FAQs
NurseAid is a nursing agency that provides on-demand staff to clients. We believe in
connecting the right nurses to the right clients to ensure the highest quality of service. The
nurses we hire are experienced and dedicated to patient care, and uphold our values of
respect, transparency, compassion, and empathy.
A Registered Nurse (RN) is an individual that is registered and licensed to practice nursing
in Australia under the National Registration and Accreditation Scheme (NRAS). They work
alongside medical professionals and are usually the first point of contact for people seeking
help, support, or advice regarding a health or well-being concern. As an RN, you will be
responsible for assessing and managing a patient’s healthcare. It includes administering
medications, monitoring their treatment, and caring for them. Overall, you will have higher
responsibilities than an enrolled nurse.
The median pay per week for registered nurses in Australia is A$1,909, and an average
salary of A$65,000 per year. Data suggests that nursing has a very strong growth in the
future and there will be nearly 147,000 more jobs for registered nurses over the next 5
years. It is a career that will always be in demand, and you can earn good pay while being in
a caring profession.
As a registered nurse, you can choose from a wide variety of specialisations available. Some
of them are:
· Surgical nursing
· Midwifery
· Paediatrics
· Aged care
· Accident and Emergency nursing
· Coronary care
· Residential healthcare
· Remote community nursing
Once you know nursing is the right profession for you, you can start working towards
becoming a registered nurse and build a wonderful career.
Becoming an RN in Australia requires you to have the following qualifications:
· Successful completion of all the educational components in nursing
· A Bachelor degree in nursing from a recognised institute
· Minimum 800 hours of work experience in various healthcare settings
· Regular analysis and recognition of work by an external nursing regulatory body, the
standards of which were equivalent to the standards followed in Australia
· A certificate from your medical institute that you have completed an assessment in
medication administration and management.
Once you have the necessary qualifications, you need to be certified by the Nursing and
Midwifery Board of Australia (NMBA) by meeting their requisite criteria. To be certified by
NMBA, you must register yourself with the Australian Health Practitioner Regulation
Authority (AHPRA). AHPRA is responsible for implementing the National Registration and
Accreditation Scheme (NRAS) across the country. It’s also responsible for assessing
international applications to the NMBA. Do keep in mind that you need to renew your
AHPRA registration annually, and failing to do so may result in loss of work and revocation
of your license to practice nursing.
If you are an overseas nurse looking to practice in Australia, you will also need to
demonstrate your English language proficiency through one of the following tests:
· IELTS – score of 7 overall and individually
· OET – score of B overall and individually
· PTE – score of 65 overall and individually
· TOEFL IBT – a minimum score of 94 overall and the following minimum scores in each
individual test – 24 in listening, 24 in reading, 27 in writing, and 23 in speaking
Along with proof of English language proficiency, you will also need work experience of a
minimum of 3 months as a RN in the last 5 years. If you are not eligible to apply for the
AHPRA registration, they will suggest you complete a bridging course called OBA to bridge
the gap and make you qualified to register with AHPRA. Being an international nurse, you
will also need to hold a valid visa or a New Zealand passport.
If you hold a Bachelor degree or a diploma plus further education, and you’re registered as a
first level nurse in any of the following countries, you are likely to meet the qualification
criteria for Australia:
· New Zealand
· Canada
· The United States of America
· United Kingdoms
· The Republic of Ireland
· Hong Kong
If you are from countries other than those mentioned above, your qualifications and
experience will be assessed individually to determine whether you meet the Australian
criteria or not.
Assistant in Nursing (AIN) are assistants working with registered or enrolled nurses. They
are a healthcare worker who supports a nurse’s work by assisting the patient in their
everyday personal activities. They perform activities such as helping them around the
house, collecting blood samples and submitting them for testing, and assisting patients with
basic tasks such as eating, bathing, and dressing.
AINs are responsible for carrying out the activities assigned to them, but they are
supervised by registered nurses (RNs). The RN is responsible for the overall care of the
patient and ensuring all the activities are carried out efficiently by the AIN. Many AINs have
traditionally been undergraduate students and have been engaged mostly in the aged care
sector. However, the role of AINs is now being used in other healthcare sectors as well, such
as acute care.
Studies have shown that higher employment of registered nurses (who hold a Bachelor
degree) is directly linked to lower mortality rates. It is also seen that patient care is further
bettered when RNs have AINs working with them. It allows the patients to have more direct
contact with a healthcare worker and has a more positive impact on the overall care and
well-being of the patient. AINs are not supposed to work alone with a patient without the
supervision of a registered or enrolled nurse, since the latter two are better qualified in-
patient care.
AINs, also sometimes known as Nursing Support Workers, work under the supervision of
registered nurses, as mentioned above. They cater to the personal, day-to-day activities of
patient care. For this reason, they must have strong communication skills, empathy, and
customer service skills. They will have to use all these skills while dealing with a patient
every day. Their tasks and responsibilities can include any of the following:
· Supporting patients by catering to their personal care needs such as bathing, toileting,
shaving, oral hygiene, dressing, and eating
· Assisting patients with moving around the house or outside and communication within the
community
· Implementing therapy and intervention plans for patients with dementia or behavioural
problems
· Assisting with rehabilitation exercises and administering medication and basic treatment
· Observing and reporting changes in the patient’s condition
· Maintaining detailed and accurate patient records
· Applying simple wound dressings
· Building effective relationships with patients using clear and effective communication
skills and empathy
· Assisting registered nurses or midwives with regular technical support such as cleaning
and setting up equipment for procedures and completing basic documentation
The average salary of an AIN in Australia is A$52,042 annually, which comes down to
A$26.69 per hour. Entry-level AIN jobs offer A$48,510 per year on average, while
experienced workers can make up to A$73,037 annually.
An AIN job is a good way to start your career in the healthcare industry. To become an AIN
in Australia, you can implement the following steps:
· Undertake a professional or vocational course in nursing. A course in Health Assistance
where you undergo mandatory work placement training of 120 hours would be an ideal
way to go.
· A Bachelor degree in nursing is not required to practice as an AIN, however, if you are
enrolled in a degree program, you can work as an AIN while you’re still studying.
You can then further your career in nursing by undertaking a Bachelor degree in nursing (if
you aren’t already enrolled in one) and pursuing registered nurse jobs with your additional
qualifications. You can also become an enrolled nurse if you have a diploma in nursing and
work under the direction of a registered nurse. International individuals seeking work as an
AIN in Australia have similar basic requirements as that of a registered nurse.
Yes! We provide placement opportunities to all types of nurses, AINs, and ENs. You can look
out for AIN positions available with us from time to time and apply for short-term, long-
term, or permanent placements.
You can practice as an Enrolled Nurse (EN) if you have a diploma in nursing. An enrolled
nurse plays a critical role in patient care by providing healthcare to patients under the
direction of a registered nurse. As an EN, you will be able to work in almost every
healthcare setting. Your primary responsibility will be to assess, plan, and implement a
patient’s healthcare. However, as an enrolled nurse, you may not be able to create
medication plans or administer the medication to patients.
You will work as part of a team rather than in a supervisory position and will have lesser
authority in a hospital than a registered nurse. If you wish to work in higher-authority
positions with more responsibilities, you can consider completing a Bachelor degree course
in nursing. If you are already enrolled in one, you can also consider working as an AIN while
you continue studying.
As an enrolled nurse, your core tasks and responsibilities can include any or all of the
following:
· Observe, measure, and record the patient’s vital statistics
· Report any changes in the patient’s condition to your supervising RN and doctors
· Provide support to the patient’s family, both physical and emotional
· Assist the patient with personal hygiene tasks such as bathing, shaving, and dressing
· Effectively implement the patient’s care and course of treatment decided by the doctors,
RNs, and therapists
· Provide wound care
· Provide pre- and post-operative nursing
· Write detailed patient notes
You will be working as part of an interdisciplinary medical team in various sectors such as
aged care, surgical nursing, and even community and welfare settings. For this reason, you
must have excellent communication skills, empathy for the patients and their families, and
the ability to work in team settings.
Note that you may be allowed to administer medication if you do not have a notation on
your registration. It means that you have successfully completed the necessary training and
education in the administration of medicines.
On average, an EN earns A$62,745 annually in Australia, which comes down to A$32.18 per
hour. You can start an entry-level job at A$60,535 per year, while most experienced ENs can
earn up to A$77,400 annually.
The minimum qualification required to practice as an EN in Australia is a Diploma in
Nursing. However, along with applying for a Diploma, there are a few other things you must
do:
· Police checks – you must get a Working with Children and National Police Check done and
ensure it stays current throughout the course of your study. It must also come from the
appropriate state authority.
· Vaccinations – you must complete an adult vaccination program before you can start
practising as an EN. You will have to show evidence of having completed the program, so
maintain your vaccination documentation carefully.
· Complete your diploma – you must complete your diploma in nursing from a recognised
institution that offers a minimum of 400 hours of supervised clinical placements training.
The training allows you to build your skills on the job.
· Register with AHPRA – once you complete the diploma, you must register yourself with the
Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency (AHPRA). It will allow you to be
registered with the Nursing and Midwifery Board of Australia (NMBA). Do remember that
the registration needs to be renewed annually and failing to do so may result in the
revocation of your license to practice as a nurse.
Once you have completed your diploma, you can continue practising as an EN or undertake
further studies to become a registered nurse. If you continue working as an EN, you can
choose to specialise in any of the following areas:
· Remote Area Nurse – involves working in remote areas with a shortage of medical
facilities
· Mental Health Nurse – involves working with mental health patients, usually children or
older patients with disorders.
The payment varies greatly depending upon your experience level, the area you specialize
in, and the location and duration of the job. It is also subjective to whose payroll you are on.
If you are on our payroll, our rates generally range from [amount] to [amount] per hour. If
you are on the client’s payroll, the minimum rate will be the rate awarded to the casual staff
at that hospital. Surge pricing may be applicable for nurses with skills and experience that is
in demand, however, this is also subjective.
Yes! We offer short-term, long-term, and permanent placements. Your placement will be
determined by the type of nurse an organization or individual is looking for and the type of
jobs you apply for. You can choose a permanent placement if such an opportunity is
available.
We provide placement opportunities to all types of nurses, AINs, and ENs. The type of work
available to you depends on the skills and experience you have. The work opportunities
available with us include clinical and non-clinical environments. You can choose the type of
work you are interested in from all the options available to you. You are also free to choose
shifts and locations that you prefer. However, we ensure that all available work is
interesting, meaningful, and flexible.
No. You are free to choose which jobs you want to accept. You can have complete control
over where and how long you work and manage time the way it’s best for you. There are no
minimum shift requirements or obligations to work with us. If you’re not interested in an
opportunity, you can reject it.
To practice as a healthcare worker in Australia, you must be registered with Australia’s
Health Practitioner Regulation Agency or AHPRA. If you are from overseas, you will need a
valid visa to be able to work in Australia. If you are from New Zealand, you must hold a valid
New Zealand passport.
An AHPRA application is very complex and requires information from various sources. You
must allow yourself enough time to gather all the documents and fill out the application
carefully. The application process depends on what type of healthcare worker you are. For
nurses, the application is paperwork-based and requires approximately 3 to 4 months to be
processed. It may take longer or shorter depending on the complexity, comprehensiveness,
and completeness of your application. Our team can help you with your application by
giving you important pointers. To speak to them before applying, get in touch with us now.
There is no age limit for nurses to apply for AHPRA, however, your visa may have age
restrictions. Australia does not have an age limit to work as a nurse.
The duration of placements varies depending on the client’s requirements. Some jobs may
only be for a few days, while others may be longer. However, the usual duration of
placements is approximately four to six weeks. Different clients may have different
minimum placement preferences depending on their needs, location, and continuity of
patient care.
Congratulations on your placement!
Now that you are placed, you will receive a placement agreement or contract. It will outline
the duration of the placement, the start and end dates, location, travel and accommodation
information, if any, and pre-determined placement obligations.