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 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. They contribute to exercises, medical evacuation flights, and domestic or international emergencies. During field exercises and deployments to military operations abroad, they live and work in the same environment as the CAF members they treat.

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

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: HSRecruitin

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 depend on each Nursing Officer’s level of previous clinical experience.

• Critical Care Aeromedical Evacuation Specialist;
• Strategic Tactical & Forward Aeromedical Evacuation;
• Mobile Surgical Resuscitation Team;
• Canadian Medical Emergency Response Team;
• Certified Clinical Anesthesia Assistant;
• Nurse Practitioner; and
• Special Forces support.

Reserve Force Critical Care Nursing Officers are trained to the same level as their Regular Force counterparts. Your civilian experience must reflect employment in a critical care environment. If unsure, contact a Canadian Forces Health Services Recruiter: HSRecruitin

Medical Officer (CCFP(EM));
Physician Assistant;
Nursing Officer

• Entry level

• Full-time

• Health Care Provider