ICU vs. ER Nursing: What’s the Difference?
Considering ICU vs. ER nursing? While both specialties are a great choice for nurses looking to build their critical thinking and care skills, they’re very different and suited to distinct personality types. Learn more about the work environment, job responsibilities, and salaries for these nursing specialties.
An emergency room (ER), also called an emergency department, is an entry point to the hospital. Patients come in with mild, moderate, and critical injuries and illnesses, are triaged, and receive acute treatments. It’s typical for patients to spend about two hours and 40 minutes per visit in the ER, and the priority is efficiency.
Patients who are acutely ill and require more intensive, long-term care transition from the ER to the intensive care unit (ICU). Here, the care team specializes in caring for medically fragile, unstable patients. Some ICUs specialize in injuries and surgical recovery (STICUs), while others treat pediatric patients (PICUs), and others see general medical patients (MICUs).
ER Nurse vs. ICU Nurse Responsibilities
These two nursing specialties see different types of patients and have very different day-to-day rhythms and responsibilities. Check out our table contrasting the two:
| ER Nurse Job Responsibilities | ICU Nurse Job Responsibilities |
|---|---|
|
|
While these roles are quite different, they also overlap in some key areas. Both of these specialties require a high level of critical thinking, responsiveness, and skill. Whether you choose ER or ICU nursing, you can expect to manage the following tasks:
- Patient assessments
- Blood draws
- Foley catheter insertion
- Documentation
- Interprofessional communication
- Emergency medication administration
- Blood product administration
- Family and patient education
- Responding to medical emergencies
Which Is a Better Fit For You? ICU vs. ER
Personality traits might help determine which specialty you’re best suited for. Every nurse is different, and the qualities below won’t apply to every nurse in each specialty. But in general, these are some of the personality traits that are associated with ICU and ER nurses:
| ICU — Type A | ER — Type B |
|---|---|
| Meticulous
Prefer order Introverted Focused |
Flexible
Thrive in chaos Extroverted Multitasking |
ICU vs. ER Nurse Salary Averages
Who gets paid more, an ER nurse or an ICU nurse? On average, ICU nurses earn around $91,000 per year, while ER nurses earn an average of $85,000 per year. While ICU nurses might come out on top in this category, there are several things you can do to increase your income in whatever specialty you prefer. Pursuing more responsibilities, certifications, and experiences can help you earn more as a nurse.
Open to relocation? Check out nursing roles in the states with the highest average income for RNs:
To find out what you might earn in your location, check out the latest ER jobs and ICU jobs.
ER vs. ICU Nurse Job Requirements and Certifications
The role necessities and certifications for these areas are fairly similar, and it’s generally not difficult to switch between roles if you’re curious about them. Note that both RNs and LPNs can work in either area, but their roles and responsibilities will differ because LPNs have a different scope of practice than RNs. Additionally, for competitive RN roles, some facilities prefer a Bachelor of Science (BSN) rather than an Associate Degree in Nursing (ADN).
| Qualification | ICU Nursing | ER Nursing |
|---|---|---|
| RN or LPN license | ✔ | ✔ |
| 1–2 years of nursing experience or nurse residency program | ✔ | ✔ |
| Basic Life Support (BLS) | ✔ | ✔ |
| Advanced Cardiac Life Support (ACLS) or Pediatric Advanced Life Support (PALS), typically within a year of hire | ✔ | ✔ |
| Possible requirement: Critical Care Registered Nurse (CCRN) certification | ✔ | ✔ |
| Possible requirement: Certified Emergency Nurse (CEN) certification | ✔ | |
| Possible requirement: Trauma Nursing Core Course (TNCC) certification | ✔ |
ER vs. ICU FAQ
Is ICU higher than ER?
Neither specialty is more prestigious than the other — both have their challenges and require strong nursing skills. ICU nurses are generally regarded as organized and thorough, while ER nurses are quick on their feet and adept at managing a broad range of patients. These contrasting skill sets make both nursing specialties an essential part of healthcare.
Is ER considered critical care?
It depends on who you ask, but ER certainly can be considered critical care. ER nurses may manage patients who have critical, life-threatening illnesses. They may also see patients with mild or moderate issues, such as fevers, infections, broken bones, and minor injuries.
Is the ER considered inpatient?
The ER itself isn’t considered an inpatient unit, but it is an entry point to acute care services. Patients who require ongoing management will be admitted into inpatient wards, such as the ICU, med-surg, labor and delivery, etc. Of all ER visits, 11.5% result in a hospital admission, while the rest are discharged.
Find Emergency and Critical Care Roles Here
When it comes to ICU vs. ER nursing roles, you can discover either one with IntelyCare. We make finding your next nursing job easier. Learn about our personalized job notifications that will alert you to opportunities that fit your needs.