Registered Nurse (Surgical) (ANZSCO 254424)

    Updated

    What a Registered Nurse (Surgical) does

    Provides nursing care to patients with injuries and illness that require surgical intervention. Registration or licensing is required.

    Key facts

    ANZSCO code
    254424
    Skill level
    1Bachelor degree or higher
    Visas that list it
    189190491482186494
    Assessing authority
    ANMAC
    National shortage
    Regional shortage

    Visa options

    Occupation eligibility is one requirement; each visa page links to the rest.

    Main tasks

    • assessing, planning, implementing and evaluating nursing care for patients according to accepted nursing practice and standards
    • working in consultation with other Health Professionals and members of health teams, and coordinating the care of patients
    • providing interventions, treatments and therapies such as medications, and monitoring responses to treatment and care plan
    • promoting health and assisting in preventing ill health by participating in health education and other health promotion activities
    • answering questions and providing information to patients and families about treatment and care
    • supervising and coordinating the work of Enrolled Nurses and other health care workers

    Shortage by state

    • NationalRegional shortage
    • ACTShortage
    • NSWRegional shortage
    • NTRegional shortage
    • QLDRegional shortage
    • SARegional shortage
    • TASRegional shortage
    • VICRegional shortage
    • WARegional shortage

    State and territory nomination

    For the 190 and 491, each state and territory also has its own occupation list.

    Common questions

    What does a Registered Nurse (Surgical) do?

    Provides nursing care to patients with injuries and illness that require surgical intervention. Registration or licensing is required. (ABS ANZSCO description.)

    Is Registered Nurse (Surgical) on the skilled occupation list?

    Yes. Registered Nurse (Surgical) (ANZSCO 254424) is on the Core Skills Occupation List (CSOL) and Medium and Long-term Strategic Skills List (MLTSSL) (lists in force from 14 December 2024). It is listed for the 186, 189, 190, 482, 491 and 494 visas.

    What is the ANZSCO code for Registered Nurse (Surgical)?

    254424. Home Affairs uses ANZSCO codes for skilled visas.

    How can a Registered Nurse (Surgical) migrate to Australia?

    The occupation lists Home Affairs publishes include Registered Nurse (Surgical) for the Subclass 186, Subclass 189, Subclass 190, Subclass 482, Subclass 491 and Subclass 494 visas. Being on a list is one requirement among several; each visa's page links to Home Affairs for the rest.

    Who assesses Registered Nurse (Surgical) for an Australian visa?

    ANMAC, the skills assessing authority listed for 254424.

    Is Registered Nurse (Surgical) in demand in Australia?

    Jobs and Skills Australia rated it "Regional shortage" nationally in its 2025 Occupation Shortage List, with ratings for each state and territory shown above.

    Sources

    1. 1Department of Home Affairs, skilled occupation listimmi.homeaffairs.gov.au
    2. 2Australian Bureau of Statistics, ANZSCO – Australian and New Zealand Standard Classification of Occupations, 2022, CC BY 4.0abs.gov.au
    3. 3Jobs and Skills Australia, Occupation Shortage List, 2025 listjobsandskills.gov.au