Intensive Care Nurse Courses
Intensive Care Nurses deliver acute care to critically ill patients, collaborating with medical teams and managing life-threatening conditions.
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AI exposure data adapted from Felten, Raj & Seamans (2021). Shortage data sourced from Jobs and Skills Australia (2024).
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How do I become a Intensive Care Nurse
Get qualified to work as a Intensive Care Nurse with a course recognised across Australia. Speak to a training provider to learn more.
Duration
24 months - 3 years
Study mode
Blended, On Campus, Online
The Bachelor of Nursing provides students with a foundational understanding of nursing practice and healthcare. This course combines theoretical knowledge with practical experiences, preparing graduates to deliver compassionate, evidence-based care in various healthcare settings. Emphasising ethical practice, patient safety, and clinical excellence, the curriculum covers key aspects of patient care, health assessment, and medical interventions. Upon completion, graduates are equipped to pursue a rewarding...
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Duration
24 months - 3 years
Study mode
Blended, On Campus, Online
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The Graduate Certificate in Health (Advanced Nursing) is designed for registered nurses seeking to enhance their clinical reasoning and leadership abilities. It equips practitioners with contemporary knowledge to improve patient outcomes across diverse healthcare settings. This qualification supports career progression into roles involving leadership, management, education, or policy development. Please note, this course does not lead to registration as a health professional.
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The Graduate Certificate in Health (Intensive Care Nursing) develops advanced knowledge and skills for critical care environments. Delivered online with structured work-integrated learning, it supports registered nurses to strengthen their clinical, analytical, leadership and communication abilities. Graduates are prepared to deliver safe, high-quality care, demonstrate expert decision-making, and work effectively within interdisciplinary teams. This course is suitable for nurses practising in areas align...
Career opportunities
Study mode
On Campus, Online
The Graduate Certificate of Health (Acute Care Nursing) develops your expertise in assessing, managing and leading care for high-acuity patients. Designed for registered nurses, it enhances your clinical skills, supports career growth and deepens knowledge through practical workshops. You will study advanced assessment, pathophysiology and clinical leadership, and choose a focus in medical-surgical, emergency or critical care nursing. This course helps you make a meaningful impact in acute care across div...
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Study mode
On Campus, Online
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Related career opportunities
Browse occupations related to Intensive Care Nurse.
Common questions

How much do Intensive Care Nurses earn?
The average salary for registered Intensive Care Nurses is $1,430 per week ($74,360 per annum). Increase your earning capacity by undertaking post-graduate qualifications in advanced clinical nursing, leadership, emergency and acute care nursing.

What are the job opportunities for Intensive Care Nurses?
There are 325,500 Registered Nurses (RNs) currently employed in Australia, some of these are Intensive Care Nurses. They are employed by hospitals in the ICU, emergency and critical care wing.

How do I become an Intensive Care Nurse?
You can launch your career as an Intensive Care Nurse with a Bachelor of Nursing, then registering with the Nursing and Midwifery Board of Australia. Once you are a qualified Registered Nurse (RN) you will need post-graduate qualifications such as a Graduate Certificate in Critical Care Nursing, Graduate Certificate in Acute Care Nursing, Graduate Diploma of Intensive Care Nursing, or Master of Advanced Clinical Nursing.
Source: Australian Government Labour Market Insights 2023
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More information
Intensive Care Nurses are qualified RNs who provide nursing support and acute care to patients with life-threatening and dangerous conditions. They work in a team of specialist doctors, consultants, nurse managers and practitioners, and may care for patients who have suffered burns or trauma, newborn babies, people with heart conditions and chronic illness, and patients who need surgery.
As an Intensive Care Nurse you could be administering medication and intravenous fluids to a patient, recording and analysing the core vitals of a patient, reporting an anomaly to the doctor, updating patient records, checking ventilators and monitors to ensure they are working correctly, reassuring the partner of an unconscious patient, or just taking a self-care day to rest and rejuvenate.
Intensive care nursing can be highly stressful and to succeed in this occupation you must be clear-headed in an emergency, able to make sound nursing decisions, and have excellent interpersonal and communication skills.
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