Registered Nurse - Acute General Surgery and SARA


  • Ward B3, Waipapa Building, Christchurch Hospital Campus
  • 2 x Fixed-Term, Part-time positions available due to Parental Leave
  • Shifts rostered Monday through Sunday; morning, afternoon and nights

Health New Zealand | Te Whatu Ora is firmly grounded in the principles of Te Tiriti o Waitangi and is committed to building a health system that serves all New Zealanders.

About the Role

We are looking for two Registered Nurses with General Surgery experience who will enjoy becoming part of our dynamic and supportive team on a fixed-term contract covering Parental leave. We have two positions available, please confirm in your personalised cover letter which position(s) you would like to be considered for.

Role 1: 0.8FTE (32 hours per week) Fixed-term, part-time covering Parental Leave until 21/02/2027

Role 2: 0.9FTE (36 hours per week) Fixed-term, part-time covering Parental Leave until 20/06/2026

This fast-paced challenging environment will offer you variety in your day as you will rotate between the ward and Surgical Assessment Review Area (SARA), working closely with all the general surgical team. 

Shifts are rotating and based on a social roster across Monday to Sunday; morning, afternoon and nights.

About the Service

Acute General Surgery cares for patients undergoing acute general surgery and a range of oesophageal, gastric and biliary/pancreatic surgery including advanced laparoscopic procedures. Our average length of stay is 3.8 days. We are a busy inpatient ward and use CCDM (Care Capacity Demand Management) and acuity variance indicators to assess the nurse to patient ratio.

SARA (Surgical Assessment Review Area) provides an area for acutely unwell patients to be assessed, investigated and an appropriate plan of care to be initiated. This 12-bed unit is a fast-paced unit with an average length of stay of 7 hours. We see on average 730 patients per month. We accept direct GP-SARA admission as well as admission from our Emergency department, private and rural Hospitals.

About You

  • A background in general surgery, with sound acute assessment and critical thinking skills
  • Excellent Communication and Interpersonal skills
  • Motivated, with a mature attitude and organised approach, you will be flexible and adaptable in this ever changing, fast paced environment
  • The ability to work autonomously and effectively as part of the multidisciplinary team, will be key to your success in this role
  • Registered with the Nursing Council of New Zealand with a current Annual Practising Certificate (APC)

Working at 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. 

How to Apply

To apply please click “apply now.” All applications must be submitted through our online careers’ portal by Sunday 21st December.  If you have any questions about the role, please contact Victoria at Victoria.Steiner@TeWhatuOra.govt.nz

We plan on reviewing applications once the role has closed over the holiday period with interviews being held the week of 12th January 2026.

Apply now

Fixed Term/Contract/Part Time

Job no: PC4018075

Location: Christchurch

Closing Date: Sunday 21st December