Difference between RN and EN

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could someone please tell me the difference in the type of work enrolled nurses do to registered nurses

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Specializes in mental health + aged care.

Not sure whether you mean NZ or Aussie. Here is the official info about EN's in NZ...

Enrolled nurses practise under the direction and delegation of a registered nurse or nurse practitioner to deliver nursing care and health education across the life span to health consumers in community, residential or hospital settings. Enrolled nurses contribute to nursing assessments, care planning, implementation and evaluation of care for health consumers and/or families/whanau. The registered nurse maintains overall responsibility for the plan of care. Enrolled nurses assist health consumers with the activities of daily living, observe changes in health consumers’ conditions and report these to the registered nurse, administer medicines and undertake other nursing care responsibilities appropriate to their assessed competence.

In acute settings, enrolled nurses must work in a team with a registered nurse who is responsible for directing and delegating nursing interventions. In some settings, enrolled nurses may coordinate a team of health care assistants under the direction and delegation of a registered nurse. In some settings, enrolled nurses may work under the direction and delegation of a registered health practitioner*. In these situations, the enrolled nurse must have registered nurse supervision and must not assume overall responsibility for nursing assessment or care planning. Enrolled nurses are accountable for their nursing actions and practise competently in accordance with legislation, to their level of knowledge and experience. They work in partnership with health consumers, families/whanau and multidisciplinary teams.

http://www.nursingcouncil.org.nz/index.cfm/1,43,html/Enrolled-Nurse

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thank you

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Specializes in Critical Care Nursing.

there appears to be little difference between OZ and NZ from above. What happens in OZ is how differ area health services (in NSW) interpret the nurses & midwifery act and then how this translates into actual practice. As an ICU nurse we continue to only having EN in as support staff (equipment) however in some combined units (HDU) there are some ENs looking after patients

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Specializes in MCN.

From what I know, ENs work under the supervision of RNs.

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Mmmmm, supervision does not mean direct supervision,, they are responsible to work within their own scope of practise. An RN must be availabe for consultation, meaning they do not have to be on the premises....in aged care anyway.

In acute they must not be left alone in an area, an RN must be left in charge. The RN is for consultation, does not directly supervise an EN, one that is endorsed to give meds anyway.

This is in Australia.

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Can ENs advance their study to be an RN as well? How does that work?

Sorry, I'm a US LPN student. I'm not aware about the Aussie programs.

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Mmmmm, supervision does not mean direct supervision,, they are responsible to work within their own scope of practise. An RN must be availabe for consultation, meaning they do not have to be on the premises....in aged care anyway.

In acute they must not be left alone in an area, an RN must be left in charge. The RN is for consultation, does not directly supervise an EN, one that is endorsed to give meds anyway.

This is in Australia.

Sounds similar to Canada's LPNs. Hold their own license and accountable for their own practice

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Can ENs advance their study to be an RN as well? How does that work?

Sorry, I'm a US LPN student. I'm not aware about the Aussie programs.

To be an Rn must have degree. EN's have diploma s from a Tafe or private provider education institution. (though some universities provide tafe services) Therefore to have qualification to be RN must apply to University....get credits from Uni for diploma course and continue on.....though some universities have what they call conversion to RN so therefore course is all set up for EN''s.

Many EN's still have certificate 1V in health with a medication endorsement, it is only recently that the course became diploma, so conversion at uni was about 2 to 2 1/2 years,, this may now be much shorter due to their course now being a diploma/have studied the medication course.

I know the University of New England in the north of NSW has their EN applicants actually beginning the Bachelor of Nursing, then they just finish after the 2 year mark and the student that want to continue on to do the last year get the degree.

But like all places you would have to research, Monash University here in Victoria only gives credits to EN's so therefore you would still attend the 3 year degree, but not full time, depending on the credits you were given.

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Can ENs advance their study to be an RN as well? How does that work?

Sorry, I'm a US LPN student. I'm not aware about the Aussie programs.

From what I have seen there are bridging programs for EN's to convert to RN's. The EN gets credit for their previous study (usually Diploma but some have Certificate IV's - both TAFE) and can receive their Bachelor of Nursing once they have completed the bridging program. The ones I've seen are approx 2 years full time.

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Its becoming very little difference especially now that they will gain a Diploma in Nursing after 12 months course, I may be wrong on what length the course now is but here locally it is 12 months and get a diploma.

Now in reality the only difference is since National registration they are now again all called EN's not RN Divison 2 in Victoria anyway and no HECS debt.

RN large HECS debt.

Oh and pay, one EN told me she was getting about $12 less an hour than me so had a right to pick and choose patients....but then I am the one with the HECS debt and degree. Don't get me wrong love working with EN's but it is not my problem, It is political now, nurses trained quickly, paid less, doing exactly same as RN.

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Thanks for the replies! I asked because I wanted to see if I could try being an EN in Australia via my foreign LPN diploma (a similar 1-year course), and if I move to Australia, then I wanted to see whether or not I could be able to get a bachelor's through my diploma via a bridging program of some sort.

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