If you are empathetic, caring and always willing to help, nursing may be the perfect career for you. Study one of the most in-demand and employable careers in Australia.
Nursing involves caring for the health needs of individuals and society through the knowledge and practice of science, technology and treatment methodology.
There are two main types of nurses in Australia: Registered Nurses (RN) and Enrolled Nurses (EN). Registered nurses in Australia provide primary health care mainly in hospitals, nursing homes, communities or schools. Enrolled nurses are usually supervised by a registered nurse and are responsible for patient comfort, safety and hygiene. The responsibility is high, but not as high as that of a registered nurse.
By studying a nursing course, you'll gain core skills in clinical assessment and decision making, person-centred care, professional communication, enquiry and research, and much more. The Nurse course will give you the ability to provide care in multiple healthcare, industrial and community settings.
How to become a Registered Nurse in Australia?
To become a Registered Nurse in Australia you will need to:
- Complete a Bachelor in Nursing
- Applying to the Australian Health Practitioners Regulation Agency (AHPRA) to work as an Registered Nurse
- Meet Nursing and Midwifery Board of Australia (NMBA’s) registration standards
- Work as a Registered Nurse in a general capacity. After that, you will be able to specialise in your area of interest
How to become an Enrolled Nurse in Australia?
What you need to do to become an Enrolled Nurse (EN) in Australia would be similar to becoming an Registered Nurse (RN), but not exactly the same. They include:
- Successful completion of an HLT54115 - Diploma of Nursing.
- Applying to AHPRA
- Complying with NMBA registration standards
- Getting practical experience as an Enrolled Nurse and then deciding whether you want to continue in that career or become a Registered Nurse.
How many years does a nurse study
Nursing diplomas often last a total of 102 weeks. It can be studied in various institutions, ranging from universities to VET providers. By studying full-time, this course may take you 20 months to complete and will provide you with the certification to work as an Enrolled Nurse.
Why study nursing in Australia?
Nurses in Australia are in high demand. Even before the pandemic, there was a shortage of nurses in Australia, due to a decreasing number of nursing graduates and less overseas nurses arriving from other countries. Registered nurses are in high demand for their skills, quick thinking and compassion.
Do nurses get paid well in Australia?
Australian nurses rank as one of the highest paid occupations. Upon graduation, working full-time in Australia, nurses earn around A$1,480 a week, a fairly high rate when compared to other jobs. Nurse average salary in Australia is between $80000 and $85000 a year.
Other Jobs you can perform as a Registered Nurse:
- Pediatrics
- Aged care
- Community health
- Acute care
- Emergency services
- Operating theatres
- Day Surgery Centres
- Chronic care
- Palliative care
- Rehabilitation services
- Mental health
- Psychiatric, forensic and correctional health
- Refugee health
- Rural and Regional health services
- Health Promotion
- Digital health
Benefits of Becoming a Nurse in Australia
Among the benefits of studying nursing you have first and foremost that it is a well-paid profession. It has nowadays many vacancies and job opportunities and will become increasingly demanded due to the ageing of the population.
It offers excellent working conditions and a high level of job satisfaction. Plus the fact that you can specialise in a field, receive further training and continue your chosen career.
Which nurse course is best?
You are probably wondering where can I study to become a nurse, but that will probably depend a lot on your goals and future plans. There are many options for studying nursing in Australia. Contact us today to learn more about your options. At Study Destination we will help you understand your choices and apply for your Student Visa at no cost!
