Critical Care Nursing Officer

Overview

As a member of the military, Critical Care Nursing Officers provide care in the critical care domain of practice to ill and injured Canadian Armed Forces (CAF) members and supported populations in in-patient care and medical evacuation environments while on operation. They are specialized in intensive care, emergency room and trauma resuscitation.

Critical Care Nursing Officers work within a collaborative practice model with other members of the health care team and lead the nursing care delivery within their area of practice. Critical Care Nursing Officers have the opportunity to work in different domains of nursing practice including :

• Patient care delivery;
• Policy and program management;
• Clinical leadership; and
• Training and education

Work environment

Critical Care Nursing Officers usually work in civilian hospitals, Aeromedical Evacuation units, Operational CAF units, training and education establishments, and Headquarters. The work schedule may vary from shift work to a regular 40-hour work week, depending on the environment. Critical Care Nursing Officers are called to contribute to exercises, medical evacuation flights, and domestic or international emergencies.

During field exercises and deployments to military operations abroad, Critical Care Nursing Officers live and work in the same environment as the CAF members they treat.

If you chose a career in the Regular Force, upon completion of all required training, you will be assigned to your first base. While there is some flexibility with regards to postings (relocations), accommodations can’t always be made, and therefore, you can likely expect to move at some point in your career. However, if you decide to join the Primary Reserve Force, you will do so through a specific Reserve unit. Outside of training, your chosen Reserve unit will be your workplace on a part time basis, and you will not be obligated to relocate to a different base. As part of the Primary Reserve Force, you typically work one night per week and some weekends as a minimum with possibilities of full-time employment.

Entry plans

In-Service Selection

Nursing Officers who joined the occupation through any entry plan have the opportunity, upon selection, to further specialize as a Critical Care Nursing Officer and progress in jobs, domains of practice and ranks of increasing responsibility.

Direct Entry

If you already have a university degree and license to practice as a Registered Nurse in a Canadian province or territory and civilian nursing experience in a critical care environment, the CAF may place you directly into a Critical Care Nursing Officer job after evaluation of your experience. You may have to complete some education and certification to complement your civilian experience.

For further information, please contact a Canadian Forces Health Services Recruiter : HSRecruiting-RecrutementSS@forces.gc.ca .

Training

After completing the Rank Qualification Lieutenant training, Nursing Officers selected for specialization or who have civilian experience within a critical care environment are required to complete a formal critical care nursing course and a certification to ensure they have the clinical competencies required to deliver nursing care in a critical care setting. The certification is completed in a Canadian civilian tertiary care facility through completion of a designated curriculum. The course completion and length of the certification depends on each Nursing Officer’s level of previous clinical experience.

Critical Care Nursing Officer may be offered the opportunity to develop specialized skills through formal courses and certification, including :

Part time options

Reserve Force Critical Care Nursing Officers are trained to the same level as their Regular Force counterparts. Your civilian experience will have to reflect an employment in a critical care environment (i.e., intensive care unit, emergency room and resuscitation). If you are unsure about your civilian experience matching the job requirements, please contact a Canadian Forces Health Services Recruiter : HSRecruiting-RecrutementSS@forces.gc.ca.

Related Careers

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