RN 2 Nurses. Some info please ?

Hi,

Im considering studying to become an RN2, but I would like to get a sense of what the day to day responsibilities/duties are like for an RN2.

For instance, (and I mean no disrespect to anyone) would I basically be a glorified orderly?

I would greatly appreciate any guidence people can offer me.

Thanks,

Allie

[gwenith, BSN, RN]

Victoria is slightly different from QLD but an RN2 which is EN equivalent here has a vast range of tasks depending on where you work. To get a better idea of what an RN2 does you may have to wait a day or two for one of our Victorian members to come online. There is not a lot of us posting on the board and except for me they are pretty intermittant lot Be patient one of the others will catch up with you.

[ceridwyn]

Hi there, its me C, as a former Div 2. A RN dv 2 is far from a glorified orderly.

A dv 2 is educated at TAFE and is taught biology, prof. issues and nursing care. More or less the 1st year of the RN1 who is educated in a University. Most universities ( RMIT )anyway will give a DV2 straight entry into 2nd year of the Bachelor of Nursing. So does this give you an idea of what a DV2 s range of care.?

Depending on the health care agency, most hospitals work the DV2 along with the Dv1 the same patient ratios, but the AUM will do the "supervising" and drugs for the DV2. (Medication has been approved though the nurses board and Vic govt they are just working out how to do it) So in the near future Dv2s will be allowed to do some medications as well.

Dv2 are according to the Anci roles for ENs work within their nursing education and be supervised by an RN1. So in other words the DV2 must know and report any abnormal observations, behavior, etc. to their "supervising" dv1 for them to notify Doctor, give meds etc. Dv2s at this time still cannot check drugs either. which is a nuisance sometimes.

The hospital I work in is very supportive to Dv2s and unless you looked real close to the name badge you wouldn't know the difference between a Dv1 or 2 same uniform same respect.

Hope this helps a bit. C

[alliey]

Thanks for the info you have given me so far. I just have one more point that im a little confused about. Where does wound care come into it? Is there a level that soley takes care of that area?

Thanks Allie

[ceridwyn]

That is a tricky one all round.

I am not sure where Dv2's stand on that one. As they usually are aloted their patients and I have and have not been asked to do any dressings for a dv 2.

This is how is was when I was DV2. Wound care involves - simple dressings, pack dressings, debriding, probing etc. drain tubes removal as well.

When I did DV2 we were only educated in simple dressings, which means cleaning applying something to it and covering, no further than that.

To find out more ring a education provider, or maybe someone else swimming out there maybe able to shed some light on the matter. C

[gwenith, BSN, RN]

Usually our Enrolled nurses do the "simple" dressings but it depends on where and when they work. An EN at Barcaldine might be doing far more complex dressing under guidance of an RN than an EN working in a Metropolitan hospital. The realy complex dressings even the RN usually take guidance from a wound care expert.

The EN that works in ICU with us is actually responsible for environmental maintenance. Doesn't sound like much and a lot of her job on the surface is re-stocking but under that top layer she has a wide range of duties from ordering equipment collating product evatulations right through to actually doing the infection control audits. She is worth her weight in gold!!! The unit does NOT work as well when she is not there. She has no wish to go on to be an RN and is happy in her work.

In summary the role of the Enrolled nurse is almost as diverse as that of the registered nurse with your repsonsibilities differing dependingon where you work,

[alliey]

Thanks for the information. I have now enrolled to become an Div 1 nurse.

Allie ;-)

[gwenith, BSN, RN]

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