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Acute Care Nurse

An Acute Care Nurse delivers advanced care in hospitals, performs assessments, collaborates with teams, and makes quick, analytical decisions.

How do I become a acute care nurse

Get qualified to work as a acute care nurse with a course recognised across Australia. Speak to a training provider to learn more.

Common questions

In Australia, a full time Acute Care Nurse generally earns $1,820 per week ($94,640 annual salary) before tax. This is a median figure for full-time employees and should be considered a guide only. As you gain more experience you can expect a potentially higher salary than people who are new to the industry.

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The number of people working in this field has grown strongly over the last five years. There are currently 298,400 people working in nursing in Australia and many of them specialise as an Acute Care Nurse. Acute Care Nurses may find work across all regions of Australia.

Source: Australian Government Labour Market Insights

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If you’re interested in a career as an Acute Care Nurse, consider enrolling in an Advanced Diploma of Nursing (Acute Care). This course will give you the skills to perform advanced clinical assessments and nurse patients with acute health conditions including diabetes and respiratory illnesses. You’ll develop your knowledge of rehabilitation care, cardiovascular care, paediatric nursing and palliative care.

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Further reading

What can you do with a Diploma of Nursing?

2nd February 2021

Why is Nursing a Good Career Choice in Australia?

25th November 2022

Career Pathways for Graduates After Studying a Diploma of Nursing and a Bachelor of Nursing

4th October 2024

Acute Care Nurse careers

An Acute Care Nurse provides advanced nursing care to patients in a hospital or other specialist health care facility. You might work in an emergency department, an intensive care unit or work with patients who are recovering from surgical procedures. Acute Care Nurses might perform clinical assessments and liaise with other health care professionals.

Acute Care Nurses should have excellent observational abilities and strong attention to detail. Interpersonal skills are important and you’ll need to be able to work as part of a team. Acute Care Nurses should be good communicators and must be able to follow correct procedures. You’ll need to be able to use your analytical skills and make important decisions quickly.