Need Information

gwenith, BSN, RN · Jul 23, 2003

We have three levels of nursing. The nurses aide = CNA. Very few in acute care and they are severely proscribed in the care tey can deliver to patients.

Enrolled nurse. = LPN/LVN. The scope of nursing practice defines the role of the enrolled nurse as an "assistant" to the registered nurse.

Registered Nurse -= RN Again we have a scope of nursing practice which you can access through the websites listed in the "sticky" thread "Australian resources"

We also have Nurse practitioners with an even wider scope of practice but you should be able to find the information you need in the above links.

Grace Oz · Jul 26, 2003

I feel I must step up to "bat" on behalf of the Enrolled Nurse here, gwenith. With respect, of course! :-)

The American LPN training & scope of practise is different to what the Australian Enrolled Nurse does. An Australian E.N. does not qualify for licensing or employment in the US. To qualify for the US, the Australian EN would have to undergo further training & sit their exams. The US LPN is actually MORE qualified than our EN's.

As for the E.N. being an "assistant" to the RN, I think there'd be a lot of E.N's who would strongly dissagree with you on that point.And it might be a debatable topic.

While the role of the E.N. is to practise under the supervision & direction of the R.N, the E.N is actually a level 2 nurse in his/her own right. Accountable for his/her own practise & therefore responsible.

Also, there are many E.N's who are practising in positions without the direction and/or supervision of an RN. Hostels being one area whereby the EN is directly responsible for the nursing process. Certainly, in that situation, the EN is definately NOT an "assistant".

Still, I guess it all depends on how one interprets, & in which contex, the word, "assistant" is used.

And there you have it... my two bob's worth! :-)

Cheers,

Grace