[hen-ui-dynamic-experience placement=”aboveTheFold” /][hen-ui-text variant=”b4″]Nurses help save lives in the emergency room (ER) and intensive care unit (ICU), but the environment and responsibilities differ.[/hen-ui-text][hen-ui-text variant=”b4″]While ER nurses stabilize patients, ICU nurses work to treat and transfer critically ill patients to step-down units. ICU patients often require more specialized care than ER patients.[/hen-ui-text][hen-ui-text variant=”b4″]Find out the differences and similarities between ER nurses vs. ICU nurses. Learn about average salaries, day-to-day responsibilities, settings, and educational requirements in this guide.[/hen-ui-text][hen-ui-heading variant=”h2″]ER Nurse and ICU Nurse Key Similarities and Differences[/hen-ui-heading][hen-ui-grid columns-md=”2″ gap=”md”] [hen-ui-card variant=”background-secondary” border=”shadow” rounded=”lg” padding=”lg”] [hen-ui-card-content] [hen-ui-heading variant=”h3″ align=”center”]What is an ICU Nurse?[/hen-ui-heading][hen-ui-text variant=”b4″]If you work in the structured environment of an ICU, you care for high acuity patients with complex life-threatening conditions that require round-the-clock monitoring. Medically fragile patients on ventilators and other life support rely on you as an ICU nurse.[/hen-ui-text][hen-ui-text variant=”b4″]You can get certified in critical care after getting experience in ICU units, cardiac care units, or in critical care transport. The [hen-ui-link href=”https://www.aacn.org/” target=”_blank”]American Association of Critical Care Nurses[/hen-ui-link] certifies RNs in the specialty areas of adult gerontology, neonatal, and pediatrics.[/hen-ui-text] [/hen-ui-card-content][/hen-ui-card][/hen-ui-grid][hen-ui-text variant=”b4″]ICU and ER nurses both work on medical teams to save lives in settings that require critical thinking skills and sound judgment. You need solid teamwork skills to function in ER departments and ICU units — two settings that function at different speeds.[/hen-ui-text][hen-ui-text variant=”b4″]An ER department is often fast-paced and occasionally slow. ICU nurses have organized shifts in environments where patients are critically ill and need a high-level of constant care.[/hen-ui-text][hen-ui-table][hen-ui-table-caption]Comparison of ER Nurses and ICU Nurses[/hen-ui-table-caption][hen-ui-table-header][hen-ui-table-row][hen-ui-table-head scope=”col”][/hen-ui-table-head][hen-ui-table-head scope=”col”]ER Nurse[/hen-ui-table-head][hen-ui-table-head scope=”col”]ICU Nurse[/hen-ui-table-head][/hen-ui-table-row][/hen-ui-table-header][hen-ui-table-body][hen-ui-table-row][hen-ui-table-head scope=”col”]Degree Required[/hen-ui-table-head][hen-ui-table-cell]ADN or BSN[/hen-ui-table-cell][hen-ui-table-cell data-title=”ER Nurse”]ADN or BSN[/hen-ui-table-cell][/hen-ui-table-row][hen-ui-table-row][hen-ui-table-head scope=”col”]Certification Options[/hen-ui-table-head][hen-ui-table-cell]Certified Emergency Nurse, Certified Flight Registered Nurses, Certified Pediatric Emergency Nurse, Certified Transport Registered Nurse, Trauma Certified Registered Nurse, and Certified Burn Registered Nurse[/hen-ui-table-cell][hen-ui-table-cell data-title=”ER Nurse”]Acute/Critical Care Nursing (Adult, (Pediatric, or Neonatal), Acute/Critical Care Knowledge Professional (Adult, Pediatric, or Neonatal), TelelCU Acute/Critical Care Nursing (Adult), Progressive Care Nursing (Adult), Progressive Care Knowledge professional (Adult), Cardiac Medicine (Adult), cardiac Surgery (Adult), Acute Care NP (Adult-Gerontology), CNS Wellness through Acute Care (Adult, Pediatric, or Neonatal)[/hen-ui-table-cell][/hen-ui-table-row][hen-ui-table-row][hen-ui-table-head scope=”col”]Duties and Responsibilities[/hen-ui-table-head][hen-ui-table-cell]Triage patients as they arrive in the emergency room. ER nurses prioritize treatment of patients based on life-threatening conditions.[/hen-ui-table-cell][hen-ui-table-cell data-title=”ER Nurse”]Cares for critically ill, high-acuity patients. ICU nurses monitor a patient’s condition and respond immediately to any changes. The goal in an ICU unit is to improve a patient’s condition and transfer them to a down unit.[/hen-ui-table-cell][/hen-ui-table-row][hen-ui-table-row][hen-ui-table-head scope=”col”]Average Annual Salary (March 2023)[/hen-ui-table-head][hen-ui-table-cell]$74,905[/hen-ui-table-cell][hen-ui-table-cell data-title=”ER Nurse”]$74,920[/hen-ui-table-cell][/hen-ui-table-row][/hen-ui-table-body][/hen-ui-table][hen-ui-flex gap=”xl” align=”left” direction=”column”][hen-ui-flex gap=”xs” align=”left” direction=”column”][hen-ui-heading variant=”h2″]Featured Online RN-to-BSN in Nursing Programs[/hen-ui-heading][hen-ui-text variant=”b4″ color=”subtext”]Learn about start dates, transferring credits, availability of financial aid, and more by contacting the universities below.[/hen-ui-text][/hen-ui-flex][hen-ui-dynamic-experience placement=”belowTheFold” /][/hen-ui-flex][hen-ui-heading variant=”h2″]Duties and Responsibilities[/hen-ui-heading][hen-ui-text variant=”b4″]While ER and ICU nurses work in different units of a hospital, many of their responsibilities overlap. For example, both ER and ICU nurses educate patients, families, and caregivers and treat patients with serious conditions.[/hen-ui-text][hen-ui-grid columns-md=”2″ gap=”md”] [hen-ui-card variant=”background-secondary” border=”shadow” rounded=”lg” padding=”lg”] [hen-ui-card-content] [hen-ui-heading variant=”h3″ align=”center”]What Does an ICU Nurse Do?[/hen-ui-heading][hen-ui-text variant=”b4″]Once stabilized, some patients are admitted into the ICU, a highly-structured and closely monitored environment. ICU nurses work in ICU units, step-down units, and TeleICU.[/hen-ui-text][hen-ui-text variant=”b4″][hen-ui-link href=”/careers/critical-care-nurse/”]ICU nurses[/hen-ui-link] help patients with critical illnesses who require specialized care. They help maintain a healing and calm environment for patients and their families. Patients in the ICU may have advanced respiratory and organ impairment that requires invasive treatment to stay alive. ICU nurses monitor and provide direct care to patients who are intubated, on ventilator support, and have intravenous drips.[/hen-ui-text][hen-ui-list variant=”unordered” bullet-style=”bullet”] [hen-ui-list-item][hen-ui-text variant=”b4″]ICU nurses monitor and evaluate patients.[/hen-ui-text][/hen-ui-list-item] [hen-ui-list-item][hen-ui-text variant=”b4″]ICU nurses administer treatments and identify any changes to a patient’s condition. When a patient has improved, they handle the paperwork to make a transfer to a step-down unit.[/hen-ui-text][/hen-ui-list-item] [hen-ui-list-item][hen-ui-text variant=”b4″]ICU nurses must be highly organized, compassionate, and have an acute attention to detail.[/hen-ui-text][/hen-ui-list-item][/hen-ui-list] [/hen-ui-card-content][/hen-ui-card][/hen-ui-grid][hen-ui-heading variant=”h2″]Education and Certification[/hen-ui-heading][hen-ui-text variant=”b4″]You need an RN license and the clinical experience to become an ER or ICU nurse. ER and ICU nurses begin their nursing careers by earning either an [hen-ui-link href=”/degrees/adn/”]ADN[/hen-ui-link] or a [hen-ui-link href=”/degrees/bsn/”]BSN[/hen-ui-link]. In order to take the NCLEX-RN — which qualifies you for [hen-ui-link href=”/registered-nursing/rn-licensing-requirements-by-state/”]licensure in your state[/hen-ui-link] —you need to graduate from an accredited program.[/hen-ui-text][hen-ui-grid columns-md=”2″ gap=”md”] [hen-ui-card variant=”background-secondary” border=”shadow” rounded=”lg” padding=”lg”] [hen-ui-card-content] [hen-ui-heading variant=”h3″ align=”center”]How to Become an ICU Nurse[/hen-ui-heading][hen-ui-text variant=”b4″]ICU nurses, also called [hen-ui-link href=”/careers/critical-care-nurse/how-to-become/”]critical care nurses[/hen-ui-link], have RN licenses in their respective states. They obtain licensure by either completing an accredited ADN or BSN degree. Hospital employers may prefer BSN degrees, which also allows RNs to more easily advance in their careers and earn an MSN.[/hen-ui-text][hen-ui-text variant=”b4″]Education is not the only way to advance in nursing. Nurses can progress professionally and pursue salary increases after receiving certifications. Experienced ICU nurses can get certified by the [hen-ui-link href=”https://www.aacn.org/” target=”_blank”]American Association of Critical Care Nurses[/hen-ui-link] (AACN).[/hen-ui-text][hen-ui-text variant=”b4″]The AACN’s certified acute or critical-care nurse adult certification recognizes ICU nurses with 1,750 hours of experience helping critically ill adult patients.[/hen-ui-text][hen-ui-text variant=”b4″]You can also get certified in teleICU acute and critical care nursing or become an acute critical care knowledge professional if you’re not working in direct patient care.[/hen-ui-text] [/hen-ui-card-content][/hen-ui-card][/hen-ui-grid][hen-ui-heading variant=”h2″]Salary and Career Outlook[/hen-ui-heading][hen-ui-text variant=”b4″]On average, ICU nurses and ER nurses earn comparative salaries of about $75,000 a year or $34 an hour. The highest earning ICU and ER nurses earn more than $100,000 a year.[/hen-ui-text][hen-ui-grid columns-md=”2″ gap=”md”] [/hen-ui-grid][hen-ui-heading variant=”h2″]ER Nurse vs. ICU Nurse: Which Career is Right For Me?[/hen-ui-heading][hen-ui-text variant=”b4″]If you compare ER nurses vs. ICU nurses, you’ll find many similarities. Both work in direct patient care in a high-pressure environment. If you hold an ADN or a BSN degree, you can choose from either career. ICU nurses with specialized nursing knowledge earn more than ER nurses since ICU patients. However, salary differences are nominal.[/hen-ui-text][hen-ui-text variant=”b4″].In an emergency department, you need to provide immediate care to patients and keep your composure. ICU nurses provide a higher level of care to critically ill patients in a structured environment. Evaluate your preferences and career goals when deciding which nursing speciality is right for you.[/hen-ui-text][hen-ui-heading variant=”h2″]Related Pages[/hen-ui-heading] [hen-ui-article-row variant=”slider” ids=”70397,70310,34520″][/hen-ui-article-row][hen-ui-separator /][hen-ui-text variant=”b4″ tag=”em”]Page Last Reviewed April 27, 2023[/hen-ui-text]