For registered nurses from abroad looking to move permanently to Australia or looking for a long term contract, nursing recruitment agencies will be able to assist you in the right direction. These agencies assist many ICU nurses from abroad to fulfil their dreams or working and living in Australia. In order to gain employment and nursing registration in Australia, the first step nurses are required to do is register with the Australian Regulation Agency. You can contact the agency if you want to take on locum work or change your career, or move to Australia from abroad or even change your sponsored visa. The services these nursing agencies provide are free as well as confidential at all times.
Most adult ICU in Australia, with a few exceptions are none specialized units that admit patients with a wide range of life threatening surgical and medical conditions which also includes patients with cardiovascular, advanced traumatic and neurological disorder. An exception is paediatric patients, which are mostly cared for in a specialized paediatric intensive care unit. Many ICU nurses participate in postgraduate training, which is not a stipulated requirement. In order to apply for an ICU nurse jobs Australia, nurses are required to have an advanced and broad clinical and theoretical skill base. ICU nurses are responsible for the overall care and management of patients and must be able to use bedside dialysis or respiratory equipment and be able to manipulate and monitor mechanical ventilation, continuous dialysis and hemodynamic therapies.
At the present, registration for nurses in Australia is specific and regional to the territory or state from which licensing has been issued. There is no separate licensing or endorsement required for ICU nurses to practice in Australia. However, nurses from abroad that meet the requirements and have a suitable level of clinical experience and knowledge may apply to work in an ICU setting, following successful registration. Responsibilities in an ICU position require that the nurse be responsible for total patient care, including treatments, medications and orders. An ICU nurse works under the guidance and direction of a head nurse and also assist physicians when performing specialized procedures. An ICU nurse needs to be able to perform the techniques of CPR properly ad accurately, as well as assist in emergency nursing procedures.
ICU nurses are required to be team leaders and be able to follow through efficient skills, provide leadership, and accept responsibilities order by the head nurse as well as be able to evaluate the ICU nursing care provided in a designated area. ICU nurses are also required to keep up to date with new technique as well as maintain a high level of expertise in this field.