free training to be EN or go to uni and study RN?

talaxandra · Oct 30, 2011

There isn't a one-size-fits-all answer here. Things to take into account are your age, your financial situation and obligations, and above all how well suited you think nursing is for you.

The clinical component in RN education comes relatively late, and starts with subacute care, so it's not until quite late into the program that you have a placement like your grad year. And the learning curve is steep post graduation. That's fine if you like nursing and pick it up quickly.

If you don't, though, that's a lot of time and money. If you opt for the EN option you'll get a feel for nursing with less time and be able to fund your transition to RN, but it takes a lot longer.

bulletproofbarb · Oct 31, 2011

if i had to choose, i would definately do EN first. you will gain experience and apply that if/when you convert to RN...you will save on hecs debt as well. it will be less when if/when you convert.

i definately belive it's the way to go.

carolmaccas66, BSN, RN · Oct 31, 2011

Go for the RN course. The HECS debt doesn't matter - you pay it off slowly, and if you die, the debt is wiped out. Heck I've got heaps of HECS debts from ongoing study, & I don't worry about it anymore.

If money is your angle, you make more as a RN, though it's been hard for some grads to get GNPs. I had to move to WA to get my experience.

But if the EN course is free, do it and then later you can do the extra 18 months or so to get ur degree, though it means extra study and time. You could do the 3 year degree in about 2 years if you pick a university that has summer school options (like I did). External study is hard but then it leaves you time during the day to work as well. If you decide to do summer study to fast track ur degree, prepare to give up your holidays and for famililial and bf/gf strife, as you will have VERY limited time to see anyone.

If u haven't much money now, I would do the free course first and that gives u time to save for uni. You will be doing a lot of clinicals later @ uni where you will need money to survive.

I suppose it all boils down to whether or not you have money to go to uni, and whether you want to be a nurse leader (RN), or someone who works under a RN (EN).

In any case, good luck with whatever decision you make - let us know what u choose.

round12tko · Oct 31, 2011

Thank you for your replies.

My hesitation in going directly to become an RN, is that it seems to me that there are many many nursing degrees on offer more then there are vacant RN positions. On top of that there are many overseas RNs who want to work in australia. I am not convinced that there is a RN shortage. Does a nursing degree make one a good nurse? If not, what does? experience?

talaxandra · Oct 31, 2011

It's true that the nursing market's tighter than usual right now, but things will change during the time you're studying. In every developed country the nursing population's aging; simultaneously we have a general population that's not only also aging but that expects more and better health care. In the long run I think there'll long be demand for nurses - in the short term the biggest issue will be the economy, both locally in Australia and globally. This is going to be a factor regardless of the profession or industry you decide to enter.

EN's cost less to educate and employ. However, they also have limitations in scope of practice, depth and breadth of knowledge, and significantly fewer career options. If you're interested in nursing as a career, spanning a decade or more, you should definitely look at the RN route; if you want a job that's less about long-term challenge and more about regular pay the EN path may be better.

This is in no way meant to be a dig at EN's - I work alongside four fantastic EN's and appreciate their work. But the role, at least in acute care, is necessarily more restricted and there's unquestionably less potential for growth.

There are absolutely many overseas nurses working in Australia - I work with, off the top of my head, two Scottish, one Irish, one German, three Filipino, one Mauritian, five Kiwi, one English, one South African, two Malaysian, one Hong Kong Chinese, two Indian and two Tasmanian nurses. Except for the A/NZ crowd, who started as grads, they all had a minimum of two years experience before being hired here.

The local grad market is certainly competitive, but you're competing with your classmatesfor those positions. If you're smart, hard-working, clinically competent and improving, once you've got a grad year under your belt you'll be fine holding your own in the market.

Unlike the US, wages are standardised here, so internationally-educated nurses aren't cheaper for hospitals to hire. In some cases hospitals are dishonest and don't pay these nurses based on their years of experience, but that all has to be backpaid when they get found out. Less, but local, experience counts as much and is cheaper.

Hope that helps :)

talaxandra · Oct 31, 2011

Oops. left out what I think makes an ideal nurse:

- organisation

- insight

- mental agility and the ability to process information quickly

- functional intelligence

- strong communication skills

- being able to put disparate information together

- staying calm despite environmental panic

- moving quickly but without haste

- grace under pressure

- honesty and integrity

- an understanding of what constitutes professional accountability

- a sense of humour and a sense of perspective

- knowing when to step back

- recognising that people see what you show them: panic on the inside, look unruffled to the patient even if there's more blood than you've ever seen in your life!

Nice, but not essential:

- compassion

- a desire to help people

- a calling or vocation

bulletproofbarb · Nov 1, 2011

Thank you for your replies.
My hesitation in going directly to become an RN, is that it seems to me that there are many many nursing degrees on offer more then there are vacant RN positions. On top of that there are many overseas RNs who want to work in australia. I am not convinced that there is a RN shortage. Does a nursing degree make one a good nurse? If not, what does? experience?

If you are already hesistant, then go down the EN path. You will gain knowledge, experience and if you do decide to move on to RN, you will be able to work a bit when you study if money is an issue.

Yes, there is a glut of new nurses and not everyone will get a place on a GNP. I do believe though that employers do look favourably on RN's that used to be EN's if they have done well, have good references ect. Some of the private hospitals also will pay for EN to RN conversion and offer you a job on their GNP.

I am not sure how old you are, but honestly dont think you should rush into it if you have some hesitancy.

Some places also have advanced ENs who are trained in IV insertion, IV AB"s and medications and other skills relevant to their area...and are cheaper to employ than RN's. I do know in WA the private sector is moving to 30% RN's and 70% EN's as their workforce.

round12tko · Nov 2, 2011

I am grateful for your thoughts.

There is no doubt doing a nursing degree and then becoming a RN leads to more opportunities, more pay and specializations. There are so many graduate RNs and RNs from overseas vying for work in australia.

But to turn down a get paid while you study EN traineeship is very difficult. There are not many of these EN traineeships yet there are thousands of nursing degrees on offer. The scope of work an EN does now includes IVs and medications. The gap between an EN and RN is narrowing.

carolmaccas66, BSN, RN · Nov 2, 2011

If you train to be an endorsed Enrolled Nurse (EEN) you do have a bit more autonomy, and each state is different.

However, I must warn you that 'the gap' between EN & RN is vastly different! You have much more responsibility as a RN, you coordinate shifts, staff, trouble-shoot relatives' & patient's problems, you use lots more critical thinking skills too. You also get many more interruptions and have to keep track of everything going on.

I always have to smile a bit at the countless ENs/EENs who have said 'the only difference b/ween an EN & RN is that we can't hang blood (or whatever)'. I feel like saying to them: you wait till YOU are IT and are in charge, then get back to me re differences. So don't be fooled.

But paid training is fantastic, take that and go for it. Actually, I think you have already made up ur mind haven't you?

ceridwyn · Nov 2, 2011

Agree with above, by former EN now RN.

talaxandra · Nov 2, 2011

The scope of work an EN does now includes IVs and medications. The gap between an EN and RN is narrowing.

Like Carol said, it can look like that as an EEN or from outside the industry, but that's seeing the tasks, not the scope and responsibility. That extra time studying, the pay difference and the far wider career opportunities are for a reason.