Travel Trauma ICU Nurse Salary Guide

You must complete an approved nursing education program to work as a trauma ICU nurse. Each program has its own graduation requirements, but you should expect a combination of classroom learning and clinical experiences.

Before starting work as a nurse, you must pass the National Council Licensure Examination (NCLEX) and obtain a license from your state board of nursing. Nurse licensure requirements vary, but applicants usually must pay a fee, undergo a criminal background check and submit proof of education. According to Western Governors University, many hospitals require two years of nursing experience to work in intensive care.

What credentials/licensing does a trauma ICU nurse require?

Trauma ICU nurses must obtain Basic Life Support (BLS) and Advanced Cardiac Life Support (ACLS) certifications. Obtaining additional professional certifications shows you’re dedicated to providing the best patient care and committed to your career. Earning Certification in Acute/Critical Care Nursing (CCRN) through the American Association of Critical-Care Nurses or the Trauma Certified Registered Nurse (TCRN) credential offered by the Board of Certification for Emergency Nursing (BCEN) may help you earn raises and promotions. You can sit for the CCRN exam after completing 1,750 hours of RN practice in the direct care of critically or acutely ill adult, pediatric or neonatal patients, based on your specialty, over the past two years or 2,000 hours over the past five years. The TCRN exam requires that you have an active, unrestricted RN license. The BCEN also recommends that you have at least 2 years of experience in trauma nursing, but it's not required.