AUSTRALIA — the Land Down Under, is a country with magnificent landscapes and endless job opportunities for foreign nurses. Are you a foreign nurse who wants to work and live in Australia? You are a step closer to your dream by reading this post.
Here at 1NURSE.com, our team has collated all information on the steps and requirements to prepare for foreign nurses aspiring to work and live in Australia. All it takes is an ounce of courage and a bucket full of patience to achieve your dreams. Keep reading this article to learn more.
In a nutshell, if you're a foreign nurse who wants to work in Australia, you must have/be:
As of 2020, there are more than 400,000 registered nurses in Australia. 30% of those are foreign nurses. That’s approximately 118,000 migrant nurses that moved to Australia. In the years to come, it is projected that more immigrant nurses will work and live in Australia.
The career way options for nurses in Australia include: Registered Nurse, Enrolled Nurse, Assistant in Nursing, and Nursing Practitioner. Each career has different educational attainment, but basically, the application process to Australia is similar. Here’s what you need to know about the different career pathways of nurses and their roles.
A Registered Nurse (RN)is licensed under the Nursed and Midwives Board. Moreover, an RN holds a higher level of professional responsibility and accountability. An RN can fulfil the role of a unit manager, nurse administrator, or team leader. Their duties include patient assessment, medication management, and giving specialised nursing care.
An Enrolled Nurse works under the direct supervision of a Registered Nurse. An Enrolled Nurse may work directly or indirectly under the supervision of an RN but will still be responsible for their job responsibilities.
An enrolled nurse can provide nursing care by monitoring a patient’s vital signs and blood sugar levels, assisting in hygiene care, and providing first aid. An RN may also delegate tasks to an enrolled nurse as long as under their supervision. An enrolled nurse typically has a 2-year course Diploma in Enrolled Nursing.
An Assistant in Nursing (AIN) is technically not a nurse. However, an AIN performs duties under the direct supervision of a Registered Nurse. The scope of work of an AIN may include assisting with personal hygiene, bathing, showering, sponge bath, managing toilet needs, bed repositioning, or mobility assistance.
Assistant in Nursing go by other names like personal care assistant, aged care worker, health service assistant, or care support employees. As for the qualifications of an AIN, a Technical and Further Education (TAFE) is required.
Lastly, a Nurse Practitioner is a registered nurse with an extended clinical role. Further education is required to become a Nurse Practitioner, typically 1-2 years of additional study such as a current practising certificate. As for the scope of work of a Nurse Practioner, this may include but is not limited to medication prescription and ordering diagnostic tests.
In addition, you should complete a minimum of 3 years of post-registration experience in a specialised area. There must be evidence of Clinical Support that the employer is willing to facilitate an extended clinical practice within the workplace.
Working as a nurse in Australia opens a lot of opportunities and means a high-paying salary. The nurses’ wages may vary on the location, work experience, qualifications and seniority of the nurse. Below is the salary of nurses in Australia; as of 2020, collected reports.
