Oz Div1 role compared to Irish RGN role

[irish-nurse]

Hi,

I'm an irish nurse just arrived in melbourne . i've joined agency and am going to be working in public/private hospitals, general wards. In Ireland. we basically do all the work/care alone for our allocated patient load (6-9 approx) this includes everything from personal care. You may get some assistance from care assistant or student nurse if lucky to have one assigned to you.

In Australia I believe you have different grades of nurses below Div 1. My question is basically what tasks can be delegated. What is the main role of the Div 1 nurse.???

Cheers!!

[nyapa, RN]

In Victoria Division 1 are what are termed Registered Nurses throughout the rest of Oz. Div 2 are Enrolled Nurses. Most ENs these days are medication endorsed. Each hospital has different policies on what ENS/RN div2s can/can't do. It would be best to check with your agency, the ENs themselves, and the hospital you are working at. Generally ENs are nurses; they are independent and have their own patients, following them through the process from admission to discharge. And in most hospitals Endorsed ENs can give medications.

[talaxandra]

Welcome to Australia, and to the world's most liveable city!

In Victorian acute care public hospitals there's a minimum 1:4 ratio - though this doesn't mean you'll necessarily only have 4 patients (allocation is based on acuity) you won't have anything like 6 - 9 except on nights (1:8).

Private hospitals don't have mandatory ratios but a) have less sick patients (depending on what hospitals you're comparing) and b) don't have massively dissimilar conditions or they wouldn'tbe able to get and keep nurses.

Depending on the hospital and the ward/unit/department you will either be given an area to team nurse with another RN (division one or two) or given your own patients. It is up to the division 2 nurse to ensure s/he acts within her/his scope of practice, and s/he should therefore tell you if you're asking for something outside that to be done.

Where I work the div 2's are fairly autonomous, and certainly not glorified patient attendants - they wouldn't be happy to be relegated all the hygeine and scut work. Although div 1's tend to have a more supervisory role, we're also expected to get our hands (or gloves) dirty, too.

Hope that helps :)

[Grace Oz]

Welcome to Australia, and to the world's most liveable city

Arrggg! CRIKEY!!! There yer go AGAIN!!!! Just when I was startin' ta miss ya too!!! LOL

DON'T Believe her!!!!!! She's tellin' fibs!!! LOL

[Grace Oz]

welcome to oz, irish-nurse!

the ladies above have given good advice.

basically, the enrolled nurse- div 2 nurse- works under the direction and supervision of the registerd nurse- div1.

below is copied from the australian nursing and midwifery council national standards of competency for enrolled nurses.

[color=#565656]

the enrolled nurse is an associate to the registered nurse who

demonstrates competence in the provision of patient-centred

care as specifi ed by the registering authority’s licence to

practise, educational preparation and context of care.

core as opposed to minimum enrolled nursing practice requires

the enrolled nurse to work under the direction and supervision

of the registered nurse as stipulated by the relevant nurse

registering authority. at all times, the enrolled nurse retains

responsibility for his/her actions and remains accountable in

providing delegated nursing care.

hope this might be of some help in understanding the role of the en in australia.

[talaxandra]

It's not my fault Adelaide's... not Melbourne! (ducks and hides)

And thus is Irish-nurse initiated into the joy that is Aussie inter-state rivalry and (mostly) good natured ribbing

[Grace Oz]

it's not my fault adelaide's... not melbourne! (ducks and hides)

and thus is irish-nurse initiated into the joy that is aussie inter-state rivalry and (mostly) good natured ribbing

'cept during footy season! lol

[talaxandra]

Well that's different - football is holy and worthy or interstate war!

[Grace Oz]

Well that's different - football is holy and worthy or interstate war!

EXACTLY! :smiley_ab:smiley_ab

[talaxandra]

Obviously that should have been "worthy ofinterstate war!" and not "or". See, grace - I might live in the best city in the world, but I still make typos!