Registered Nurse (Day Surgery Unit), Cairns Hospital

Health; Cairns Regional; Hybrid; AUD 75,000 - 95,000; Full time

Job summary

Queensland Health’s Cairns Hospital is seeking a Registered Nurse for the Day Surgery Unit to deliver perioperative care to adult and paediatric patients. You will participate in admission, assessment, stage 2 and 3 recovery, wound management, medication administration, and discharge planning.

The role offers permanent positions with flexible full-time and part-time arrangements in a supportive, community-focused hospital.

Qualifications

• Registration as an RN with the Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency (AHPRA).
• Experience in perioperative or Day Surgery nursing preferred.
• Ability to assess adults and paediatric patients and coordinate care.

Responsibilities

• Admission, assessment and direct perioperative nursing care.
• Stage 2 and 3 recovery management and pain control.
• Wound management, discharge education and criteria-led discharge.
• Participation in quality improvement and mandatory training.

Skills

Perioperative nursing

Wound care

Pain management

Discharge planning

Education

Nursing Registration (RN)

Job description

# Registered Nurse (Day Surgery Unit), Cairns Hospital**Queensland Health** (Organisation site) Day Surgery Unit, Cairns Hospital# Make the move. Make a difference.Get paid to live in paradise and join the Day Surgery team as a Registered Nurse here at the Cairns Hospital.## Job details| | || --- | --- || Position status | Permanent || Position type | Full-time,Part-time || Occupational group | Health - Nursing || Classification | Nurse Grade 5 || Workplace Location | Cairns region,Far North Qld || Job ad reference | QLD/QLD/695492 || Closing date | 13-Nov-2026 || Job duration | || Contact person | Carissa Eastwell || Contact details | 42266936 Access the National Relay Service |The Cairns and Hinterland Hospital and Health Service covers a large geographic area with a diverse and growing population. The Health Service provides a wide range of primary care, acute and specialist services.Our staff are a part of the community we serve, and we strongly believe that health outcomes are enhanced by involving our community in the planning and evaluation of local health services.**About us:** The Day Surgery Unit (DSU) and Perioperative Overnight Stay Unit (POSU) are integral components of Cairns Hospital Surgical Services, providing comprehensive perioperative care for elective, trauma, and emergency surgical patients. Our service supports patients throughout their surgical journey, from admission and recovery through to discharge, while also delivering care for a range of minor surgical, diagnostic, and anaesthetic-led procedures. We care for both day surgery patients and adults requiring short-stay post-operative management of less than 24 hours in a collaborative, patient-focused environment committed to safe, high-quality care.**About your role:**As a Registered Nurse your task will include:* Admission, assessment, and delivery of direct perioperative nursing care for adult and paediatric patients, including care planning and evaluation.* Stage 2 and 3 recovery management, medication administration, pain and anti-emetic management, and recognition of deteriorating patients.* Wound and drain management, assistance with ADLs, safe mobilisation, and discharge planning.* Provision of comprehensive discharge education and criteria-led discharge for patients and their support persons.* Participation in quality improvement, auditing, mandatory training, education, and team-based activities.**For more information about this role, please refer to the attached Role Description and Role Overview****Vaccine Preventable Diseases (VPD)** evidence as required for your employment in accordance with legislation/government policy and Directives.**What we offer:**Cairns and Hinterland Hospital and Health service offer a number of workplace benefits. Besides attractive remuneration, generous superannuation, salary packaging and career development opportunities, we value a healthy work/life balance that allows you take advantage of the sunshine, hiking tracks, swimming spots, reef and rainforest.Learn what it's like to work with us, in an inclusive and supportive work environment.Discover our dynamic and culturally diverse region through community and lifestyle.Listen to what some of our staff have to say about working in our regions.Visit our website to learn more about our hospitals and health centres.## Further informationWe are committed to building inclusive cultures in the Queensland public sector that respect and promote human rights and diversity.If the information requested in the `how to apply¿ section is not provided, you may not meet the requirements for further consideration of your application.