Position overview
Nurses at this level provide a competent and safe level of nursing care commensurate with experience to patients within ACT Health. The activities required of roles at this level are predominately clinical in nature. Nurses at this level accept accountability for their own practice standards, activities delegated to others and the guidance and development of less experienced staff.
We have an exciting opportunity for registered nurses with no prior emergency experience, to join ED, as permanent members of staff and be supported in a 12 month Fundamentals of Emergency Nursing Program. Intakes will commence in Aug 2025 with further intakes throughout the year.
You will be assisted by a team of highly experienced emergency staff, as you adjust to the interesting and fast paced environment. Your 12 months will consist of orientation, supported supervised practice, study days and more while you progress through the different areas of ED. Many of these study days include you gaining new knowledge in mental health, paediatric care, and advanced clinical and leadership skills. After the program, there are opportunities for you to also partner with our affiliated tertiary organisations for Post graduate studies in Emergency Nursing.
If you are interested in expanding your clinical and assessment skills, within a supportive multi-disciplinary team in a fast-paced environment, we encourage you to apply.
Key Responsibilities
Specific responsibilities include, but are not limited to, the following.
- Provide direct patient care within an ethical and professional framework.
- Practice in accordance with the relevant legislation.
- Practice in a way that acknowledges the dignity, culture, values, beliefs & rights of individuals & or groups.
- Advocate for individuals & or groups & their rights for nursing care within the organisational & management structure.
- Understand & practice within own scope of practice.
- Integrate nursing & health care knowledge, skills & attitudes to provide safe & effective nursing care.
- Integrate organisational policy & guidelines with professional standards.
- Undertake other duties appropriate to this level of classification which contribute to the operation of the organisation.
Competencies
Specific responsibilities include but are not limited to the following.
- Ability to work independently and as part of a multidisciplinary team
- Adaptability and flexibility to accommodate change and provide responsive services to meet clients’ needs
- High Level communication skills and the ability to critically think
Qualifications
Essential
- Relevant Tertiary Nursing qualifications.
- Registered or eligible for registration with the Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency (AHPRA).
Desirable
- Have an understanding of how the National Safety and Quality Health Service (NSQHS) indicators align with this role.
Experience
Essential
- One years’ work experience as a registered nurse.
Desirable
- Experience or knowledge of the CHS Exceptional Care Framework, Clinical Governance Framework, Partnering With Consumers Framework and all other related frameworks.
Prior to commencement
Appointment to this position is conditional on being granted and retaining appropriate clearances:
- Pre-employment National Police Check.
- Comply with Canberra Health Services Occupational Assessment, Screening and Vaccination policy.
Important information
All employees are required to:
- Adhere to the Canberra Health Services Values and the ACT Public Service Code of Conduct
- Act in accordance and comply with all relevant Safety and Quality policies and procedures.
- Comply with all relevant clinical and/or competency standards.
- Be available for weekend and/or after-hours work.
CHS is leading the drive to digitally transform health service delivery in Australia through the implementation of a territory wide Digital Health Record. Computer literacy skills are required which are relevant to this role as you will be responsible for completing required documentation and becoming a proficient user of the Digital Health Record and/or other Information Technology systems; once proficient, you will need to remain current with changes, updates, and contingencies.
What you Require (Key Selection Criteria)
These are the key selection criteria for how you will be assessed in conjunction with your resumé and experience.
- Proven commitment and competency in the provision of nursing care that promotes best professional practice and improved health outcomes within a multidisciplinary team.
- Evidence of flexibility and skills to provide a high standard of care within a range of disciplines.
- Knowledge and understanding of the National Safety and Quality Health Services Standards and Quality Improvement processes and the ability to reflect on practice.
- Proven commitment to professional development, including professional and organisational standards.
- Demonstrates understanding of, and adherence to, safety and quality standards, Work Health and Safety and the positive patient experience. Displays behaviour consistent with CHS’s values of reliable, progressive, respectful, and kind.
Work environment description
The following work environment description outlines the inherent requirements of the role and indicates how frequently each of these requirements would need to be performed. Please note that the ACT Public Service is committed to providing reasonable adjustments and ensuring all individuals have equal opportunities in the workplace.
| Administrative | Frequency |
|---|---|
| Telephone use | Frequently |
| General computer use | Frequently |
| Extensive keying/data entry | Occasionally |
| Graphical/analytical based | Occasionally |
| Sitting at a desk | Occasionally |
| Standing for long periods | Occasionally |
| Psychosocial demands | Frequency |
|---|---|
| Distressed People e.g. Emergency or grief situations | Frequently |
| Aggressive & Uncooperative People e.g. drug / alcohol, dementia, mental illness | Frequently |
| Unpredictable People e.g. Dementia, mental illness, head injuries | Frequently |
| Restraining e.g. involvement in physical containment of clients/consumers | Occasionally |
| Exposure to Distressing Situations e.g. Child abuse, viewing dead / mutilated bodies; verbal abuse; domestic violence; suicide | Occasionally |
| Physical demands | Frequency |
|---|---|
| Distance walking (large buildings or inter-building transit) | Occasionally |
| Working outdoors | Occasionally |
| Manual handling | Frequency |
|---|---|
| Lifting 0 - 9kg | Occasionally |
| Lifting 10 - 15kg | Occasionally |
| Lifting 16kg+ | Occasionally |
| Climbing | Never |
| Running | Never |
| Reaching | Occasionally |
| Kneeling | Occasionally |
| Foot and leg movement | Frequently |
| Hand, arm and grasping movements | Frequently |
| Bending/squatting | Frequently |
| Bend/Lean Forward from Waist/Trunk twisting | Frequently |
| Push/pull | Occasionally |
| Sequential repetitive movements in a short amount of time | Occasionally |
| Travel | Frequency |
|---|---|
| Frequent travel – multiple work sites | Never |
| Frequent travel – driving | Never |
| Specific hazards | Frequency |
|---|---|
| Working at heights | Never |
| Exposure to extreme temperatures | Never |
| Operation of heavy machinery e.g. forklift | Never |
| Confined spaces | Occasionally |
| Excessive noise | Occasionally |
| Low lighting | Occasionally |
| Handling of dangerous goods/equipment e.g. gases; liquids; biological. | Occasionally |
| Slippery or uneven surfaces | Occasionally |
Directorate: Canberra Health Services
Division: Critical Services
Business Unit: Medicine
Position number: P65681, several
Position title: Registered Nurse Level 1 - ED Fundamentals
Classification: Registered Nurse Level 1
Location: Canberra Hospital
Reporting relationships:Direct Manager: Clinical Nurse Consultant
Manager +1: Assistant Director of Nursing
Canberra Health Services (CHS) is focussed on the delivery of high quality, effective, person-centred care. We provide acute, sub-acute, primary and community‐based health services, to the Australian Capital Territory (ACT) and surrounding regions. More information can be found on the CHS website.
Our Vision: creating exceptional health care together
Our Role: to be a health service that is trusted by our community
Our Values: Reliable, Progressive, Respectful and Kind