{"id":12440,"date":"2022-05-12T08:00:34","date_gmt":"2022-05-11T22:00:34","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/explorecareers.emotedigital.com.au\/?p=12440"},"modified":"2022-05-11T12:10:32","modified_gmt":"2022-05-11T02:10:32","slug":"international-nurses-day-2022-explore-the-nursing-career-pathway","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/explorecareers.com.au\/international-nurses-day-2022-explore-the-nursing-career-pathway\/","title":{"rendered":"International Nurses Day 2022: Explore the Nursing Career Pathway"},"content":{"rendered":"

In light of recent years’ events and the first global-scale health crisis most of us will have ever experienced, the role of healthcare and medical professionals has never been more crucial!<\/p>\n

Whether you\u2019ve been observing in the news, having relatives in medical professions, or living with a frontline medical worker, if you\u2019re anything like us, you\u2019ve probably been impressed and perhaps inspired by the dedication and commitment these professionals show in their duty to their work.<\/p>\n

That\u2019s why this International Nurses Day, we wanted to take a moment to highlight the role of nurses in our communities and take a look at what the career path to becoming a nurse looks like in Australia.<\/p>\n

What is International Nurses Day?<\/strong><\/h4>\n

Each year, the International Council of Nurses<\/a> leads the celebrations on International Nurses Day, held on the 12th of May – the anniversary of Florence Nightingale\u2019s birth.<\/p>\n

The theme for International Nurses Day (IND) 2022 is Nurses: A Voice to Lead \u2013 Invest in nursing and respect rights to secure global health<\/strong>. The theme aims to focus on the need to protect, support, and invest in the nursing profession to strengthen health systems worldwide.<\/p>\n

How Do You Become a Nurse in Australia?<\/strong><\/h4>\n

There are two key pathways to becoming a nurse in Australia, these are:<\/p>\n

    \n
  1. Registered Nurse (RN):<\/strong> It takes longer to qualify as an RN, as the role generally has more responsibility. RNs can become unit\/ward managers, team leaders and also work within medical administration. RNs work in private and public medical organisations, mainly hospitals, across all medical departments.<\/li>\n
  2. Enrolled Nurse (EN)<\/strong>: ENs work under RNs, and the qualification pathway is slightly shorter but still requires a strong commitment. They observe, measure and record their patients\u2019 condition, reporting changes to the RN or the doctors. ENs can work across various medical and health organisations, including hospitals, aged care, and community health.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

    The study pathway for each is slightly different, and in general, RNs have a higher level of expertise and responsibility than ENs.<\/p>\n

    To become an RN, you will:<\/strong><\/p>\n

      \n
    1. Complete a Bachelor of Nursing. This can take three years, but many universities also offer a fast-track program, which can be completed in two years, including practical placements.<\/li>\n
    2. Apply to the Australian Health Practitioners Regulation Agency<\/a> (AHPRA) to practice as an RN. You will need to renew this registration annually.<\/li>\n
    3. Start work as a general RN, and define your expertise as you grow your career. Many RNs pick a speciality in time.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

      To become an EN, you will:<\/strong><\/p>\n

        \n
      1. Complete a Diploma of Nursing as a minimum. This typically takes 18 months to complete.<\/li>\n
      2. Apply to the Australian Health Practitioners Regulation Agency<\/a> (AHPRA) to practice as an EN. You will need to renew this registration annually.<\/li>\n
      3. After working, you can decide if you want to pursue further studies to qualify as an RN or specialise as an EN in a specific department (aged care or rehabilitation).<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

        What Type of Nursing Could You Go Into?<\/strong><\/h4>\n

        Great question!<\/p>\n

        While you might think that being a nurse is all about working wherever you\u2019re needed, the truth is many nurses – especially RNs are highly specialised within one specific medical area.<\/p>\n

        Essentially, specialised RNs work just in those departments for every medical department within a hospital. This gives them the ability to become experts in one core area, meaning they can assist and provide the best level of care to their patients.<\/p>\n

        Here\u2019s a quick look at some possible departments to specialise in:<\/p>\n