Clinical team member at work

Critical Care

At University Hospital Southampton, you'll be part of expert multidisciplinary teams delivering complex, high-acuity care. As a Major Trauma Centre, we offer the scale, support and specialist experience to help you grow.

Join Our Critical Care Team

At University Hospital Southampton (UHS), our clinical teams are known for their expertise, inclusivity and innovation. As one of England's largest acute teaching trusts, we deliver outstanding patient care across a broad range of highly specialised services.

We are currently recruiting Adult Critical Care Nurses.

We welcome applications from nurses who meet either of the following profiles:

  • Internationally qualified nurses with Critical Care or HDU (High Dependency Unit) experience gained internationally, plus some UK healthcare experience (including at HCA level), who are NMC pin-ready to practise.
  • NHS-experienced Registered Nurses who have not worked in Critical Care before but have experience caring for rapidly declining patients.


Complete the short form below to tell us about your experience.

Nurse smiling at the camera providing patient support

Adult Critical Care at UHS

UHS provides advanced adult critical care services across multiple specialist units, supporting patients locally and from across the wider Wessex region.

Our adult critical care units include:

General Intensive Care Unit (GICU) — A 30-bed unit caring for patients following major trauma, elective surgery and complex medical emergencies.

Neuro Intensive Care Unit (Neuro ICU) — A 13-bed regional centre admitting patients following major head and spinal trauma, elective neurosurgery, and neuromedical emergencies.

Cardiac Intensive Care Unit (CICU) — A 16-bed regional unit supporting elective cardiac surgery and cardiac emergencies.

Across our adult critical care services, you will join experienced, forward-thinking teams with strong clinical leadership and structured development pathways. Whether you are looking to deepen your specialist expertise or transition into Critical Care from a related background, UHS offers clear opportunities to progress.

Nurses looking after a patient

Why Join UHS?

UHS offers a dynamic and inclusive environment where you can grow professionally, contribute to complex care delivery and make a meaningful impact on patient outcomes.

As one of England's largest acute teaching trusts, UHS is a place where clinical excellence and professional development go hand in hand. Here's what you can expect:

A place to grow 

As a leading teaching hospital, UHS offers outstanding levels of learning and excellent ongoing in-house and external training and development opportunities, with clear pathways into leadership and advanced practice.

Rewarding your commitment 

UHS was highly commended for Best Public Sector Benefits at the Employee Benefits Awards 2024. Benefits include an NHS pension, staff discounts via the Blue Light Card, salary sacrifice schemes, free on-site gym membership, childcare support, and financial wellbeing advice. 

Your wellbeing matters

UHS is voted in the top five acute trusts for commitment to supporting work-life balance. Staff have access to a purpose-built Wellbeing Hub, a rooftop garden, flexible and part-time working options, and a free Employee Assistance Programme covering emotional support, counselling, and financial advice.

An inclusive team

UHS is committed to celebrating diversity and recognising individuality, with recruitment processes free from bias and an active focus on inclusive leadership. We actively welcome nurses from international backgrounds and those transitioning from other acute settings, your experience and perspective are valued here.

A location worth considering

Southampton is a vibrant, well-connected city on the south coast, with easy access to the New Forest, the coast, and London. It offers an excellent quality of life at a lower cost than many major UK cities.


If you are ready to take the next step in Adult Critical Care, we would love to hear from you.