How to become a nurse

Nurses play an integral role in the Australian health system, one that is highly regarded for its quality. As an in-demand profession, being a nurse opens the door to many opportunities and the chance to work in various settings and locations.

According to the Australian Government’s Labour Market Insights, the future growth for registered nurses is 13.9 per cent, signalling strong growth. The agency predicts the demand for nurses to increase by 40,400 jobs to 331,200 by 2026.

Have you been wondering how to become a nurse? The process in Australia requires nurses to hold a minimum undergraduate nursing degree to become qualified. Once complete, nurses can then go on to further studies and specialisations of their choosing.

This article will explore the steps required to become a nurse, what to expect in relation to job outcomes and how to advance your career.

What is a registered nurse?

A registered nurse delivers primary health care in various settings, including hospitals, aged care facilities, private practices and within the community. There are many specialisations nurses can work within, depending on their qualifications, experience and interests.

A nurse works with a diverse range of patients, including children, adults and the aged population. They provide care for people experiencing acute or chronic illnesses or injuries and those with disabilities or mental health conditions.

Lynette Weh progressed her career from a registered nurse and is now a clinical nurse working in the emergency department of a regional Queensland hospital. As a clinical nurse, her responsibilities can vary each day.

“A clinical nurse is like a senior nurse, so you’re helping the other nurses as well as performing general nursing duties,” she says. “I’m also the infection control nurse for the department, so I supervise the hand washing audits and provide additional support.”

As a registered nurse, the duties and responsibilities can change depending on the setting, position and experience they’re working with.

What are the roles and responsibilities of a nurse?

Becoming a registered nurse opens the door to many career options, each with a unique set of responsibilities and duties. These examples of nursing specialisations and settings that experienced registered nurses can work in show just how diverse the profession really is.

Mental health nurse

These specialist nurses provide care and support to people with mental health conditions. On an average day, their duties might include:

• assessing mental health needs and developing treatment plans
• providing emotional support and counselling
• assist patients with symptoms of mental health conditions, including depression, anxiety, schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, and substance abuse
• help patients access mental health support services and other healthcare professionals

Chronic disease and care nurse

A chronic disease nurse focuses on patients with diabetes, heart disease and other chronic conditions. Their job entails:

• assessing and developing chronic care plans
• monitoring health status and disease progression
• educating patients and the community on disease and prevention
• reviewing medications and assessing symptoms of the disease
• connecting patients to other providers, home care and public health services

Critical care nurse

These nurses usually work in emergency departments or intensive care units, providing high-level, advanced care to patients for the best outcomes. Their job duties include:

• monitoring vital signs of patients
• giving advanced life support
• administering prescribed medications and treatments
• collaborating with other healthcare staff to develop and implement care plans
• providing intravenous fluids and medications to patients

Nurse educator

A nurse educator’s role is to educate and train other nurses. They usually work in clinical settings such as a hospital ward ensuring other healthcare staff work to the current standards. Nurse educators can also work in non-clinical settings like a university. Depending on the position, their duties may include:

• developing and implementing nursing education programs
• teaching in classroom and clinical settings
• assessing students’ progress and clinical skills
• researching and collaborating to improve nursing education and patient care

Nurse practitioner

These advanced nurses are the most senior and independent in our healthcare system. With responsibilities beyond general RN roles — like the prescribing of medicines — they require 5,000 hours of advanced practice to be endorsed. Working in various settings and specialisations, a nurse practitioner is responsible for:

• the assessment and diagnosis of a patient’s conditions
• the prescription and administration of medication, therapies, and other treatments
• the communication with doctors and other health professionals
• the counselling and education of patients and the community. Making and receiving referrals for other healthcare providers

Nurse anaesthetist

These professionals work as part of a perioperative team, supporting surgeons and anaesthetists, among many others. Their responsibilities include:

• preparing anaesthesia medications and equipment
• establishing connection with patients by talking with the patient, addressing enquiries and questions, verifying identification and confirming consent
• monitoring a patient’s vital signs before, during, and following a procedure to ensure patient well-being Assisting with surgical procedures, including the insertion and removal of central lines and catheters
• providing post-operative care to patients, including pain management and monitoring of a patient’s recovery

Travelling nurse

Experienced registered nurses can travel across Australia to provide care on a temporary or contract basis. Their duties include:

• being on call for after-hours and emergency care
• providing primary care in health centres and hospitals
• travelling to rural and remote locations across Australia for assignments

How much do nurses earn in Australia?

Depending on the role, the potential for earning varies, and aspects like experience, location and the work setting may also influence salary.

Seek advises that a registered nurse earns on average between $80,000 and $85,000 annually. According to Indeed, the highest-paid cities within Australia for nurses to work in are:

• Kingswood, NSW: $104,998
• Ryde, NSW: $101,712
• Cairns, QLD: $98,771
• Murdoch, WA: $85,661
• Canberra, ACT: $84,730

What a nurse earns in major cities in Australia can also vary. For example, the average nursing salary in Melbourne is $84,382 per year, while the average nursing salary in Sydney is $81,736. For nurses looking to work in Queensland, the average nursing salary in Brisbane at $84,083 per year.

Other factors, including additional qualifications and certifications, can also impact a nurse’s income. However, as one of the most attractive features of the job, salary is just one reason for exploring how to become a nurse.

How to become a nurse in Australia

Becoming a registered nurse in Australia requires practical experience, education and registration via the industry body. For those considering this professional path, these are the typical steps required.

1. Consider if this is the right career for you. Nursing can be a rewarding and meaningful career, however like any other profession, it can also have its challenges. As a nurse, you’ll be providing care and support during times of illness and vulnerability. The challenges you may face as a nurse can be balanced by the personal growth and fulfillment you can achieve through helping others.

2. Complete the required studies. The most common pathway to becoming a nurse is through completion of an undergraduate nursing degree, such as a Bachelor of Nursing, Bachelor of Nursing Science or Bachelor of Science (Nursing). These degrees are usually undertaken as the first degree at the university level and take at least three years full-time, and more if you wish to specialise.

Alternatively, those with an existing undergraduate degree in any field may be eligible to complete a pathway to becoming a nurse by studying a graduate entry Master of Nursing program.

3. Apply to the NMBA. Once your educational requirements have been met, nurses apply to the Nursing and Midwifery Board of Australia (NMBA) for registration. This registration must be renewed annually, along with any other mandatory training as required by individual employers.

4. Begin your career. After satisfying the registration criteria of the NMBA and successfully applying for a nursing position, nurses can begin their career. However, on-site training might also be needed depending on where they work. “In emergency, where I work, there’s a training program that nurses must complete before they begin,” Lynette says. “Most other areas in the hospital have training programs too, so nurses can be fully qualified to work there.”

5. Once qualified, registered nurses may pursue additional postgraduate qualifications to achieve their career goals. Through focused postgraduate study such as a Graduate Certificate in Critical Care, a Graduate Diploma of Mental Health Nursing or a Master of Nursing Majoring in Leadership and Management, nurses can gain additional expertise, stand out as a skilled and knowledgeable nurse and unlock opportunities for advanced practice roles and leadership positions.

Postgraduate study can also enable you to enhance your practice in exceptional patient care, allow you to confidently address complex healthcare challenges and make a profound impact on patient outcomes.

Nursing qualifications and study pathways

After completing their degree and gaining relevant experience, a registered nurse may wish to undertake further studies or gain an endorsement to advance their career.

“Nurses wanting to get into a specialty can complete university studies to help them get there,” says Lynette. As her career aspirations were to work as a rural and remote nurse, she sought a qualification to prepare her for the setting.

“I did a Graduate Diploma in Rural and Remote Nursing, which was very useful as it delves into many different areas.”

Once the studies are complete, nurses can complete the compulsory registration and work experience to succeed.

Various postgraduate courses such as a Master of Nursing program, graduate certificates and graduate diplomas are available for experienced nurses to pursue. Consider these nursing courses online with GlobalHealth Education’s partners and how they could further your career.

Take the first step towards your new career

With an understanding of how to become a nurse, your career and study path will become clearer. Explore the possible educational pathways and postgraduate qualifications available for experienced nurses.