what is a registered nurse?
As a registered nurse (RN), you work with a healthcare team to care for patients with different health conditions. Your job is to assess a patient's condition by going over their medical history. You also record the patient's symptoms, take vital signs readings, and get samples to perform tests during the evaluation stage. In collaboration with doctors, you develop a treatment plan for the health conditions. You administer the treatment plans and therapies, such as medication, and monitor the patient's response to the care plans.
Aside from treating patients, registered nurses promote overall patient health by providing health education to families and patients. As a nurse, you answer questions about different health topics and attend community health promotion activities to improve awareness of various health issues.
While most registered nurses work in hospitals, some work in private clinics and other community healthcare facilities. In healthcare facilities, you work in different departments, like the intensive care, theatre or maternity ward. You can also work for flying medical services or in aged care homes and schools. Registered nurses also work in corporate or industry settings, including manufacturing and mining companies, to treat employees and deal with work-related injuries. When discharging your duties, ensure you adhere to the standards for practice for nurses in Australia.
view rolesaverage registered nurse salary
The average remuneration package of a registered nurse in Australia is $88,000 per year. Your earnings in the role fluctuate based on your experience and the scope of your duties. In an entry-level position, you work under supervision and are likely to take home a lower remuneration package due to your minimal experience. Registered nurses start with a salary of $85,000 per year, but the earnings increase with experience, and you can take home over $90,000 per year.
what factors affect the salary of a registered nurse?
As a registered nurse, your earnings fluctuate based on experience and expertise. For instance, when you join the profession, you have minimal experience and cannot handle complex medical conditions. However, as you gain years of experience, your expertise increases gradually, and you can join specialised roles. You are likely to earn more when you specialise in neurological care or neonatology.
The specific healthcare facility you work for also determines your remuneration package. As a registered nurse, you may work in public or private hospitals, but the pay scales vary due to the difference in resources. Large healthcare facilities have vast resources and, as a result, can afford to pay higher salaries than small hospitals.
Want to know what you will earn as a registered nurse? Check out what you are worth with our salary checker.
types of registered nurses
Registered nurses specialise in various areas. For instance, if you are interested in issues related to the heart, you can become a cardiac nurse. In this role, you assist patients with heart-related problems and provide them with care during recovery. Cardiac nurses also work with surgeons, carrying out surgical procedures like angioplasty, bypass or pacemaker surgery.
Some registered nurses become certified anaesthetists, assisting surgeons with anaesthesia during surgeries. You help patients manage pain during and after surgeries. As a critical care nurse, you are trained for emergency situations and working in intensive care units (ICU). You tend to serious wounds and monitor life support systems.
working as a registered nurse
If you are interested in working as a registered nurse, read on to discover the specific duties, responsibilities and work environments of nurses.
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registered nurse job description
Some of the duties of registered nurses include:
- recording medical histories and symptoms: as a registered nurse, you speak to patients when they get to the hospital. You record patients’ symptoms, gather information and maintain accurate documentation. Since you evaluate the diagnosis, you ask patients questions and record their vital signs. You update medical records with important information to ensure other medical practitioners have accurate data about the patients.
- administering medications and treatments: as a registered nurse, you develop treatment plans alongside the doctor and administer treatments. That may involve administering medication, cleaning wounds, changing bandages and inserting catheters. With experience, you can assist doctors with more advanced procedures and help patients in critical conditions.
- performing diagnostic tests: you perform diagnostic tests daily to monitor the progress of patients. You collect tissue, blood and urine samples for analysis. From the results, you analyse the treatment plan to see if it is working.
- providing support and advice to patients: as a registered nurse, you deliver news to patients. It is important to provide emotional support to patients when they receive sad news and help them process their diagnosis.
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work environment
Registered nurses work in diverse work environments, such as hospitals and healthcare facilities. In private clinics, hospitals and aged care homes, you work indoors to assist patients with various conditions. When examining patients and administering treatments in hospitals, you are expected to wear nurse uniforms and use personal protective equipment, including gloves and masks. In community centres, your duties may involve outreach programmes, which may require you to spend the day outdoors promoting health awareness.
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who are your colleagues?
Depending on your employer and the industry you work in, your colleagues might include doctors, lab assistants and nutritionists. You might also be working in close proximity to paediatric nurses and general nurses, as well as other specialists that could include, but not be limited to, pharmacists, pharmacy assistants and physiotherapists.
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work schedule
Typically, registered nurses work an average of 38 hours weekly. However, you are likely to work overtime, including evenings and weekends, depending on the scope of your duties. In some hospitals, you operate in eight to twelve-hour shifts, assisting doctors with patient examinations and providing treatment. While most nurses work full-time, you can find part-time opportunities if you want to work a few hours weekly.
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job outlook
Working as a registered nurse has promising career prospects, with employment projections expected to increase by 13.9% between 2021 and 2026. You also have numerous opportunities for specialisation. For instance, you can become an ICU nurse, paediatric nurse, neonatal or oncology nurse. If you want to move on to an administrative role, consider becoming a nurse administrator, nurse unit manager or nurse practitioner.
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advantages of finding a registered nurse job through randstad
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. Thousands of people earn a permanent contract every year with great employers thanks to a temporary job found through Randstad. What's more, many companies recruit their permanent employees through Randstad too.
education and skills
You cannot work as a nurse in Australia without formal educational qualifications. To become a registered nurse, pursue a bachelor's degree in nursing or a bachelor of nursing science. A degree course usually takes three years of full-time study and provides you with a blend of theory and clinical nursing experience. If you have a bachelor's degree in a different healthcare-related field, get a master's degree in nursing, which takes an additional two years.
After completing your bachelor’s degree course, register with the Nursing and Midwifery Board of Australia (NMBA) or the Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency. You should renew your registration annually. Aside from educational qualifications, it's important to build your work experience through internships and entry-level nursing roles.
registered nurse skills and competencies
Some of the qualities you need to excel as a nurse include:
- communication skills: as a registered nurse, you communicate with members of the medical team, patients and their families. You rely on your communication skills to explain complex medical concepts to patients and relay the symptoms to doctors and other medical practitioners. Having good listening skills is also a useful skill in order to understand patients’ conditions and medical histories.
- critical thinking: as a registered nurse, you rely on critical thinking skills to come up with treatment plans for patients. Based on the initial evaluation, you are expected to make educated assessments and decisions about your patients. Critical thinking helps you develop practical solutions and collaborate with the medical team on patient care.
- teamwork: in most healthcare facilities, nurses work in teams to provide the best care for patients. You need teamwork skills to collaborate with other nurses and doctors to administer treatment plans.
- physical fitness: as a registered nurse, you spend hours on your feet and sometimes move patients in hospital beds. You should be physically fit to handle long hours on your feet and assist patients.
- compassion: as a registered nurse, you work closely with patients, and it is important to empathise with their situation. Being compassionate helps you provide emotional support to patients and their families.
FAQs about working as a registered nurse
Here, you will find the answers to the most frequently asked questions about the profession of a registered nurse.
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what is the role of a registered nurse?
As a registered nurse, you provide primary care to patients in healthcare or community settings. You evaluate patients' conditions, develop a treatment plan, administer medication and monitor the response to the treatment. You also provide emotional support to patients and explain the treatment plan to their families.
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what is the difference between an enrolled and registered nurse?
While both enrolled and registered nurses work in the same work settings, they do not perform the same tasks and have different qualifications. For instance, as a registered nurse, you have advanced qualifications and can perform complex medical procedures without supervision. An enrolled nurse performs basic tasks like taking vital signs and observing any changes to report to the doctors and registered nurses.
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is being a registered nurse a good career in Australia?
Nurses are crucial in the healthcare system, which means the demand for registered nurses is always high. Depending on your experience and skills, you earn a promising remuneration package, which increases when you specialise in complex fields. As a registered nurse, you also have numerous growth opportunities, such as becoming a nursing administrator or nurse manager.
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are registered nurses paid well in Australia?
The average remuneration of a registered nurse in Australia is $88,000 per year. However, your earnings fluctuate based on experience and educational qualifications. You start with a salary of $85,000 annually, and the remuneration package increases gradually, which means you can take home over $90,000 annually.
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how many hours do nurses work in Australia?
As a registered nurse, you work an average of 38 hours a week. When starting your career in nursing, you may work 12-hour shifts for three days in a row, but as you take up complex responsibilities your work hours reduce.
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how do I apply for a registered nurse vacancy?
Applying for a registered nurse job is easy: create a Randstad profile and search our job offers for vacancies in your area. Then send us your CV and cover letter. Need help with your application? Check out all our job search tips here.