Archived Professional News: October 2005

Getting education right for enrolled nurses

A project to include enrolled nursing (RN Division 2 in Victoria) in the health training package, the national framework for education in the health industry, is in progress. A first draft of the qualification framework has been released.
The package already covers ambulance workers and health technicians, cleaners and allied health care assistants.

This is an important step toward greater consistency in the basic education provided to enrolled nurses. It will not, however, lead to an enrolled nurse clone. The initial or basic education for enrolled nurses is only the foundation stone on which a nursing career is built.

The level of qualifications for enrolled nurses is an important issue at the moment, as some states and territories have a Diploma, while others have a Certificate IV.

The draft qualification framework includes two separate qualifications: a Certificate IV and another, completely different, Diploma level qualification. This is not national consistency.

The ANF is taking the position that there can be two levels of qualification, but the core units of competency should be the same in both the Certificate IV and the Diploma.

The core units will be the minimum required for licensure as an enrolled nurse, and they would align with the Australian Nursing and Midwifery Council’s national competency standards for enrolled nurses.

The other units of competency that make up either the Certificate IV or Diploma course could be packaged to meet the needs of enrolled nurses working in the different sectors.

For example, there may be 15 units of competency that would be compulsory in both qualifications – core units that lead to licensure as an enrolled nurse. There could then be a choice of electives, providing flexibility for the student and the industry to package the qualification to meet their specific needs. The Diploma would attract a higher number of units of competency, to reflect the higher level qualification.

What happens to enrolled nurses when they move from one state to another or from aged care to the acute sector? The same thing that should happen now – the enrolled nurse is employed as an enrolled nurse, but their scope of practice is assessed and any gaps in skills and knowledge are addressed at the local level.

Packaging the right core units for both levels is the key. The core units are for licensing purposes and they reflect the foundation for the education of enrolled nurses.

Education for enrolled nurses must reflect their nursing role and lead to opportunities for a career within nursing. The ANF is committed to getting education right for enrolled nurses.

Victoria Gilmore
ANF Federal Professional Officer