Wound care nurse practitioners also make a substantial salary and often work in ICUs, changing pressure sore dressings, among other tasks. Career Outlook for Critical Care Nurse Practitioners In general, nurse practitioners are in great demand, and NP jobs are growing at a significantly higher rate than all other occupations. One reason for this high demand is the shortage of physicians in the United States. Nurse practitioners can help fill this void. How to Become a Critical Care Nurse Practitioner After graduating from a nurse practitioner program, candidates must pass the board certification exam for the chosen program and obtain their NP license. Once NPs have their licenses, they may be able to begin working in critical care. However, some positions will require NPs to have relevant certifications. The following nurse practitioner certifications are relevant to critical care: Adult Acute Care Adult-Gerontology Acute Care Pediatric Acute Care Aspiring critical care NPs can also pursue fellowship programs like the one offered by Columbia University Irving Medical Center’s Vagelos College of Physicians &