The main difference between an ER nurse vs. ICU nurse is that the ER nurse quickly triages and stabilizes patients before discharging or transferring them. An ICU nurse treats critical patients, many of whom are intubated or ventilated, with the goal of transferring them to a step-down unit.
Both emergency room (ER) and intensive care unit (ICU) nurses care for patients with life-threatening conditions; however, there are key differences between ER nurses vs. ICU nurses. An ER nurse’s focus is stabilizing patients, while an ICU nurse’s focus is treating medically fragile patients with the goal of transferring them to step-down units. A step-down unit provides a level of care between the ICU and the general medical-surgical units, where patients still need close monitoring but are less critical.
While you’re considering which nursing specialty is right for you, you should learn how to become a nurse, as well. The University of Mount Saint Vincent’s Accelerated Bachelor of Science in Nursing (ABSN) program in New York City enables students with a non-nursing bachelor’s degree to earn a Bachelor of Science (BS) in nursing in as few as 16 months.
The ABSN program combines nursing coursework with immersive learning opportunities, including clinical placements in a variety of nursing specialties, such as intensive care, at leading New York City hospitals.
Take a closer look at how to become an ICU nurse or ER nurse, and learn the answers to some common questions, such as “What does an ICU nurse do?” and “What are the major differences between ICU vs. ER nurses?”
What Does an ER Nurse Do?
ER nurses quickly triage patients with life-threatening conditions and, in order of severity, provide care focused on stabilization. An ER nurse may provide care for many different health problems over the course of a shift, including heart attacks, severe allergic reactions, and trauma from car accidents or acts of violence.
When a critical patient arrives at the ER, an ER nurse may need to immediately start cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) or start an IV line.
Some of the specific tasks of emergency room nurses include:
- Administering medications
- Assessing and triaging patients
- Conducting life-saving interventions, such as CPR or bag-valve-mask ventilation
- Maintaining patient documentation
- Intubating patients and monitoring ventilators
- Performing wound care
- Placing IV lines
- Providing patient and family caregiver education
- Setting broken bones
ER nurses care for patients until they are medically stable enough to be discharged or admitted to the hospital and transferred to the appropriate unit.
What Does an ICU Nurse Do?
Like ER nurses, ICU nurses provide life-saving care to medically fragile patients. Although patients are stabilized in the ER, ICU patients may still require emergency interventions if their health suddenly deteriorates. Patients in the ICU are often intubated and ventilated, and may be on multiple IV drips.
The goal of the ICU nursing team is to get patients well enough to transfer to a step-down unit. An ICU nurse, also called a critical care nurse, often performs the following tasks:
- Administering medications
- Cleaning and dressing wounds
- Educating patients and family caregivers
- Evaluating vitals and recognizing the signs of decompensation
- Infusing blood products
- Providing emotional comfort to patients and their loved ones
- Responding to medical emergencies
- Setting up and operating sophisticated medical equipment, such as life support vents
Not all patients in the ICU survive, despite the nursing team’s best efforts. ICU nurses must also follow proper protocols and procedures when a patient dies, in accordance with their hospital’s guidelines and state regulations. Steps taken typically include notifying the attending physician, confirming the death, notifying the family, disconnecting medical equipment, and cleaning and preparing the body for transfer to the morgue.
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ICU vs. ER Nurse: Key Differences in Work Environment and Pace
While the nursing specialties are similar, there are major differences between an ER vs. an ICU nurse’s work environment. The emergency room is a hectic, often chaotic unit, as priorities can shift continuously and many patients may arrive within minutes of each other.
ER nurses work with patients on a short-term basis, aiming to quickly stabilize and then discharge or transfer them to another unit.
The ICU is a significantly different environment. Although ICU nurses rush during a medical emergency, the unit is slower-paced overall. The ICU is a highly organized and structured setting. ICU nurses work with the same patients longer than ER nurses, and so their care plans are more detailed.
Essential Skills and Character Traits: ER Nurse vs. ICU Nurse
ICU and ER nurses must have many of the same skills, including clinical skills such as medication administration and IV placement; however, some of their skill sets differ.
A sample of the most important skills for an ER nurse includes:
- Adaptability
- Assessments and triage
- Calmness in high-intensity situations
- Collaboration and teamwork
- Life-saving medical interventions, including CPR
- Multitasking
Some of the most important skills for an ICU nurse include:
- Attention to detail
- Empathy and compassion
- Medical equipment set-up and operation
- Organization
- Patient advocacy
- Respiratory, cardiovascular, and metabolic support
ICU Nurse vs. ER Nurse Salary and Career Outlook
Regardless of whether you choose to become an ICU nurse or an ER nurse, you can look forward to a high earning potential. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), the median annual salary for all types of RNs was $93,600 as of May 2024. The BLS does not track salary data for emergency room or critical care nurses specifically.
The career outlook for nurses is also favorable. According to the BLS, the job growth rate for RNs is projected to be 5% from 2024 through 2034, faster than average for all professions.
How to Become an ER Nurse
How long does it take to become an ER nurse? It varies, but if you have a non-nursing bachelor’s degree, you might be eligible for an accelerated nursing program. In Mount Saint Vincent’s ABSN program, you can earn your BS in nursing in as few as 16 months.
Follow these steps:
- Earn a nursing degree, such as an associate’s degree or a BS in nursing. A BS in nursing would allow you to pursue higher education; studies have also shown that baccalaureate-prepared nurses contribute to better patient outcomes.
- Pass the NCLEX-RN exam and obtain a nursing license.
- Look for your first nursing job. Some ERs may hire recent grads, while others may prefer prior bedside experience, such as medical-surgical nursing.
What is an ABSN? Discover if it’s right for your nursing education.
How to Become an ICU Nurse
How long does it take to become an ICU nurse? With the Mount’s ABSN program, you could be well on your way in roughly two years.
Like ER nurses, ICU nurses need a nursing degree and an RN license. Some ICUs may hire new nurses, while others prefer their critical care nurses to have a few years of experience in medical-surgical nursing.
How to Choose Between ER and ICU Nursing
You can choose between these two nursing specialties by asking yourself some questions. Do you prefer the fast-paced, somewhat chaotic setting of an ER, or would you prefer a highly structured, more controlled nursing unit like the ICU?
Other differences to keep in mind include:
- ER nurses have less contact with patients’ families, while ICU nurses often have more.
- ER nurses may care for a large patient load during any given shift, while ICU nurses care for fewer patients per shift.
- ER nurses must remain calm in high-pressure situations and be skilled multitaskers in fast-paced environments, while ICU nurses must maintain meticulous attention to detail and be highly organized.
All nurses must be good problem-solvers and have excellent critical thinking skills, regardless of the environment in which they choose to work.
Start Your Nursing Career at Mount Saint Vincent
No matter which nursing specialty appeals most to you, you can build a foundation for your future at Mount Saint Vincent. With five ABSN learning sites across New York City, the Mount offers an innovative nursing education, including clinical placements at top healthcare facilities, such as Memorial Sloan Kettering and Mount Sinai Hospital.
Contact our admission counselor today and learn how to become an ER nurse or ICU nurse by taking the first steps with Mount Saint Vincent.