Registered Nurses, also known as RNs, are one of the front-line roles who manage patient care. This career requires you to complete a tertiary qualification, typically at university, which will give you the skills and knowledge required to create patient management and care plans, and provide high-quality nursing care.
Below, you’ll find our quick guide on how to become a Registered Nurse, including the day-to-day responsibilities you can expect, the kind of salary offered and other useful information.
What is a Registered Nurse (RN)?
A Registered Nurse's responsibilities can vary based on the clinical setting in which you work, and the type of patients that you care for. RNs have a broad scope of responsibilities that are similar to general healthcare assistants, but involve much more responsibility and accountability.
You'll work closely with other healthcare professionals that include doctors, physiotherapists, nutritionists and more, creating holistic care plans that improve patient health and lifestyle.
RNs differ to other types of nurses in that they are generally more capable of performing advanced functions within their role. For example, an Enrolled Nurse will have less accountability and responsibility than an RN, providing basic nursing care.
Personal Care Attendant’s will again perform basic nursing duties, such as toileting and personal hygiene, but they'll work under the supervision of a Registered Nurse.
What Does a Registered Nurse Do?
So, exactly what does a registered nurse do? An RN’s responsibilities still include many of the basic personal hygiene, toileting and nutrition duties faced by Enrolled Nurses and Assistants in Nursing. However, with the availability of a team to take on some of that burden, Registered Nurses are able to dedicate more of their time to the more involved aspects of patient care management.
Some of the day-to-day responsibilities of Registered Nurses include:
- Assessment of patients, both after their initial admission and on an ongoing basis while they’re under your care.
- Completing patient “handover” where necessary, in which you pass the care of your patient(s) onto other staff, such as during a shift change.
- Detailed documentation of patient healthcare and progress, including new problems or progression of existing ones; vital signs and general wellness; behavioural changes; medications; and more.
- Interpreting clinical data and understanding how those results impact on your patient(s) care plan.
- Safely administering medication to patients. This is a responsibility that falls under the remit of a Registered Nurse, and not just any nurse or healthcare assistant can administer medication.
- Developing ongoing care plans for your patients, both within the hospital setting and for their daily life after discharge.
This is a snapshot of some of the wide-ranging duties of a Registered Nurse. Qualified RNs will also participate in professional development, be knowledgeable in risk management, prepare patients for examinations, act as a team lead for more junior staff, and more. This is all on top of having excellent emotional and psychological support skills.
What Skills Do I Need to Be a Registered Nurse?
The demands of a Registered Nurse position require a combination of soft skills and expertise. Here are some of the personal skills that you'll improve upon and learn when working as an RN:
- Attention to detail: A high level of attention to detail is critical as a Registered Nurse. Given your involvement in patient medication and record keeping, there is often very little room for error. Making mistakes can have serious consequences when working with patients.
- Communication skills: Good communication skills are beneficial in a number of ways, including in building relationships with staff and patients, as well as ensuring that patient care instructions are followed correctly. This skill ties in with others, such as strong leadership and conflict resolution.
- Organisation skills: Those with strong organisational skills are likely to do well as a Registered Nurse. You could be overseeing the operation of several areas of a clinical department, and you may have a hand in the line management of other staff.
- Teamwork skills: Being able to work with a variety of other healthcare professionals is important as a Registered Nurse. You need to understand what dependencies you have upon other people, in addition to knowing how your role fits within a patient’s wider experience of their healthcare journey.
- Leadership skills: Registered Nurses often act as a leader to the more junior positions in their team, such as Enrolled Nurses. Providing training and guidance to other members of the team will help you to become more of a natural leader. However, having experience in a similar position can help you to adjust to the role more quickly.
How to Become a Registered Nurse
Becoming a Registered Nurse takes time and patience. To be eligible for registration with the appropriate regulatory body, you’ll need to have completed a tertiary qualification. Below, we’ve highlighted the key steps to becoming a Registered Nurse in Australia.
Step One: Obtain a Relevant Nursing Qualification
Most aspiring Registered Nurses will start by completing a Bachelor of Nursing or similar degree in the healthcare field, such as Bachelor of Science with a Major in Nursing. These degree programs are specifically designed to ensure that you acquire the required knowledge, skills and practical experience needed to gain your registration.
At this point, you'll be eligible to become a Registered Nurse and begin practising in Australia. However, some students choose to expand their knowledge further with a two-year Masters of Nursing qualification. In addition to expanding your knowledge, this could lead to greater earning potential and a higher-level position, such as Nurse Practitioner.
Step Two: Apply for Registration with NMBA
To officially work as a Registered Nurse, you'll need to apply for registration with the Nursing and Midwifery Board of Australia (NMBA). This is not a one-time application; you'll need to reapply once per year to renew your registration, and it involves being up-to-date on your vaccinations, in addition to police clearance and a working with children check.
Step Three: Find a Role and Gain Experience
Once you've gained your Bachelor's or Master's in Nursing, you're eligible to find work as a Registered Nurse. However, some graduates seek out a graduate program instead. These programs are also known as a transition into professional practice, providing opportunities to work in a fully compensated graduate program within a clinical or hospital setting. Here, you’ll gain invaluable practical experience while being paid for your efforts.
With sufficient experience, you could use such a program to progress into a more specialised area of expertise that will further broaden your specific skills and experience. These include:
- Aged care
- Community health
- Intensive care
- Mental health nursing
- Paediatric nursing
- Surgical nursing
How Much Can I Earn as a Registered Nurse in Australia?
Alternatives to Becoming a Registered Nurse
Becoming a Registered Nurse is a big commitment, considering the time and cost involved in completing a Bachelor’s or even Master’s tertiary qualification. The challenge can be even greater for mature students who need to support themselves while considering a potential career change.
However, it’s still possible to work in nursing without becoming a Registered Nurse. Qualifications such as a Certificate III in Individual Support (Aged Care) can lead to roles as a Personal Care Assistant or Aged Care Worker, for example, and the certificate III in aged care can be completed in as few as 22 weeks. The cost is also significantly less than attending a three or four-year degree program at university.
Level III and IV certificates also provide a means to gain experience within a role before committing to a much longer qualification. For students who are exploring their career options, this can be a good starting point.
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