Most nursing jobs share the fundamental purpose of providing care and medical assistance to patients. However, not all nurses work in the same conditions or perform the same roles. Reviewing the job descriptions of different nursing careers can help you determine which one may be best for you. In this article, we discuss nursing levels and list 10 types of nurses in Australia.
Nursing Levels
Before reviewing the types of nurses in Australia, it can be a good idea to understand the different nursing levels. A nurse can refer to many nursing roles, from entry-level positions to advanced clinical roles. There are usually several stages of nursing that each involve an abundance of specialist roles. Nursing stages involve jobs with varying tasks and duties, but they typically share the core responsibility of providing care for their patients.
Assistant In Nursing
An Assistant In Nursing (AIN) provides nursing care to patients under the direct supervision of a registered nurse. AIN’s typically have a minimum Certificate III, healthcare related qualification and are the backbone of healthcare sites and services nationwide.
Enrolled Nurse
Enrolled Nurses (ENs) provide nursing care to patients in consultation with a Registered Nurse (RN). An enrolled nurse typically has a diploma relative to nursing.
Registered Nurse
A Registered Nurse provides a variety of medical assistance to patients in clinical settings. They typically register with the Nursing and Midwifery Board of Australia (NMBA). RN’s provide holistic care and this registration type provides a pathway to many varied healthcare career progression.
Midwife
A midwife provides professional care to patients that require medical assistance and advice regarding pregnancy. They care for the patient before, during and after labour.
Clinical nurse
A clinical nurse is a registered nurse who completes advanced units of study in a specialist nursing area. They typically have several years of experience in the medical industry.
Nurse practitioner
The most advanced stage of nursing is typically a nurse practitioner. They are clinical nurses who have evolved to have the authority to perform tasks and conduct research autonomously.
10 Types Of Nurses In Australia
Below, you can find details on the typical nursing roles in Australia.
Aged care nurse
An aged care nurse is a nurse who specialises in the provision of care to elderly patients, known as residents. They typically conduct a variety of medical and non-invasive procedures to monitor and care for their resident’s health.
An aged care nurse may monitor their residents by observing their vital signs and recording the medical data. They can determine appropriate medicine for their residents and ensure they understand the correct procedure for self-administration. In many situations, an aged care nurse may administer the medicine themselves.
To become an aged care nurse, you typically require a relevant certification and/or bachelor’s degree in nursing. You may complete additional qualifications specific to age care, but if you have relevant experience, it may be unnecessary.
As an aged care nurse, you can expect to work in private homes, medical clinics, hospitals and aged care facilities.
Remote nurse
A remote nurse is usually a registered nurse who provides medical assistance to patients in a remote and rural environment. The locations where they work often provide minimal medical technology and equipment.
Remote nurses can administer emergency medicine to their patients and often have an excellent understanding of advanced first-aid techniques. A remote nurse often has exceptional critical-thinking skills and can perform their duties in high-stress environments.
You can usually become a remote nurse by gaining a nursing registration and applying for jobs in remote clinics or rural towns. There are also qualifications you can consider, such as a Graduate Certificate in Nursing (Rural and Remote Nursing) or a Graduate Certificate in Remote Emergency Care.
As a remote nurse, you can expect to work in regional medical clinics, mine sites and communities. You may also provide mobile nursing services to remote locations.
Cosmetic nurse
Cosmetic nurses are specialist registered nurses who administer medicine for functional or aesthetic cosmetic procedures. They may utilise invasive and non-invasive equipment to administer cosmetic products that alter physical appearances.
A cosmetic nurse may also assist with surgical procedures and monitor the patient’s vitals during operations. After medical procedures, they may instruct patients on recovery processes to ensure the quality of the treatment.
The most direct method to becoming a cosmetic nurse is usually by gaining a nursing registration with NMBA. Depending on your employer, you may require experience conducting responsibilities in a cosmetic clinic.
As a cosmetic nurse, you are likely to work in cosmetic clinics or facilities that treat burn victims.
Nursing manager
A nursing manager is typically a nurse practitioner or clinical nurse with experience in nursing and management. They organise, schedule and oversee nursing operations in a hospital or clinic environment.
A nursing manager may evaluate treatment procedures, allocate shifts, monitor processes and identify inefficiencies. Their fundamental purpose is still to provide care to patients, though their responsibilities typically focus on managing administrative aspects.
The most direct method for becoming a nursing manager is usually to gain a nursing registration, work experience and a qualification relating to management. Some qualifications you might consider can include a Diploma of Health Care Administration or a Bachelor in Health Care Management. Additional qualifications might be unnecessary if you have several years of experience in a registered or clinical nursing position.
Nursing managers typically gain employment in hospitals, overseeing nursing teams.
Rehabilitation nurse
Rehabilitation nurses are specialist nurses who assist patients recovering from physical injuries or suffering from chronic illnesses. Their fundamental purpose is usually to help their patients restore physical function, maintain health and comfortably adapt to new circumstances. Rehabilitation nurses have an excellent understanding of recovery planning, patient goal setting, progress monitoring and mental support.
The most typical pathway to becoming a rehabilitation nurse is by registering as a registered nurse (disability and rehabilitation). Most rehabilitation nurses are specialists, so they often require work experience specific to rehabilitation and additional certifications.
As a rehabilitation nurse, you can expect to gain employment in private or public rehabilitation centres, medical clinics, recovery facilities and hospitals.
Paediatric nurse
A paediatric nurse is a registered nurse who specialises in providing medical assistance to children and teenagers. They may assess the health of their patients to diagnose an illness and identify an effective treatment.
A paediatric nurse may determine appropriate medicine to administer and inform their patient about ongoing medical treatments. They liaise with parents and legal guardians of their patients to ensure concession of the treatment or procedure.
The typical steps to becoming a paediatric nurse include gaining a nursing registration and completing a post-graduate certification or diploma in paediatric nursing. Some employers may prefer you to have several years of experience as a registered nurse, though it’s not usually a formal requirement.
You can usually gain employment as a paediatric nurse in private or public children’s hospitals.
Oncology nurse
An oncology nurse is either a clinical nurse or nurse practitioner who provides medical assistance to patients with diagnosed cancer. They are experts at diagnosing cancerous illnesses and identifying effective medicine or treatment plans.
An oncology nurse may advise their patients on medical procedures, treatment processes and medical applications. They may also liaise with family members to ensure they provide an appropriate support network during treatment.
To become an oncology nurse, you usually require a nursing registration, several years of nursing experience and a postgraduate qualification. One of the most popular postgraduate studies is usually a Graduate Diploma in Nursing Science (Oncology). This diploma can provide you with advanced knowledge and medical techniques to treat patients with cancer.
As an oncology nurse, you can expect to gain employment in specialist clinics or hospitals.
Occupational health nurse
An occupational health nurse is usually a nurse practitioner who focuses on health and safety programs for employees in specific industries. They may assess the effectiveness of health procedures and identify ways to improve them. These procedures detail the adverse medical effects of performing specific duties, along with typical methods of treatment. An occupational health nurse may research industry practices to identify potential medical hazards.
You can usually become an occupational health nurse by gaining a nursing registration and completing postgraduate occupational health and safety studies. You generally require several years of experience as a registered nurse before becoming an occupational health nurse.
The type of employment you can expect to gain may be in private or public hospitals, large corporations and government departments.
Infection control nurse
An infection control nurse, also known as an infection prevention nurse, is a nurse practitioner who administers medicine to prevent the spread or contraction of infectious viruses. They may provide advice to departments, organisations and individuals about controlling contaminated areas.
A control nurse often studies the different methods of infection from substances, water, food and the environment. An infection control nurse can typically identify virus symptoms and advise patients on quarantine requirements and self-care.
To become an infection control nurse, you can complete your nursing registration, gain work experience as a registered nurse and complete one of several available postgraduate studies. Qualifications you can consider may include a Master’s in Infection Prevention and Control or a Graduate Certificate in Infection and Control.
The demand for infection control nurses may be in higher demand than other roles, given the current circumstances with Covid.
Emergency nurse
An emergency nurse is a registered nurse who tends to patients that require immediate medical attention and emergency medicine. They are typically skilled in several nursing responsibilities and can determine effective trauma treatments in urgent environments.
The type of treatment an emergency nurse provides can depend on their patients’ injuries. Their procedures may involve medicine administration and invasive or non-invasive treatment.
To become an emergency nurse, you typically require a nursing registration and several years of experience as a registered nurse. You don’t usually need a postgraduate certification or qualification, but they can help improve your job application.
As an emergency nurse, you can expect to gain employment in hospitals and emergency response clinics. It can be important to understand that the role of an emergency nurse can sometimes be confronting and require mental dexterity.
Speak To Nurses Now Today
If you’re a nurse and thinking about specialising in a specific field, it can be a good idea to speak to someone who currently or previously has worked in that environment.
If you know what type of nurse you want to be, and need help finding employment in that specific area, get in touch with Nurses Now. We may have specific roles for you to apply for, or at the very least will be able to advise and assist you in pursuing this specialisation.