Enrolled Nurse - Surgical Extended Stay Unit

Mater Health Services; Cairns Regional; On-site; AUD 55,000 - 76,000; Full time

Job summary

Access Aged Care is seeking a Casual Registered or Enrolled Nurse for on-site roles within Residential Aged Care Homes in Cairns. The position emphasizes clinical problem-solving, independent decision-making and relationship-building with residents and care teams.

We value nurses who can coordinate care using telehealth and ensure timely interventions, while moving away from routine bedside tasks. This role requires autonomous practice and strong collaboration with GPs and Specialists.

Qualifications

• Currently registered with AHPRA as a Registered Nurse or Enrolled Nurse.
• Minimum two years nursing experience post-AHPRA registration.
• Strong clinical reasoning and risk recognition skills.
• Ability to work autonomously and coordinate care with multidisciplinary teams.
• Comfort with using technology and clinical software.

Responsibilities

• Coordinate GP and Specialist rounds, face-to-face or via telehealth.
• Conduct comprehensive clinical assessments and document findings.
• Escalate clinical concerns promptly and coordinate follow-up care.
• Maintain accurate clinical documentation across systems.
• Engage with residents, families and care teams to ensure timely care.
• Support proactive and preventative care to improve outcomes.

Skills

AHPRA registered nurse or EN

Two years nursing experience

Clinical decision making

Experience working on-site

Tech-literate / use clinical systems

Tools

Telehealth platforms

Clinical documentation systems

Job description

Casual Registered or Enrolled Nurse- Cairns

This is an on-site nursing role based in Cairns, not a work from home position or a graduate opportunity.

We're looking for an experienced Registered or Enrolled Nurse who enjoys clinical problem-solving, making independent decisions and building relationships that make a genuine difference to residents.

You’ll work closely with GPs, Specialists and Residential Aged Care Home teams to recognise clinical concerns early, coordinate care and help residents access the healthcare they need.

If you’re ready to move away from routine bedside nursing while continuing to use your clinical judgement and experience, this could be the role for you.

Why Our Nurses Choose This Role

• No night shifts or weekends: Work during the day, Monday to Friday, with shifts offered according to operational needs.
• Casual employment: Enjoy the flexibility of casual work while contributing to meaningful resident care.
• No routine bedside care: No showering, feeding, toileting or manual handling.
• Autonomy and trust: Take ownership of your clinical responsibilities and manage competing priorities, with experienced colleagues and nursing leaders available for support.
• Meaningful resident care: Build relationships with residents, recognise changes in their health and help ensure their clinical needs are addressed.
• Make an impact early: Identify concerns, coordinate timely interventions and help prevent avoidable deterioration.
• Use your clinical experience: Your judgement, assessment skills and ability to recognise risk are central to the role.
• Work collaboratively: Build strong relationships with GPs, Specialists, residents, families and Residential Aged Care Home teams.
• Be part of something growing: Contribute to a healthcare model that's changing how older Australians access medical care.

About Access Aged Care

At Access Telehealth, we connect people to healthcare, wherever they live.

Through Access Aged Care, we partner with Residential Aged Care Homes across Australia to deliver co‑managed primary care to older Australians.

Our model brings together experienced on‑site nurses, GPs and Specialists to identify clinical concerns earlier, coordinate care and help residents access the healthcare they need.

Our nurses are the clinical link on the ground, connecting residents, Residential Aged Care Home teams, GPs, Specialists and families.

You’ll be trusted to think, make decisions, build relationships and influence the quality of care residents receive.

Most importantly, your nursing experience won’t just qualify you for the role. It’s what makes you valuable in it.

What the Role Looks Like

As a Casual Access Aged Care Nurse, you’ll work on‑site within Residential Aged Care Homes in Cairns.

This is a casual position, with shifts offered based on operational requirements. You may be required to work multiple consecutive days or full weeks when coverage is needed.

All shifts are worked on‑site during weekday business hours. Although you’ll use telehealth technology to connect residents with GPs and Specialists, this is not a remote or work‑from‑home role.

You won’t replace the nursing team within the home. You’ll work alongside them, bringing another layer of clinical coordination and helping ensure residents don’t fall through the gaps.

One hour you might be assessing a resident ahead of a GP round. The next you could be coordinating Specialist follow‑up, reviewing a clinical concern with the care team, completing an assessment or making sure an important referral keeps moving.

By building relationships with residents, families and care teams, you’ll be better positioned to recognise changes in their health, advocate for appropriate care and see the results of your work.

This is a combination of clinical assessment, care coordination and administrative responsibilities.

You’ll spend a significant part of your day using clinical systems, managing referrals, preparing GP rounds, documenting outcomes and following up on care plans.

You’ll need to enjoy both the clinical thinking and the coordination that makes effective care possible.

Your responsibilities will include:

• Coordinating GP and Specialist rounds, both face‑to‑face and via Zoom.
• Completing comprehensive clinical assessments.
• Identifying clinical concerns early and escalating appropriately.
• Coordinating referrals, investigations and follow‑up care.
• Ensuring agreed clinical actions are followed through.
• Communicating with residents, families, GPs, Specialists and Residential Aged Care Home teams.
• Maintaining accurate and timely clinical documentation.
• Using multiple clinical systems, telehealth platforms and digital tools.
• Building strong relationships with Residential Aged Care Home teams.
• Supporting proactive and preventative care to improve resident outcomes.

You’ll Probably Enjoy This Role If You

• Like being trusted to make clinical decisions independently.
• Enjoy solving clinical problems and working out what needs to happen next.
• Can assess incomplete information, identify risk and prioritise appropriately.
• Find professional satisfaction in helping residents receive timely, appropriate care.
• Enjoy building meaningful relationships with residents, families and healthcare professionals.
• Are confident working independently while knowing when to seek advice or escalation.
• Like variety and can adapt when priorities change.
• Are organized and comfortable balancing clinical and administrative responsibilities.
• Are confident learning and working across multiple technology platforms.
• Can adapt to changing schedules, locations and operational requirements.

This Probably Isn’t the Role for You If You

• Are a graduate or still early in your nursing career.
• Are looking for a traditional ward or bedside nursing position.
• Prefer highly structured environments where your day and tasks are prescribed for you.
• Don’t enjoy using technology, managing documentation or coordinating clinical activities.
• Prefer hands‑on nursing tasks over clinical assessment, decision‑making and care coordination.
• Require guaranteed weekly hours or a fixed ongoing roster.

We’d rather be upfront. This role requires an experienced nurse who can work autonomously, make sound clinical decisions and confidently manage the coordination and technology that support resident care.

What You’ll Bring

• Current AHPRA registration as a Registered Nurse or Enrolled Nurse.
• Minimum two years’ nursing experience following AHPRA registration.
• Aged care experience or experience in another relevant clinical environment.
• Strong clinical reasoning and the ability to recognise and respond to risk.
• Confidence making decisions independently and knowing when to elevate.
• Strong organisation, time management and prioritisation skills.
• Clear, confident communication with multiple stakeholders.
• Confidence using technology and learning new clinical systems.
• A current driver’s licence and reliable vehicle.
• Capacity to work on‑site in Cairns and flexibility to travel to other Residential Aged Care Homes in the surrounding region if required.
• Availability to accept casual weekday shifts, including consecutive days or full weeks when operationally required.
• An adaptable, solutions‑focused mindset and the ability to work effectively in a changing environment.