How do I become an Enrolled Nurse

Enrolled Nurses are hands-on, passionate professionals who play a crucial role in the health care system. They support patients and also work alongside doctors and registered nurses. Whether this is a lifelong career, or a steppingstone to another role in healthcare, this role opens doors to a rewarding future in health.

So, how do you get started? Here’s your quick guide on how to make your dream career as an Enrolled Nurse happen.

The role of Enrolled Nurses (EN)

An Enrolled Nurse is a qualified healthcare professional who provides hands-on care to patients under the supervision of a registered nurse. They are often the first point of contact for patients in hospitals, aged care facilities, and community clinics.

Duties of an Enrolled Nurse include monitoring vital signs, administering certain medications, helping patients with personal care, dressing wounds, and documenting patient progress.

ENs also provide emotional support and can act as an advocate for them in stressful situations, which can make a huge difference to someone’s recovery.

Skills and qualification requirements for Enrolled Nurses

To work as an EN, you’ll need the right qualification. In Australia, that’s a Diploma of Nursing, which is nationally accredited and generally takes five trimesters when studied full time.

At Think Education, this program combines classroom learning with practical placements so you gain real-world experience before starting your career. You’ll get 400 hours of clinical experience in private and public hospitals, GP clinics and aged care facilities.

As a prerequisite, you’ll need to have completed Year 12 (or equivalent), or a vocational education qualification. You’ll also need to prove your literacy and numeracy skills and meet English language requirements.

Some providers may ask for a background check and up-to-date immunisations before clinical placement.

You’ll also need soft skills like empathy, patience and good communication. ENs work closely with patients during vulnerable times, so being calm under pressure and organised will help. A strong attention to detail is also important because medication and record-keeping are a big part of the job.

Where do Enrolled Nurses work?

You’ll have plenty of options when it comes to workplaces as an EN. Most people work in hospitals, but there are also roles in aged care homes, GP clinics, rehabilitation centres, mental health services and community health organisations. The Enrolled Nurse salary will vary depending on experience and location.

There’s plenty of demand in all care settings, so you’ll almost certainly be able to choose a role and workplace that suits you.

Steps to becoming an Enrolled Nurse

Here’s how to go from unqualified to fully registered EN nurse:

1. Complete Year 12 or equivalent, or a vocational education qualification.
2. Apply for a Diploma of Nursing. Enrol in an accredited course like ours that includes theory and practical placements.
3. Meet entry checks. These can include a police check, Working with Children check, and immunisations.
4. Complete your clinical placement. Get 400 hours of hands-on experience in real healthcare settings.
5. Graduate and register. Once you finish your diploma, apply for registration with the Nursing and Midwifery Board of Australia (NMBA) and the Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency (AHPRA).
6. Start your career as an EN!

The average Enrolled Nurse salary is $80,963 to $133,014 per year, and with growing demand in healthcare, job security is high.

Some ENs go on to complete a Bachelor of Nursing to become a registered nurse. You can use your Diploma of Nursing as a pathway into the bachelor’s program for credit towards the more advanced degree.