Vic nursing service cuts 80 jobs

Staff at Victoria's Royal District Nursing Service are distraught after hearing that about 80 jobs will be cut, the nursing union says.

The service's 14 offices will be cut to four regional hubs and some client care replaced by video conferencing.

A letter from RDNS to staff said at least 65 jobs would be advertised internally and the 149 affected staff would be able to apply.

Victorian general manager Fiona Hearn says the job losses are unavoidable, but promised services would remain unaffected.

"There are no front line nurses affected by these changes," Ms Hearn told AAP on Wednesday.

But the nursing union's Paul Gilbert said there will be a significant decrease in the number of Grade 4 registered nurse jobs.

He said staff were distraught at the changes.

"These specialist nurses organise, supervise and manage the care of some of Victoria's most vulnerable citizens," Mr Gilbert said.

Ms Hearn said the jobs were management, consultant and administrative jobs, which were redundant as the service introduced a modern management structure.

She said videoconferencing technology would allow nurses to contact consultants directly.

"When they're out in the field, the nurse may see the client and have a question around a wound or wonder how to manage a diabetic situation," she said.

Ms Hearn said the process would take a couple of months to work through.