Registered Nurse - Critical Care Unit, Te Nikau

Canterbury District Health Board; Christchurch; On-site; NZD 65,000 - 85,000; Full time

Job summary

The Canterbury District Health Board is seeking an experienced Registered Nurse to join our rural health team on the West Coast. You will provide care across CCU and General Ward, including paediatric patients, using clinical judgement to assess, plan, implement and evaluate nursing care.

Work involves independent practice within a multidisciplinary team, documenting to professional standards, and supporting junior staff while contributing to quality initiatives in a rural hospital setting.

Qualifications

• NZ Registered Nurse with current Annual Practising Certificate (APC) without conditions.
• Experience applying evidence-based knowledge and clinical judgement within scope of practice.
• Recent ICU/CCU/HDU nursing experience.
• Completion of, or commitment to undertake, cultural competency training.
• Excellent organisational, communication, and documentation skills.
• Ability and confidence to work with children.
• Willingness to pursue (or currently hold) a Graduate Certificate in Nursing or relevant postgraduate qualification.

Responsibilities

• Deliver high-quality nursing care across CCU, Medical and Surgical patients, including paediatric patients.
• Undertake comprehensive nursing assessments and develop integrated care plans.
• Support and guide Enrolled Nurses, Health Care Assistants, and junior nurses.
• Ensure documentation meets professional and legislative standards.
• Contribute to ongoing development of services and participate in quality initiatives and audits.
• Act as a professional role model, demonstrating cultural safety and accountability.
• Collaborate with whānau, patients, and the wider health team to ensure holistic, person-centred care.
• Actively participate in interprofessional care planning, patient education, and discharge coordination.

Skills

ICU/CCU/HDU experience

Documentation skills

Communication skills

Cultural competency

Pediatric care

Education

NZ Registered Nurse with APC

Tools

Clinical documentation systems

Job description

We are seeking

an experienced and dedicatedRegistered Nurse (RN) to join our rural health team on the beautiful West Coast. This is a rewarding and diverse role where you will be working across the Critical Care Unit (CCU) and General Ward, utilising your nursing knowledge and clinical judgement to assess, plan, implement and evaluate nursing care for a diverse patient population. You'll work both independently and as part of a multidisciplinary team to deliver safe, effective, patient-centred care.

This is an excellent opportunity for a nurse who thrives on variety and wants to broaden their experience while working in a rural hospital environment where every day is different.

You’ll have the opportunity to:

• Deliver high-quality nursing care across a broad spectrum of critical care (CCU), Medical and Surgical patients, including paediatric patients.
• Undertake comprehensive nursing assessments and develop integrated care plans.
• Support and guide Enrolled Nurses, Health Care Assistants, and junior nurses.
• Ensure documentation meets professional and legislative standards (e.g. falls risk, family violence, pressure injury prevention).
• Contribute to the ongoing development of services and participate in quality initiatives and audits.
• Act as a professional role model, demonstrating cultural safety, evidence-based practice, and accountability.
• Collaborate with whānau, patients, and the wider health team to ensure holistic, person-centred care.
• Actively participate in interprofessional care planning, patient education, and discharge coordination.

About You

You are a compassionate, resilient, and adaptable nurse who is ready to embrace the challenges and rewards of rural healthcare. You have a passion for patient care and are confident in managing a range of clinical situations, including critically unwell patients.

Essential:

• New Zealand Registered Nurse with current Annual Practising Certificate (no conditions preventing fulfilment of the role).
• Demonstrated ability to work within scope of practice, applying evidence-based knowledge and clinical judgement.
• Recent ICU/CCU/HDU nursing experience.
• Completion of, or commitment to undertake, cultural competency training.
• Excellent organisational, communication, and documentation skills.
• Ability and confidence to work with children.
• Willingness to work towards (or currently hold) a Graduate Certificate in Nursing or relevant Postgraduate qualification.

Desirable:

• Previous medical and/ or surgical nursing experience.
• Current Professional Development and Recognition Programme (PDRP) portfolio.
• Advanced computer literacy and confident use of clinical documentation systems

Working for Health New Zealand

Health New Zealand | Te Whatu Ora is dedicated to ensuring excellent healthcare for the people of New Zealand. We embrace a workforce that is diverse and inclusive so that we are better positioned to understand and service our community. We welcome applications from our diverse Māori, Pacific, disabled, and rainbow communities.

We particularly welcome applications from our diverse Māori, Pacific, disabled, and rainbow communities.

Health NZ West Coast is situated on the West Coast of New Zealand’s South Island. It is unmatched for the scale, diversity, and accessibility of its natural attractions, including rugged coastline, sandy beaches, rainforests, and some of the highest mountain peaks in the country. The region boasts robust tourism and primary production industries, which provide the backbone of the local economy. The town of Greymouth is central to Te Tai o Poutini West Coast and is located alongside the historically rich and picturesque Grey river.

Health NZ West Coast are proud of how we do things. We have a way of working that we consider unique. It's about trying new things, listening to ideas from wherever they come from and working together as one. We are passionate about attracting, recruiting, and retaining talented people – to become part of our team.