If you’re a critical care nurse (or are interested in becoming one), at some point you will probably hear the physicians you work with referred to as intensivists. If you’re like me, the first time you hear that word you will have some questions, the biggest being: What is an intensivist?
What is an Intensivist? What kind of doctor is an Intensivist?
Though the term sounds very fancy, an intensivist is simply a provider who specializes in critically ill patients. Umass Memorial Medical Center has a great description. They state:
An intensivist is a board-certified physician who provides special care for critically ill patients. Also known as a critical care physician, the intensivist has advanced training and experience in treating this complex type of patient.
Unlike other types of specialty physicians (for example cardiologists or pulmonologists), intensivists do not specialize in one body system. Rather, they look at the patient as a whole and assess how different body systems are interacting in a critically ill patient. They coordinate and direct care for patients with multi-system organ dysfunction, cancers, traumatic injuries, blood disorders, and so much more. They are also trained in emergency procedures, including (but definitely not limited to):
- Chest tube insertions
- Intubation (breathing tube insertions)
- Cardiac arrest or CODE situations
- Line insertions (such as arterial lines, ECMO catheter placement)
- Tracheostomy tube insertion
- Pharmacology and complex medication management (think actively adding, removing, and titrating drips to ensure patient stability)
Intensivists also have to be emotionally intelligent and often deal with death and dying, psychosocial issues, and family dynamics. Intensivists are also known as critical care physicians or critical care specialists, as their area of expertise is critical care medicine. Nurse practitioners who specialize in critical care often work closely with intensivists and are trained in many of the same procedures listed above.
If you are a nurse and interested in the role of an intensivist, I would highly recommend working in an ICU and aiming to specialize in critical care medicine as a nurse practitioner. You can learn more about what it means to be a Critical Care Nurse Practitioner HERE.
Where does an intensivist work?
According to the American College of Physicians, physicians have an option to specialize in critical care medicine (and therefore become intensivists) in a variety of different ways. Intensivists complete a residency in internal medicine followed by a three-year fellowship in pulmonary / critical care medicine. If you’re reading this and you’re interested in becoming an intensivist, Eddyjoemd (an intensivist himself) has a great article on this.
After completion of their medical school training, you will often find these providers in a hospital setting – more specifically in Intensive Care Units (otherwise known as ICUs).
A 2019 study by the National Library of Medicine found that 52% of US acute care hospitals had intensivists in place. The American Hospital Assocation states
The mortality rate for intensive care units with intensivist staffing is 6 percent, compared to 14.4 percent where attending physicians provide ICU care.
What is the salary of an Intensivist?
As with our jobs as nurses, the salary of an intensivist varies widely based on location. According to doctor-salaries.com (I know, it’s a weird website, but it has some great information):
The average salary for critical care physicians working in the United States is $258,750 a year according to the recruitment agency Profiles, $215,000 a year according to ValueMD.com, $264,750 a year according to the recruitment firm MD & DDS Resources, $280,980 a year according to Salary.com, and $268,000 a year according to the Critical Care Physician Compensation Report: 2013, released by Medscape.
The average annual salary for intensivists including bonus earnings, as reported by Salary.com, is $292,707 a year. 10% of the best paid critical care physicians earn $396,164 or more annually, and the 10% on the lower end of the pay scale are paid up to $223,592 a year. The middle 50% report an annual income in the range from $256,529 to $396,164. Critical care medicine specialists are paid $11,727 a year on average in bonus money according to Salary.com’s data.
What is an intensivist vs a hospitalist?
While intensivists specialize in managing critically ill patients, hospitalists specialize in the care of any patient in a hospital setting. Hospitalists are also physicians, however they are considered internal medicine generalists. They are able to treat a wide variety of conditions. When it comes to critically ill patients, an intensivist would likely be consulted.
To put it into context, if you are a patient on a medical/surgical or telemetry floor, you will likely be seen by a hospitalist (and any other necessary specialists like endocrinologists, cardiologists, nephrologists, etc). If you are a patient in an ICU, you will likely be seen by an intensivist instead.
As a nurse who has worked closely with intensivists, I can say that they are the absolute best. They are so knowledgeable, able to handle emergency situations with ease, and are highly capable of balancing several life-threatening complexities in the critically ill population. I hope this helps you understand what an intensivist is. This is great to know since you will work so closely with them as an ICU nurse!
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