Critical Care Units
We strive to provide high quality care for our patients, and we want to do everything we can to support our Critical Care Nurses in delivering that level of care. We have 26 units across the country that provide critical care service and offer a diverse range of intensive care settings with opportunities in both metropolitan centers and smaller rural areas. To address the critical care bed shortage the New Zealand Government has committed funding to resource more ICU beds.
In larger regions there are units of up to 26 beds for patients requiring cardiothoracic, trauma, neuro, pediatric, and general intensive care. With four specialist ICUs in Auckland incorporating specialties such as burns, spinal, cardiothoracic, and pediatrics, including the national ECMO service.
In smaller centers or more rural areas you could find yourself looking after unwell children, a long-term medical patient, or an acute surgical patient, with mixed CCU and HDU spaces, supported by the larger centers if more complex input is required.
Across Aotearoa, New Zealand there are extensive flight retrieval services including fixed wing, helicopter, or road transfers of patients to the center that can provide the care that the patient requires.
Working in Critical Care
Our ICU teams work in a collaborative manner, and understand interdisciplinary working is paramount to the patient journey. Teams provide patient and whanau centred care, sharing experience between units or being supported to call on colleagues for advice, knowledge, or expertise to benefit the care of the patient.
Continual growth and education is encouraged, and assistance is provide to nurses wishing to study and gain further critical care qualifications.
Our collective agreements include paid study days for the purposes of professional development which can be used for a range of courses, research, or projects. Our New Zealand Nursing Organisation and DHBs have committed to achieve pay equity for all members of our nursing workforce to acknowledge the value of the skills and contribution of all nurses.