Critical Care Nursing - Subspecialities

Subspecialities

Subspecialities of critical care nursing include such areas as Neonatal Intensive Care (or NICU, also called Nursery ICU), Pediatric Intensive Care (or PICU), and Adult Intensive Care (or ICU). The patient population of these units is generally based on the age of the patient.

Further specialties of care can be found based on the disorder, disease or primary injury of the patient population. For example, a unit that is an Adult Intensive care unit, specialized in the care of trauma patients would be an Adult Trauma Intensive Care Unit. The focus of the unit is generally on either an adult or a pediatric/neonatal population, as the treatment methods differ for the age ranges.