Gateway to Critical Care Program at Penn Medicine
The Gateway to Critical Care Program provides an opportunity for both new-to-practice nurses, as well as registered nurses who do not have critical care experience, to develop the skills necessary to deliver safe and competent critical care.
Participants in the program work with experienced critical care nurse preceptors and follow a structured educational plan that outlines and defines competency expectation, patient assignment and preceptor/learner responsibilities.
The 16- to 20-week program consists of classroom instruction, clinician-supervised skill labs in state-of-the-art clinical labs, and 11 to 14 weeks of structured clinical experiences at staged levels. Nurses gain the basic knowledge and skills necessary to care for critically ill patients through lecture, discussion, self-learning modules, simulation and clinical experience.
Core Competencies
The major core competencies are:
- Airway and ventilator management
- Cardiac monitoring
- Critical care pharmacology
- Hemodynamic monitoring
- Arterial blood gases analysis, acid-based balance
- Pain, sedation, neuromuscular blockade
- End-of-life care
- Patient and family education
The Department of Nursing Development and Education partners with clinical nurse managers, educators and preceptors to support and assist nurses through the completion of the program.
Eligibility Criteria
The Gateway to Critical Care program at Penn Medicine is offered four times annually. Postings for nursing positions are available under job opportunities. Nurses who meet the following criteria are eligible for the Gateway to Critical Care Program at Penn Medicine:
- Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) degree from an accredited institution
- Valid Pennsylvania RN licensure prior to hire date
- A passion to be a nurse in a critical care environment
Program Locations
The Gateway to the Critical Care Program is available at: