What is the role of an Enrolled Nurse?

Australia's aged care system relies on a network of dedicated professionals who provide essential care and support to our growing elderly population. While doctors and registered nurses receive much-deserved recognition, there's another crucial group working tirelessly behind the scenes – enrolled nurses (ENs).

Enrolled nurses play a critical role in healthcare, providing essential care and fostering a sense of comfort and support for patients. This article delves into the world of ENs, exploring their daily tasks, skills and the positive impact they have on the lives of older people.

 

What is an enrolled nurse?

Enrolled nurses, (ENs) under the direction and supervision of a registered nurse, assist in the provision of preventative, curative and rehabilitative nursing care in hospitals, aged care homes and other healthcare settings.
They provide nursing care according to their level of training and the registering authority's license to practice.

 

What does an enrolled nurse do?

Enrolled nurses (ENs) are the supportive hands in healthcare that take on tasks like dressing, meals, wound care, taking specimens and administering medication. With compassion and strong communication skills, ENs bridge the gap between patients and healthcare teams.

 

What are the National Safety and Quality Health Service Standards?

Registered training organisations such as TAFE have governance arrangements for the enrolled nurse program of study to develop and deliver a sustainable and high-quality experience for students. This enables them to meet AHPRA Enrolled Nurse Standards to Practice.

The standards address the following areas:

• Governance for Safety and Quality in Health Service Organisations;
• Partnering with Consumers;
• Preventing and Controlling Healthcare Associated Infections;
• Medication Safety;
• Patient Identification and Procedure Matching;
• Clinical Handover;
• Blood and Blood Product;
• Preventing and Managing Pressure Injuries;
• Recognising and Responding to Clinical Deterioration in Acute Health Care; and
• Preventing Falls and Harm from Falls.

 

How to become an enrolled nurse

Enrolled nurses play a vital role in aged care, providing compassionate and skilled care to patients in a variety of settings. If you're interested in a rewarding career that allows you to make a real difference in people's lives, then becoming an enrolled nurse could be the perfect path for you. Here's what you need to do to get started:

1.    Complete a Diploma of Nursing

This is the minimum qualification required and is typically offered by TAFE institutes or other Registered Training Organisations (RTOs) across Australia. The program takes between 12 and 24 months to complete, depending on whether you study full-time or part-time. It will involve a combination of classroom learning and practical placements in healthcare settings to gain hands-on experience.

2.    Meet the English language requirements

The Nursing and Midwifery Board of Australia (NMBA) sets the English language requirements for ENs. You can find details on their website or by contacting the educational institution you plan to attend.

3.    Register with the Nursing and Midwifery Board of Australia (NMBA)

Upon successful completion of your diploma, you can apply for registration with the NMBA. Registration is mandatory to practice as an EN in Australia. There will be a registration fee and ongoing annual renewal requirements.

Further information can be found on the Nursing and Midwifery Board of Australia.

 

What is the difference between an enrolled nurse (EN) and an endorsed enrolled nurse (EEN)?

The primary difference between an EN and an endorsed enrolled nurse (EEN) is that an EEN completes a medicine administration module during their studies, allowing them to administer medicine. An EN can't administer medicine, even under the direct supervision of a Registered Nurse.

To become an endorsed enrolled nurse (EEN) in Australia, you must complete a Diploma of Nursing with a module on medication administration. This program covers nursing fundamentals, pharmacology and healthcare settings through coursework and placements.

 

Enrolled nurses at Estia Health

Interested in working as an enrolled nurse for Estia Health? Check our careers hub to see what jobs are currently available within our homes. You can also read our employee stories here.