general nurse.

The duties and responsibilities of a registered nurse include:

• recording patients' symptoms: as a registered nurse, you ask patients about the symptoms they are experiencing and record their vitals to simplify doctors' diagnostic processes. You update the patient's medical records with the new diagnosis and the doctor's recommended treatment plan. You also gather information from a patient's file like allergies, current medications and relevant family history that will help with a diagnosis.
• administering treatments: as a registered nurse, you participate in developing treatment plans and administering medications prescribed by physicians. You also treat minor injuries, clean and dress wounds, insert and remove catheters and change bandages.
• performing diagnostic tests: during diagnosis, the doctor may recommend various tests on the patient. As a registered nurse, you collect blood, tissue, urine or stool samples and send them to the lab for analysis. You are also responsible for analysing the results of the tests and sharing your findings with the team.
• conducting physical examinations: as a registered nurse, you assess the overall health of a patient before they begin a new treatment plan. For instance, you need to determine their temperature, blood pressure and heartbeat. You also test a patient's reflexes, examine their throat, eyes, ears and nose, and inform the medical team of their health condition.
• providing support and advice to patients: as a registered nurse, you must ensure the patient is comfortable and understands the treatment plan. You also provide support when patients receive challenging medical news and advise them on ways to improve their health.
• educating patients on managing illnesses: as a registered nurse, you educate patients on various symptoms and ways of managing them. You also explain post-treatment home care and provide clear instructions about when a patient needs to see a doctor immediately. You can recommend rehabilitative exercises or practices to improve patients' health.

As a registered nurse, you work in GP surgeries, clinics and hospitals. You can also work with the military or academic institutions. Your work environment depends on your area of specialisation and industry sector. For instance, if you offer your services to private companies, you will work in corporate settings, while working in the military involves working outdoors. When you work in hospitals, you spend most of the day on your feet helping patients. You are also required to wear a uniform in healthcare centres.

Depending on your employer and the industry you work in, your colleagues might include doctors, paediatricians and nutritionists. You might also be working in close proximity to midwives and nurse assistants, as well as other specialists that could include, but not be limited to, social workers, nursing managers and mental health nurses.

The working hours for nurses in Australia vary significantly, and there are always overtime roles available due to shortages in the healthcare system. Registered nurses often work an average of 38 hours a week which may reduce or increase as you advance or specialise in some areas. Most employers split the work hours into 12-hour shifts over three consecutive days. This gives nurses a 36-hour working week. Since they are rotational, your shifts will range from early mornings to late nights. Apart from your shifts, you are expected to contribute extra time depending on the demands of your job. That means you may work longer hours across holidays and weekends.

Part-time nursing opportunities are also available and pay similar hourly rates to full-time nursing jobs. You can work 24 to 32 hours per week as a part-time registered nurse. You also take on additional hours when your healthcare facility is under pressure.

There is always a demand for registered nurses in Australia, with predictions suggesting a shortage of nurses due to ageing demographics and a rising population. Registered nurses' expected job growth rate is 15.6% in the next five years. As a registered nurse, you are trained in all nursing roles. That means you can go on to specialise in specific areas with extra training. For instance, you could become an adult or paediatric nurse. Alternatively, you can move to community health roles like district nursing and care home nursing. You also have a chance to improve your skills and gain certification to become a registered nurse practitioner or nurse manager.

Finding your registered nurse job through Randstad provides important advantages such as:

• a wide variety of training and development opportunities
• an experienced contact person to provide help if needed
• a range of opportunities in your area
• get paid weekly or monthly, depending on the job
• temporary and permanent contracts

Want a permanent contract? A temporary job as a registered nurse is often a stepping stone to an attractive permanent job. Every year, thousands of people earn a permanent contract with great employers thanks to a temporary job found through Randstad. What's more, many companies recruit their permanent employees through Randstad too.

Registered nurses have certification from the Nursing and Midwifery Board of Australia to perform their duties with minimal supervision. A registered nurse can work as an enrolled nurse without registering with NMBA.

A registered nurse must be empathetic and considerate to patients to provide the best care. You also need stamina and physical fitness to stand for long hours.

As a registered practice nurse, you work with the primary healthcare team to assist with patient treatment and care. You deal with minor tasks like treating small injuries.

The highest level in clinical nursing is an advanced nurse practitioner. This role involves prescribing medication and treatment plans.

Applying for a registered nurse job is easy: create a Randstad profile and search our nurse job offers. Then simply send us your CV and cover letter. Need help with your application? Check out all our job search tips here.