HomeLinks Post-graduate Critical Care Nursing Courses
Post-graduate Critical Care Nursing Courses in Australia
Critical Care Nursing in Australia
With few exceptions, most adult Critical Care Units in Australia are non-specialised and admit patients with a wide range of acute life-threatening medical and surgical aetiologies to generalised critical care settings (including those with advanced traumatic, neurological and cardiovascular disorders). Paediatric patients are the major exception to this, being mostly cared for in specialist PICU’s. Whilst not mandatory for practice, many local critical care nurses undertake postgraduate specialist training via collaborative hospital – university programs.
Typically, specialist critical care nurses in Australia assume responsibility for total patient management and care and as the use of bedside respiratory or dialysis technicians is uncommon, this responsibility includes the monitoring and manipulation of mechanical ventilation, haemodynamic and continuous dialytic therapies. For this reason, nurses working in Australian Critical Care Units require a broad and advanced theoretical and clinical skillbase.
Qualifications
There is no separate endorsement or licensing process required for nurses to practice in Australian critical care settings, however overseas nurses with a suitable and equivalent level of clinical knowledge and experience may seek work in critical care settings following the successful acquisition of registration to practice general nursing within Australia. At present, nursing registration in Australia is regional and specific to the State or Territory from which licensing has been granted.
For the website links to Australian and overseas universities that offer post-graduate courses download the document below:
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