Registered Nurse (Acute Care)
Shortage Now
States / territories with a shortage signal
Snapshot
Median salary
A$89,400
Full-time annual
People employed
42,100
Estimated workforce
Shortage signal
Shortage (national)
Categories identify where a shortage occurs; they are not a severity score.
What you actually do
Plans, coordinates and provides nursing care and services to people in a hospital setting or as part of a retrieval service.
Specialisations
Skills & main tasks
Official main tasks
- Develops and implements nursing care plans to provide direct clinical care in a hospital setting
- Assesses and monitors the condition of people, and prepares people for surgery or treatment
- Administers and monitors medication and fluids
- Assists with diagnostic tests and procedures, as well as interpreting test results and reports
- Provides emotional support and comfort to people and their families
- Educates people and their families about health conditions and treatment options
- Maintains accurate and up-to-date records of patient information, including vital signs, medications and treatments
- Responds to emergency situations, and provides immediate care and interventions
- May operate and monitor specialised medical equipment such as ventilators and cardiac monitors
Where people work
State / territory distribution
Highest education
Share of workers
Education & work pattern
Part-time
48%
Female rate
86%
Median age
36
2030 & 2035 employment outlook
to 2030
+14%
49,716 projected jobs
to 2035
+26%
94,878 projected jobs
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OSCA skill level 1
A classification attribute describing the occupation; it is not a personal eligibility or qualification decision.
Registration or licensing
Registration or licensing is required.
Official VET pathways
Diploma of Nursing
Progression pathway
Advanced Diploma of Nursing
Progression pathway
Related study options
Real jobs right now
Live signal from SEEK, Indeed & moreCurrent vacancy signal
QLD · May 2026
1,449
ACT · May 2026
138
VIC · May 2026
1,619
NT · May 2026
139
SA · May 2026
692
NSW · May 2026
2,536
Where could this career take you?
Compare state-level shortage signals, salary context, study options and visa information for Registered Nurse (Acute Care).
Regional demand
Largest employment base
#1 Melbourne - South East
15,305 estimated employed
- 1
Melbourne - South East
15,305 employed
VIC
+13.35%
year on year
- 2
Melbourne - West
12,637 employed
VIC
+3.99%
year on year
- 3
Melbourne - North East
12,188 employed
VIC
+6.45%
year on year
- 4
Gold Coast
11,782 employed
QLD
+0.74%
year on year
- 5
Perth - North West
10,170 employed
WA
+2.03%
year on year
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Ranked by current shortage signal and projected employment growth.
Workers in this occupation
29,710
Moved in from another occupation
3,195
Moved to another occupation
1,845
Recommendation score: shortage = 2 points, no shortage = 1 point, plus 1 point for each 10% of projected growth to 2035.
- 1
5
points
- 2
4
points
- 3
4
points
- 4
4
points
- 5
4
points
Data status
- Classification
- OSCA 265432
- Last updated
- Refresh pending
- Sources
- Jobs and Skills Australia OSL · Jobs and Skills Australia DOM · ABS OSCA · OSCA 2024 — Jobs and Skills Australia
Labour-market data coverage
- Shortage signal and drivers: JSA Occupation Shortage List (ANZSCO unit group where applicable).
- Work profile, state distribution and education: JSA Occupation Profiles (ANZSCO mapped).
- Regional employment: JSA NERO, June 2026.
- Career-move observations: JSA DOM, last available 2020–21. Observed Australian worker transitions are not personalised recommendations; many contractors and sole traders are excluded, as are transitions below 10 workers.
- Vacancy signal: JSA Internet Vacancy Index, 3-month average (ANZSCO unit group).
- Employment outlook: JSA employment projections (ANZSCO unit group).
- Training pathways: JSA Training Occupation Pathways.
Data confidence: estimate.