therefore work with far fewer patients than a General Nurse might on any given shift – and a 1:1 Nurse to patient ratio is very common.

It’s a specialised role that involves working within a wider team of experts.

What are the daily responsibilities of an ICU Nurse?

Although duties vary according to the specific needs of each patient, they might broadly include:

• Helping and educating patients and their loved ones about conditions and treatments

• Monitoring patient conditions and recording changes

• Assisting patients through treatments

• Supporting patients through the side effects of treatments

• Monitoring vital signs

• Co-ordinating treatments with different wards and specialists

What qualifications do you need to become an ICU Nurse?

To become an ICU Nurse you need a nursing degree and to register with the Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC). ICU Nurses normally study adult or children’s nursing.

Many Nurses work as a General or Adult Nurse after qualifying, and then become an ICU Nurse after that. However, it is possible to become an ICU Nurse immediately after qualifying, assuming you gain some ICU experience during your degree placements.

Personality and skills wise, you’ll need compassion, patience and great communication skills, but also a lot of resilience and mental toughness. ICU Nurses inevitably work in a highly pressurised and emotionally charged environment.

You’ll also need to build up a knowledge of equipment and tools that goes beyond what you need in an A&E ward.

How much does an ICU Nurse earn?

The average ICU Nurse probably earns somewhere between £35,000 and £37,000 a year according to the latest industry stats. That’s based on current NHS bandings along with the average number of years of service of an ICU Nurse.

Roles tend to start at Band 5, with starting salaries of £29,969 a year, while many others are advertised at Band 6, with a starting salary in excess of £35,000 a year.

Broadly speaking, experienced ICU Nurses can earn up to and beyond £45,000 a year.

In terms of boosting your salary, the most important thing is to constantly seek opportunities to gain more qualifications and experience. Consequently, you’ll be able to move into higher bandings and apply for more senior positions.

Your other option is to seek out bank or agency roles. This type of work could supplement your regular income, and in many cases offers a comparatively higher rate of hourly pay.

Find your next ICU Nurse job today

View our latest roles above, or if you can’t find what you’re looking for, create an account, register your CV here and we’ll send you the latest positions as soon as we get them.