I am presently studying for my Enrolled Nurse qualification. I started in February 07 and will finish in July 08. What I am doing is called a Diploma of Nursing which is actually the first year of a Bachelor of Nursing. So, if I wanted to gain my RN certificate at a later date, I would only need to do 2 more years and not 3. I won't be doing that because I am [EVIL]59 years young[/EVIL]!
Enrolled Nurses are highly sort after in Australia. With the mountains of paper work RNs are required to do these days, ENs are acquiring more and more responsibilities. There are many courses available to ENs after they complete the course and we can specialise in things such as wound care, palliative care, operating theatre - just about any area. Gone are the days where ENs only do showers, empty bed pans, change beds - our scope of practice is so much wider now. And we have the respect of RNs too!:cheers:
We do have limitations to our scope of practice such as we are not permitted to administer drugs such as morphine, we cannot give injections to children and we do work under the direction of an RN. It is possible, once one has gained years of experience, to be accredited to 'work unsupervised' as an EN.
The class that preceded mine were all employed within a week of graduation and it is expected my class will be the same. My plan is to work through an agency. Because I have an elderly husband whose health is not always tip-top, I cannot commit to anything permanent. Agency work will suit me because when he is well I can work; when he's not, I won't. There are 3 hospitals and 10 aged care facilities within 30 miles of my home - work will be plentiful.
Hi there! I'm new to this thread and I have some questions. I'm from the USA by the way, so I'm not certain about how nursing goes in Australia.
If an EN wants to go for an Bachelor RN, what is needed? How long would it take? Where would you go? Would it be possible to work part time as an EN and continue with schooling?
Scooby-Dooby-Doo
511 Posts
Hi there! I'm new to this thread and I have some questions. I'm from the USA by the way, so I'm not certain about how nursing goes in Australia.
If an EN wants to go for an Bachelor RN, what is needed? How long would it take? Where would you go? Would it be possible to work part time as an EN and continue with schooling?