Question about Enrolled nurses v Registered Nurse

talaxandra · Mar 3, 2005

Hi Jen,

Division two (formerly enrolled) nurses complete a twelve month certificate course, primrily through technical institutions (TAFE); the pay scale is lower, and there is less scope for advancement, but more patient contact. Bridging courses, converting division two practitioners to a degree, are widely available.

Division one registered nurses complete a three year degree course through a university, with the option of an honours year for those who meet the academic requirements. The switch from hospital-based to tertiary education was completed in 1990 (at least in Victoria). There is no requirement at present that RNs with a certicate or diploma convert to a degree, though some hospitals have this as a requirement for some senior positions.

For more information about nursing in Victoria, check out the government's nursing website - http://www.nursing.vic.gov.au/furthering/

Hope this helps :)

pmchap · Mar 5, 2005

Hi in NSW enrolled nurses are still called enrolled - and yes it is a 12month program through a TAFE. In the last 12 months the EN program has been upgraded to include the administration of most medications. RNs do a uni degree (3 years) and have a role much more defined around the critical thinking and care planning of their patients. At the end of any shift it is the RN would is responsible for the care that the patient has recieved. The delivery of care will be spread across workers based on skills training and legal restriction on practice - but the EN is in essensce working for the RN in the provision of the patients care. There is a difference in pay scales in NSW with a senior EN (5 years of practice or more) earning just slightly less than a begining RN.

Hope that this helps.

Cheers

Peter

g'daymate · Mar 5, 2005

Hi Jen,

Iwas an enrolled nurse in New Zealand and have recently completed a three year bachelors course to RN. Enrolled nurses in New Zealand have very little resposibilty now and must work under the supervision of a registered nurse. As i understand it they have less responsibility than an LPN , but are our second level nurse. We have had recent Government legislation that further reduces their scope of practice and this is very contraversial in NZ right now with nursing shortag :) es etc. My Husbands daugher is an LPN in Kansas city Mo so i understand a little bit of the role of LPN.

Kia Ora

Trish

Hello everyone,
What is the difference between an enrolled nurse and a registered nurse. Is it the same thing like the RN to LPN over here. What are the things that an enrolled nurse can/cannot do? Is the pay rate the same or do enrolled nurses make less? Are they generally equivalent?
I'm an RN in the US, but I don't have my Bachelor's degree. The Board keeps mentioning enrolled nursing List A, and I just wanted to understand a little bit better.
Thanks
Jen.

Kiwi Ali · Apr 3, 2005

Hi Jen,
Iwas an enrolled nurse in New Zealand and have recently completed a three year bachelors course to RN. Enrolled nurses in New Zealand have very little resposibilty now and must work under the supervision of a registered nurse. As i understand it they have less responsibility than an LPN , but are our second level nurse. We have had recent Government legislation that further reduces their scope of practice and this is very contraversial in NZ right now with nursing shortag :) es etc. My Husbands daugher is an LPN in Kansas city Mo so i understand a little bit of the role of LPN.
Kia Ora
Trish

Me too, I trained as a hospital trained EN back in the 80's, it was a full year course, and you were paid to learn. I recenlty have upgraded to a Registered Comprehensive Nurse with a BHSc (and a student loan to repay! LOL) It was my polytech that reopened training for EN's and I was against it, as it was nowhere near how we were trained, basically glorified nurse aides, in aged care. Then the Nursing Council pulled the plug on it and changed their name to Health Aides or something. What they did was right, but how they did was very wrong. Especially to the poor people halfway through the course, expecting to become EN's at the end of it.

The nursing council and NZNO (union) website will have lots of imformation about the whole debate and scopes. Basically as EN must practice under the dierction of an RN. They dont touch IV's, but can give subcut's, and can administer prescribed meds etc. At our hospital, we all work alongside each other, some of the EN's (the originals) have way more knowledge and definately more experience than some new RN's.

Sorry about the speling, fingers too slow or too fast for the brain! LOL

Ali