EN/RN in Aus not allowed to work as AIN after registration?

ryan19 · May 3, 2013

It's true that after u got ur RN registration, u are not allow to work as a carer/AIN/EN anymore because u are now have different responsibility and duty of care as a RN.

Happy Wombat · May 3, 2013

So basically registering as a RN is like a double edge sword? I mean, if you failed to get a new grad position, you not only loses your old job as a carer/AIN/EN, but will also have difficulties stepping into the registered nurse world?

Is there any website I could refer to?

kat71 · May 3, 2013

Hi, I live in Victoria and have both my EN and RN registrations. I work for a large public health network and am able to work under both but it was made very clear to me by the network that I must work within the scope of which ever registration I am working under at the time. Because I'm currently doing my graduate year as an RN I'm not allowed to work as RN bank nurse but I can work on their bank as an EN if I want to pick up extra shifts at a casual rate of pay. If you want to have dual registration you have to pay for it, each one is $160 a year. Hope this has helped.

ceridwyn · May 3, 2013

It is not a law nor regulation nor delegated regulation anywhere, it is just a possibility of a negligence tort to both the institution you are working or you and your nurses registration if you work at a much less required job and scope of practise, it can become quite a 'sticky' situation.

It is different between EN and RN, though once an RN without EN registration it can be a chore to become an EN again. Though it is up to your employer if they will take the chance of you working as an EN when registered as an RN as well as this can produce conflict of scope of practise as well and a good lawyer can challenge this arrangement if there is any problems with doing/or not doing either scope of practise.

It may also be that the employer is culling the workforce and this is a brilliant excuse as they cannot be charged as unfair dismissal.

Bringonthenight · May 4, 2013

I don't think you can work as as AIN once you are registered as a nurse.

However I knew someone who was an EN then graduated as RN and AHPRA gave her a "dual" registration that was valid for 6 months or something. So basically that dual registration gave her time to get an RN job and still keep her EN job until she started working as an RN.

I would call AHPRA.

Happy Wombat · May 26, 2013

Ok... AHPRA replied me and it seems that an RN can work as an AIN after registration, but she will need to do self learning (20 hours) to continue keeping her registration.

Shinez · Jun 4, 2013

AIN jobs are given to students to gain experience in a hospital environment while they gain their nursing degree. After they finish their degree these jobs get given to new students starting their degree. You can't work as an AIN after you register here as an RN in South Australia, you have 6 mths to register as an RN after you graduate. If you want to work as an AIN don't register until last minute and hope your hospital allows you to extend past your graduation. Also, you should check the contract you signed at the start of your AIN it will have a term of service, and if its like my hospital I had to send them my UNI enrolments every 6 mths to keep my AIN position.

ceridwyn · Jun 5, 2013

I have been told same, though ring AHPRA and you might or may not get the same answer, depending on the state office and the knowledge of the person answering the phone and it should all be uniform law/regulations as that was the law passed by each state to start up AHPRA.. Worst than centrelink.

canned_bread · Jul 31, 2013

I have been informed by APHRA that if you are registered as an RN, you are not legally allowed to work as an AIN/EN. It is indeed a double edged sword. Their rationale was that perhaps one could "over step the mark". In addition to this, if you get registered as an EN, you cannot work as an AIN.

I can somewhat understand their position, but their perspective seems awfully black and white to me!