The nursing profession is a noble one, and a desirable career path for people who are interested in healthcare and love to have close interaction with the public. There may be varying qualifications depending on the type of nurse you want to be. You can acquire the essential qualifications for this position by learning the necessary steps to become an Enrolled Nurse.
In this blog, we explain what an enrolled nurse is, how to become one, what their responsibilities are, what skills they need, and what their average compensation is, and we will also address some frequently asked questions about this job role work.
Who is an Enrolled Nurse?
Professionals who have earned a diploma or an advanced diploma in nursing are Enrolled Nurses. Enrolled Nurses in Australia can get their certifications by registering for classes at a university or a Technical and Further Education (TAFE). These nurses act as second-level nurses while on duty, monitoring and caring for patients under the direction and supervision of a registered nurse (RN). Although they function as a team, they have less responsibilities than a Registered Nurse, when they are on duty. Enrolled Nurses can assist nurses by comforting patients and taking good care of them.
Mentioned below are the steps you should follow in becoming an enrolled nurse:
Obtain a qualification
Enrolled Nurses undertake two years of vocational education training by studying Diploma of Nursing or its equivalent. Anyone who has completed year 12 or who currently holds a Certificate III in Health Services Assistance, has appropriate work experience in the nursing industry, and is at least 18 years old, is eligible for these certifications.
Enrolled nurses can pick up a variety of skills that will help them reach a high level of practical proficiency throughout this time. They might involve an understanding of medical procedures, collaboration, management, and communication skills, as well as how to use and maintain simple medical equipment like a thermometer or blood pressure monitor.
Obtain a license
You should register with the Nursing and Midwifery Board of Australia in order to work as an enrolled nurse in Australia (NMBA). On behalf of the Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency (AHPRA), which maintains a public registry of all nurses, the NMBA regulates the midwifery and nursing professions. The application must be renewed every year. There may be particular organizations in each state that regulate the nursing industry.
Acquire a specialization
You can work in a range of clinical specializations as an enrolled nurse. You can find employment in a variety of healthcare facilities, including nursing homes, hospitals, and clinics. You can also find employment in the private sector. The following nursing specializations are available for enrolled nurses:
- Aged care
- Oncology
- Community Health
- Medical nursing
- Rehabilitation
- Intensive care
- Mental health
- Pediatrics
- Aboriginal health
- Surgical Nursing
Gain professional experience
Getting work experience is a requirement for a career as an enrolled nurse. Your chances of finding work can improve as you gather appropriate experience. It is necessary for you to complete a nursing internship as a student nurse. As you get ready to enroll in nursing, the internship is your final work-integrated learning course.
For supervised placement in various healthcare settings, 320 hours of professional experience constitutes the absolute minimum. These environments offer the ability to collaborate with diverse healthcare teams in order to deliver safe and effective patient care.
Establish networks
Socializing with professionals in the same industry might be necessary to land a job as an enrolled nurse. Attending graduations, conferences, or workshops might help you establish contacts with your peers. To expand your network, you can also go to presentations given by lecturers from health programs in person or online.
Apply for enrolled nursing jobs
You can check online or in health facilities for Australian enrolled nurse vacancies. Additionally, you might draft a letter of interest and hand to deliver it to companies with relevant employment positions. Depending on the position that is open when you are hired, you can begin as a temporary or permanent nurse.
What are the duties of an enrolled nurse?
Enrolled nurses perform several duties that may vary according to their current patients, and a few of them are listed below:
- Providing assistance to other staff and medical professionals at their place of employment
- Upholding professional standards, complying with local and state laws, regulations, and policies, and following the law
- Looking for early indicators of patients’ health status and providing them with planned, specialized nursing interventions, such as medication administration
- Preventing infections and managing them during routine patient care tasks
- Offering community-based health promotion initiatives
- Providing feedback on risk assessment and quality management activities
- Assisting patients and their carers in managing a variety of medical disorders
- Providing assistance to senior staff in case of medical emergencies
If you are considering taking up the role of an Enrolled Nurse in Australia, our experts at MWT Global Academy would be ever willing to assist you in all your endeavors.