ICCU Nurse
OR
Last updated on 20 Nov 2025
Overview
ICCU Nurses provide specialized care in the Intensive Coronary Care Unit, offering critical support to patients with heart conditions, administering treatments, and closely monitoring cardiac health to ensure optimal recovery and well-being within healthcare facilities.
Job Description
- Provide specialized nursing care for patients in the ICCU, focusing on those with critical cardiac conditions
- Monitor and assess patients' conditions, including vital signs, cardiac rhythms, and overall health status
- Administer medications and treatments as prescribed by physicians, ensuring accurate documentation and adherence to protocols
- Collaborate with interdisciplinary teams to develop and implement comprehensive care plans tailored to individual patient needs
- Respond promptly to changes in patients' conditions, utilizing critical thinking and advanced assessment skills
- Educate patients and families on post
- care plans, medications, and lifestyle modifications for cardiac health
- Maintain a sterile and safe environment, adhering to infection control policies and procedures
Key Skills for this Job Role
Stress Management
Documentation
Infection Control
Ventilator Management
Emergency Response
Patient and Family Support
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FAQS
What are the primary responsibilities of an ICCU Nurse?
An ICCU Nurse provides specialized critical care to patients with acute cardiac conditions such as myocardial infarction, arrhythmias, heart failure, post-angioplasty recovery, and cardiac arrest. Responsibilities include continuous ECG monitoring, titration of cardiac medications, maintaining hemodynamic stability, assisting in emergency cardiac procedures, and responding rapidly to rhythm disturbances. ICCU Nurses ensure strict adherence to cardiac protocols, support ventilated or unstable patients, manage invasive lines, perform rapid assessments, and collaborate closely with cardiologists and cardiac intensivists to stabilize patients and prevent complications.
How do you ensure safe cardiac care for critically ill ICCU patients?
Safe care is ensured through continuous cardiac rhythm surveillance, timely recognition of life-threatening arrhythmias, close monitoring of hemodynamic parameters, and precise administration of cardiac medications like inotropes, antiarrhythmics, and anticoagulants. ICCU Nurses strictly follow MI management protocols, ensure early escalation during deterioration, conduct structured handovers, and apply cardiac bundles such as preventing post-MI complications. Maintaining clear documentation, infection control, and ensuring accurate IV line management are essential to patient safety.
How do you manage a patient showing new-onset arrhythmia in the ICCU?
The nurse performs an immediate assessment of consciousness, airway, breathing, and circulation while reviewing the ECG strip for rhythm type. Vital signs are checked promptly, oxygen is administered if required, and IV access is ensured. The medical team is notified urgently, and the nurse prepares emergency equipment such as defibrillators and crash carts. Continuous monitoring, medication preparation (such as amiodarone), and readiness for synchronized cardioversion are critical components of safe arrhythmia management.
How do you manage cardiac patients receiving inotropes or vasopressor infusions?
Inotropes like dobutamine or vasopressors like norepinephrine require strict titration and continuous monitoring. The nurse ensures proper central line access, verifies drug concentration and compatibility, and uses infusion pumps with accurate calibration. Hemodynamic parameters such as heart rate, blood pressure, urine output, and peripheral perfusion are closely monitored. Dose adjustments are documented, and any instability is escalated to the cardiologist immediately.
How do you respond to a post-MI patient developing chest pain again?
The nurse immediately reassesses the patient’s vitals, attaches ECG leads for a repeat tracing, provides supplemental oxygen, and evaluates for signs of hemodynamic distress. The cardiology team is alerted urgently, and emergency protocols for reinfarction or ischemia are prepared. The nurse also ensures IV access readiness, prepares medications like nitrates or antiplatelets as per orders, and maintains continuous monitoring until the patient stabilizes or advanced intervention is initiated.
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FAQS
What qualifications are required to work as an ICCU nurse?
To work as an ICCU Nurse, candidates must have completed GNM, BSc Nursing, or Post Basic BSc Nursing and must hold a valid State Nursing Council registration. These qualifications provide a foundation in clinical care, pharmacology, and patient assessment. ICCU Nurses must be capable of interpreting ECGs, monitoring critically ill cardiac patients, assisting during cardiac emergencies, and managing high-risk cardiac medications. Hospitals prefer nurses who possess strong skills in hemodynamic assessment, rhythm interpretation, and emergency cardiac care procedures.
Is cardiac critical care training necessary for ICCU nurses?
Cardiac critical care training is not mandatory but is extremely valuable and often preferred. Certifications such as Cardiac Nursing, Advanced Cardiac Life Support (ACLS), ECG Interpretation, Critical Care Nursing, and courses in cardiac emergencies significantly enhance competence. Such training prepares nurses to manage post-MI patients, ventilated cardiac cases, arrhythmias, and hemodynamic instability. Nurses with advanced cardiac care skills are prioritized in ICCUs, cath lab recovery areas, and cardiac step-down units.
What is the salary of an ICCU nurse in India?
ICCU Nurses in India generally earn ₹3,00,000–₹6,60,000 per year, depending on hospital type, experience, and clinical skill level. Cardiac multispecialty hospitals and tertiary cardiac centres often offer higher salaries as ICCU Nurses handle high-risk patients and emergency cardiac interventions. Additional allowances may also apply for night duty, critical care roles, and advanced cardiac certifications.
Are there ICCU nurse job openings in cardiac hospitals?
Yes, cardiac hospitals, heart institutes, and multispecialty hospitals frequently hire ICCU Nurses due to the rising number of cardiac cases, including heart attacks, post-angioplasty patients, heart failure, and arrhythmias. ICCU, CCU, cath lab recovery units, and cardiac emergency departments consistently require skilled cardiac nurses. Job openings appear on hospital websites, nursing job portals, and specialized cardiac healthcare recruitment platforms.
What experience is preferred for ICCU nursing roles?
Most hospitals prefer candidates with 1–3 years of experience in critical care, ICCU, CCU, emergency, or step-down cardiac units. Experience in managing cardiac monitors, arrhythmias, inotropic infusions, post-MI care, oxygen therapy, and hemodynamic instability is highly valued. Nurses with experience in ventilator care, CPR response, and interdisciplinary coordination with cardiologists are ideal for high-acuity cardiac units.
Average Salary among Countries
| Country | Min. Salary Per Month | Max. Salary Per Month |
|---|---|---|
| United States of America | USD 55000 | USD 88000 |
| United Kingdom | GBP 25000 | GBP 36000 |
| United Arab Emirates | AED 70000 | AED 120000 |
| Canada | CAD 48000 | CAD 75000 |
| Australia | AUD 65000 | AUD 92000 |
| India | INR 300000 | INR 600000 |
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