Nursing
What to expect
Nurses work closely with all sorts of health professionals, as well as patients and their families. They are well known for their compassion and communication skills.
As a nurse, you will encounter people during the most difficult times of their lives; others during the most exciting. For this and many other reasons, this career can be both rewarding and versatile.
In the past, nurses learned to be nurses mostly by working on the job. These days, nursing education is conducted by institutes rather than just hospitals but courses still involve plenty of work experience.
Getting a degree in nursing
Visit the University Ratings section for nursing course ratings.
Courses and specialisations
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Midwifery and Midwifery conversion |
Behavioural |
Child health |
Enrolled |
Family |
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Gerontic |
Health |
Mental health |
Medical |
Post-registration |
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Pre-registration |
Primary health care |
Psychiatric |
Surgical |
Nursing conversion |
If you want to be a nurse, you will be looking for a Bachelor of Nursing.
Although some nursing degrees will let you specialise in a particular area, most courses are focused on preparation for general nursing. If you want to specialise in a particular area of nursing, you may need to complete additional study after graduation (this used to be the only way to get into midwifery, but note that selected undergraduate options are now available).
Nursing degrees fall into three different categories. The courses called ‘pre-registration’ are for the newcomers, whether they come straight form school or from a different career. ‘Post-registration courses’ are for those who studied nursing on-the-job and became registered under the old system to gain degree qualifications. These courses are often shorter. Then there are ‘conversion’ courses for those who have undertaken VET study to become enrolled nurses who wish to convert to a degree. These courses also tend to be shorter in recognition of the skills attained through previous study and employment.
Getting in
Nursing is an easy field to get into overall, and there are many courses available. Nursing courses take school leavers, practising nurses with years of experience and people with some experience and qualifications from other occupations, including nursing assistants.
Where to study
Nursing degrees are widely available at universities all over the country. There has been some talk recently about TAFE institutes introducing nursing degrees, but this has not yet been confirmed or approved by the relevant bodies. Although they are very rare, pre-registration degrees (or some parts of them) can be undertaken by distance education. But bear in mind that you must be prepared to undertake the extensive practical training which any nursing course involves.
What to look for
Despite having excellent employment prospects after graduation, nursing graduates do not usually look fondly on their university experience. Some courses are likely to be better than others though, so look very carefully at the information available, and try to get detailed outlines of any course you are thinking about. Pay particular attention to the amount and kind of practical experience you get. If at all possible you should visit the campus and ask to talk with students as well as a staff member about these issues.
Careers for nursing degree graduates
Within the nursing profession, two main types of nurses are recognised: registered nurses and enrolled nurses. Degree courses offered through universities and higher education providers will prepare you for a professional career as a registered nurse.
Registered nurses are responsible for planning, implementing and assessing nursing care, while working collaboratively with other health professionals, and delegating work to enrolled nurses. Unlike enrolled nurses, they do not need to work under supervision and may administer medicines.
Registered nurses are responsible for coordinating aspects of health care in a range of settings, including acute and generals wards in hospitals, community health settings, specialist care centres and nursing homes. There are many specialisations within clinical practice, too. Emergency, aged care, midwifery or intensive care are just a few areas you may like to specialise in. Registered nurses can also work outside of clinical practice (i.e. looking after the sick or injured), in community education, offices, or schools or pharmaceutical companies, in administration and, of course, in nurse education.
The national survey suggests that university nursing graduates are far less satisfied with their courses, teaching and skills than many graduates from other fields. At $45,994, starting salaries for nursing graduates are below average but the major plus is the graduate employment rate — as in medicine, there is very low unemployment. Nurses, like teachers, have a tendency to leave the profession after a time, often using a postgraduate course to switch careers.
For more information
To find out more about careers in nursing, check out the Australian Nursing and Midwifery Council website. This site also links to state nursing boards.
If you are interested in nursing you should also consider a range of other health professions and paraprofessions. See the fields of study profiles for dentistry , medicine and veterinary science , social work , rehabilitation , health services and support .
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