Working as a nurse and joining the healthcare industry is an incredible rewarding career path, with multiple avenues available to explore. Nursing at any level provides a wealth of opportunity caring for those in need in a variety of healthcare settings.
What does a nurse do?
Nursing sits on a broad spectrum, with a range of professions to pursue. The nursing scale ranges from an enrolled nurse up to a clinical nurse manager.
- Enrolled nurse – They provide nursing care including medication administration under the supervision of a registered nurse.
- Registered nurse – Their duties are similar to that of an enrolled nurse; however, they will focus on more complex levels of care and will make decisions when leading a team.
- Advanced nurses/nurse managers – Experienced registered nurses may progress into this role, leading a team of clinical staff, ensuring high quality patient care. They may also be involved in policy implementation and resource management.
- Nurse educator and researcher – a registered nurse may choose to step back from an ‘on the floor’ role and go into teaching, education and research
Interested to know how much a nurse earns? Find out more about registered nurse salaries in Australia
How to become a nurse in Australia
A nurse working in a clinical position will need to have the required qualification and an AHPRA registration.
To become an enrolled nurse, or a registered nurse, you will need to follow these steps:
1. Obtain a nursing qualification
The nursing career path that you would like to pursue will define what nursing qualification you need:
- Enrolled nurse: Diploma of Nursing, a two-year course that can be studied on a full time or part time basis.
- Registered nurse: Bachelor of Nursing degree, a three-year undergraduate course studied at a university institution.
2. Meet nursing compliance regulations and requirements
To become a nurse, you will need to complete character and background checks. This will include:
- National Police Check
- Working with Children Check (if you will be interacting with children)
- National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS) check
- Character references
This may vary depending on your employer and what area of nursing you choose to specialise in.
3. Register with the nursing board AHPRA
To practice in Australia as a clinical nursing or healthcare professional, you will need an Australia Health Practitioner Regulation Agency (AHPRA) registration. The government body regulates those practicing within the healthcare space, and ensures they are fit to do the job they are trained for.
AHPRA maintains a record of your study, places of practice, and years of experience. Your registration with the AHPRA will need to be renewed every year at a cost of $185. You cannot become a nurse or practice without it.
4. Keep up to date with nursing practices and regulations
Once you have become a nurse, you need to work to keep your registration active. Each nurse will need to complete a minimum of 20 hours of continuing professional development (CPD) each year and be aware of updates in the nursing industry.
How to become a nurse in Australia from overseas
Australia is projected to face a shortage of around 123,000 nurses by 2030. Transferring your nursing qualifications from overseas to Australia is possible, allowing you to work and travel as a nurse across the country. The overall process for this can take anywhere from one to nine months, depending on where you gained your qualification.
Gather your nursing qualification and experience documents
You will need to prove that you have qualified as a nurse and have experience in your field. Evidence that attributes to this includes your degree and transcripts, references from your employer, your contract, and the character documents specified above.
Prove your English language proficiency
If you do not have a passport from Canada, the Republic of Ireland, the United Kingdom, the United States of America, South Africa or New Zealand, you will need to take an English test. This can be any of the following:
Each test has differing costs and pass rates. Your employer or visa type may state a preference for one of the four exams.
If applicable, take a NCLEX/OSCE exam
Nurses who have trained in certain countries can convert their nursing qualifications without taking further assessments. Some internationally qualified nurses may need to sit theory and practical assessments, such as an NCLEX or OSCE.
Acquire an Australia visa
To work in Australia, you need to be either a permanent resident or citizen or hold a visa with working rights. This can be in the short term, like a Working Holiday Visa 417 & 462 or longer term like a Skills in Demand Visa. You can obtain a visa yourself or via an employer who is willing to offer sponsorship.
Become a nurse with Pulse Staffing
Once you are qualified as a nurse, we are here to help you find your dream nursing role. Our teams of industry experts can align nursing talent to the right opportunities, whether you are looking for ad-hoc shifts to fit around your other commitments, or workaway travel nursing contracts where you can explore the country whilst getting paid for it. Contact our team for more information or browse and apply to nursing jobs today.