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RN - Intensive Care Unit (ICU)

This checklist was electronically signed on September 12, 2026

Instructions: This checklist is meant to serve as a general guideline for our client facilities as to the level of your skills within your nursing specialty. Please use the scale below to describe your experience/expertise in each area listed below.

Proficiency Scale:

1 = No Experience

2 = Need Training

3 = Able to perform with supervision

4 = Able to perform independently

PATIENT RIGHTS

Communicate and obtain information while respecting patient rights, privacy, and confidentiality of information in accordance with the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996 (HIPAA)
Involve the patient and family and respect their role in determining the nature of care to be provided
Meet patient's and families' needs regarding communication, including interpreter services
Provide accurate information to patients and families in a timely manner

COMMUNICATION

Communicate with patients and their companions in a courteous manner
Understand the chain of communication, who to contact, and when
Listen actively to patient concerns and address them appropriately.
Cultural Sensitivity and Language Skills

APPROPRIATE PPE FOR THE FOLLOWING SCENARIOS

Standard Precautions (PPE to be Worn Based on Anticipated Level of Exposure)
Contact/Contact Enteric Precautions (Gown & Gloves)
Droplet Precautions (Surgical Mask)
Airborne Precautions N95 where Appropriate

NEUROLOGICAL ASSESSMENT

Cranial Nerves
Glasgow Coma Scale
Level of Consciousness
Pathologic Reflexes
Pathologic Reflexes
Reflex/Motor Deficits
Visual or Communication Deficits

NEUROLOGICAL EQUIPMENT AND PROCEDURES

Assist with Lumbar Puncture
Halo Traction/Cervical Tongs
Intracranial Pressure Monitoring
Nerve Stimulators
Rotating Bed
Seizure Precautions
Spinal Precautions
Styker Frame
Use of Hyper/Hypothermia Blanket

CARE OF PATIENT WITH NEUROLOGICAL DISEASE

Aneurysm Precautions
Basal Skull Fracture
Closed Head Injury
Coma
Cerebrovascular Accident (CVA)
Delirium Tremens (DTs)
Encephalitis
Externalized VP Shunts
Increased ICP
Laminectomy
Meningitis
Metastatic Tumor/Intracranial Tumor Resection
Multiple Sclerosis
Post Craniotomy
Spinal Cord Injury
Ventriculostomy

PULMONARY ASSESSMENT

Adventitious Breath Sounds
Rate and Work of Breathing

INTERPRETATION OF PULMONARY LABORATORY RESULT

Arterial Blood Gases
Blood Chemistry

PULMONARY EQUIPMENT AND PROCEDURES

Mediastinal Chest Tube Removal
Pleural Chest Tube Removal
Endotracheal Tube/Suctioning
Nasal Airway/Suctioning
Oximetry
Sputum Specimen Collection
Tracheostomy/Suctioning
Assist with Bronchoscopy
Assist with Chest Tube Insertion
Assist with Emergency Tracheostomy
Assist with Thoracentesis
Assist with Intubation
Assist with Extubation
Oral Airway Insertion
Ambu Bag and Mask
Endotracheal Tube
Face Masks
Nasal Cannula
Portable Oxygen Tank
Tracheostomy Collars
External CPAP
High Frequency Jet Ventilation
Intermittent Mandatory Ventilation (IMV)
PEEP
Pressure Support
Weaning Modes and T-Piece Weaning

IDENTIFICATION / INTERVENTION FOR RESPIRATORY COMPLICATIONS

Aspiration
Laryngospasm
Tension Pneumothorax
Use of Pleaurevac or Thoraclex Drainage
Use of Water Seal Drainage

CARE OF PATIENT WITH PULMONARY DISEASE

Acute Pneumonia
Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome (ARDS)
Chest Trauma
Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD)
Cor Pulmonale
Fresh Tracheostomy
Lobectomy
Lung Transplant
Near Drowning
Pneumonectomy
Pulmonary Edema/Hypertension
Pulmonary Embolism
Status Asthmaticus
Thoracotomy
Tuberculosis

CARDIOVASCULAR ASSESSMENT

Abnormal heart Sounds/Murmurs/Arrhyhthmias
Auscultation (Rate/Rhythm)
Blood pressure
Doppler
Pulses/Circulation Checks

INTERPRETATION OF CARDIOVASCULAR LABORATORY RESULTS

Cardiac Enzymes and Isoenzymes
Coagulation Studies

CARDIOVASCULAR EQUIPMENT AND PROCEDURES

Assist with Arterial Line Insertion
Assist with Central Line Insertion
Assist with Open Chest Emergency
Assist with PA catheter/Swan-Ganz Insertion
Assist with Pericardiocentesis
Assist with Transesophageal Echocardiogram
Automatic Internal Cardioverter Defibrillator
Cardioversion
Continuous Arteriovenous Hemofiltration with Dialysis (CAVH-D)
Intra Aortic Balloon Pump
External Pacemaker
Permanent Pacemaker
Temporary Pacemaker
Transthoracic (Epicardial) Pacemaker
Ventricular Assist Device (RVAD or LVAD)

HEMODYNAMIC MONITORING

Cardiac Index
Cardiac Output
CVP Monitoring
Femoral Artery Sheath Removal
Mean Arterial Pressure
PA/Swan-Ganz
Pulmonary Capillary Wedge Pressure (PCWP)
Pulmonary Vascular Resistance (PVR)
Radial A-Line
Mixed Venous Oxygen Saturation (SVO2)
Systemic Vascular Resistance (SVR)

CARDIOVASCULAR MONITORING

12 Lead EKG Interpretation
Arrhythmia Interpretation
Lead Placement
Rhythm Strip Assessment
Set up and Run 12 Lead EKG

CARE OF PATIENT WITH CARDIOVASCULAR DISEASE

Abdominal Aortic Aneurysm Repair
Acute Myocardial Infarction
Cardiac Arrest
Cardiac Tamponade
Congestive Heart Failure (CHF)
Electrophysiology (EP) Study and Catheter Ablation
Heart Transplant
Immediate Post Open-Heart Surgery
Ineffective Endocarditis
Myocardial Contusion
Pericarditis
Post Automatic Implantable Cardioverter Defibrillator (AICD) Insertion
Post Arthrectomy (DCA)
Post Commissurotomy, Valve Repair, Valve Replacement
Post Intracoronary Stent Placement
Post Percutaneous Balloon Valvuloplasty
Post Rotoblade
Pre/Post Angioplasty
Pre/Post Cardiac Catheterization

GASTROINTESTINAL ASSESSMENT

Abdominal/Bowel Sounds
Nutritional

INTERPRETATION OF GASTROINTESTINAL LABORATORY RESULTS

Serum Ammonia
Serum Amylase
Liver function Tests (LFTs)

GASTROINTESTINAL EQUIPMENT AND PROCEDURES

Administration of Tube Feeding
Balloon Tamponade (Sengstaken Blakemore)
Feeding Pump
Flexible Feeding Tube (i.e., Corpak, Dobhoff)
Gravity Feeding
Iced Saline Lavage
Management of Gastrostomy Tube
Management of Jejunostomy Tube
T-Tube
TPN and Lipids Administration
Peripheral Parenteral Nutrition (PPN)
Placement of Nasogastric Tube
Salem Sump to Suction

CARE OF PATIENT WITH GASTROINTESTINAL DISEASE

Blunt Trauma
Bowel Obstruction
Colostomy
Endoscopic Retrograde Cholangiopancreatography (ERCP)
Esophageal Bleeding
GI Bleeding
GI Surgery
Hepatitis
Ileostomy
Inflammatory Bowel Disease
Liver Failure
Liver Transplant
Pancreatitis
Paralytic Ileus
Penetrating Trauma

RENAL/GENITOURINARY ASSESSMENT

A-V Fistula/Shunt
Fluid Status

INTERPRETATION OF RENAL/GENITOURINARY LABORATORY RESULTS

BUN and Creatinine
Serum Electrolytes

RENAL/GENITOURINARY EQUIPMENT AND PROCEDURES

Bladder Irrigation
Insertion and Care of 3-way Foley - Female
Insertion and Care of 3-way Foley - Male
Insertion and Care of Supra-Pubic Catheter

CARE OF PATIENT WITH RENAL/GENITOURINARY DISEASE

Acute Renal Failure
Continuous Arteriovenous Hemofiltration with Dialysis (CAVH-D)
Hemodialysis
Nephrectomy
Peritoneal Dialysis
Renal Rejection Syndrome
Renal Transplant
Transurethral Resection of the Prostate (TURP)
Urinary Diversion (Ileal Conduit Nephrostomy)
Urinary Tract Infection

INTERPRETATION OF ENDOCRINE/METABOLIC LABORATORY RESULTS

Blood Glucose
Thyroid Studies

ENDOCRINE/METABOLIC EQUIPMENT AND PROCEDURES

Blood Glucose Measuring Device
Blood Glucose Monitoring
Performing Finger Stick

CARE OF PATIENT WITH ENDOCRINE/METABOLIC DISEASE

Diabetes Mellitus
Diabetic Ketoacidosis
Disorders of Adrenal Gland (e.g., Addison's disease)
Disorders of Pituitary Gland (e.g., Diabetes Insipidus)
Drug Overdose
Hyperthyroidism (Grave's Disease)
Hypothyroidism
Insulin Shock
Thyroidectomy

WOUND ASSESSMENT

Skin for Impending Breakdown
Stasis Ulcers
Surgical Wound Healing

WOUND/TRAUMA/BURN MANAGEMENT EQUIPMENT AND PROCEDURES

Air Fluidized, Low Airloss Beds
Sterile Dressing Changes
Wound Care/Irrigations
Berkow Formula/Rule of Nines
Lund and Browder Chart
Fluid Resuscitation

CARE OF PATIENT WITH WOUND/TRAUMA/BURNS

Burns
Fluid Resuscitation
Pressure Sores
Staged Decubitus Ulcers
Surgical Wounds with Drain(s)
Traumatic Wounds
Amputation
Multiple Fractures
Skin Grafting
Electrocution
Gangrene
Thermoregulation: Hypo/Hyperthermia
Apply Pressure Garments
Escharotomy

PAIN MANAGEMENT

Assessment of Pain Level/Tolerance

CARE OF PATIENT WITH PAIN

Epidural Anesthesia/Analgesia
IV Conscious Sedation
Patient Controlled Analgesia

MISCELLANEOUS

Anaphylactic Shock
Disseminated Intravascular Coagulation (DIC)
Hypovolemic Shock
Multi-System Organ Failure
Organ/Tissue Donation
Septic Shock
Drug/Chemical Overdose
Substance Abuse (ETOH, Narcotics)
Administer Chemotherapy
Hyperbaric Oxygenation
Suicide Precautions
Poisoning
HIV
Cancer
Isolation Procedures

PHLEBOTOMY/IV THERAPY EQUIPMENT AND PROCEDURES

Administration of Cryoprecipitate
Administration of Packed Red Blood Cells
Administration of Plasma/Albumin
Administration of Whole Blood
Drawing Blood from Central Line
Drawing Venous Blood
Starting Angiocath IVs
Starting Butterfly IVs
Starting Heparin Lock

CARE OF PATIENT WITH IV LINES

Broviac
Groshong
Hickman
Portacath
Quinton
Peripheral Line/Dressing

MEDICATION

Antianginal
Antiarrhythmic Drugs
Anticholinergic
Anticoagulants/Thrombolytics
Antidiabetic Drugs
Anti-Infectives
Anti-Inflammatory/Analgesic Drugs
Antihyperlipidemic Drugs
Antihypertensive
Antineoplastic/Anti-Cancer Drugs
Biological Agents/Monoclonal Antibodies
CNS Stimulants
Diuretics
Electrolyte Therapy
Gastrointestinal Drugs
Hormones
Immune Globulins
Inotropic Drugs
Interferons
Interleukins
Immunosuppressants
Mental Health Medications
Muscle Relaxants
Narcotics/Opioids
Neurocognitive Drugs
Neuromuscular Blocking Agent
Ophthalmic
Pulmonary Drugs
Radiocontrast Agents
Steroids
Tocolytics
Vaccines

AUTOMATED MEDICATION DISPENSING SYSTEMS

Accudose
Metro
Omnicell
Promanager Rx
Pyxis
eMAR

ELECTRONIC DOCUMENTATION

Allscripts
Care360
Cerner (Oracle)
CPSI
eCLinicalWorks
Eclipsys
EPIC
MACLAB
McKesson/Paragon
Meditech
PACS
Quadramed
Soarian

AGE-SPECIFIC COMPETENCIES

Newborn/Neonate (birth to 30 days)
Infant (31 days to 12 months)
Toddler (1-3 years)
Preschooler (3-5 years)
School-age children (5-12 years)
Adolescents (12-18 years)
Young adults (18- 39 years)
Middle adults (39- 64 years)
Older adults (64-79 years)
Elderly adults (80+ years)