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Nursing and Midwifery in South Australia is a highly rewarding career and
it certainly “takes you places”! It offers an enormous variety
of settings for employment and an extensive choice of areas for specialisation
and advancement.
For example, it is possible to be employed in a hospital and to choose from specialties such as cardiology, intensive care, emergency, general nursing or work in a community based setting.
Nurses and midwives require clinical, communication, negotiation, management
and decision-making skills and are critical to the healthcare team and work
closely with all members of the team such as doctors and allied health professionals.
The Nursing and Midwifery Board of South Australia (nmbSA) recognises the following registrations
and enrolments:
- Registered Nurse (RN);
- Registered Midwife (RM); and
- Enrolled Nurse (EN).
Career pathways within the profession have been designed to allow individuals
to follow their own field of interest, gain promotion and improve their earning
capacity. There are four parallel streams available: clinical practice, management
or administration, education and research, although it is possible to move
in and out of each area. In all streams there are differing levels of practice,
which may be carried out in the public or private sectors.
South Australian qualifications for a registered nurse, registered midwife and enrolled nurse are recognised nationally
and in some overseas countries for employment purposes.
The Bachelor of Nursing and Midwifery programs, Diploma of Nursing (Pre-Enrolment)
and Graduate Diploma in Mental Health Nursing or Graduate Diploma in Psychiatric
and Mental Health Nursing include both theory and clinical practice components.
Clinical practice is gained in clinical laboratories, hospitals, community
settings and other health industry locations.
Working Conditions and Pay Rates
The relevant Industrial Awards determine the working conditions and pay rates. Within the public sector, conditions of employment
are negotiated through an Enterprise Bargaining Agreement the most current being the Nurses/Midwives (South Australian Public Sector) Enterprise Bargaining Agreement 2007.
Within the private sector, most employers negotiate organisation Enterprise Bargaining Agreements with their employees.
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How to Become a Registered Nurse
To become a registered nurse it is necessary to complete a Bachelor of Nursing.
The program is usually studied full time over three years (or the equivalent
part time).
Upon successful completion of the Bachelor of Nursing the graduate will have
reached the competency levels set by the Australian Nursing and Midwifery Council
(ANMC) and will be eligible to apply to the Nursing and Midwifery Board of South Australia
(nmbSA) for entry onto the Register. Following registration the nurse has the
opportunity to gain employment as a Registered Nurse or choose to commence a transition to professional
practice program (Graduate Nurse Program).
How to Become a Registered Midwife
To become a registered midwife it is necessary to complete a Bachelor of
Midwifery. The Bachelor of Midwifery can be studied either as a first degree
or post registration/professional entry.
The first degree program is studied
full time over three years (or the equivalent part time). The post registration/professional
entry degree program is studied full time over one year (or the equivalent
part time). To be eligible for entry to the post registration/professional
entry degree program applicants must be a Registered Nurse and hold a current
practising certificate.
Upon successful completion of the midwifery degree, the graduate will be
eligible to apply to the Nursing and Midwifery Board of South Australia
(nmbSA) for entry onto the Register. Following registration
the midwife has the opportunity to gain employment as a Registered Midwife or choose to commence a transition
to professional practice program (Graduate Midwife Program).
How to Become a Registered Mental Health Nurse
The Graduate Diploma of Mental Health Nursing provides the knowledge, clinical
skills and competencies in be registered in the field of mental health nursing.
Course Information
Bachelor of Nursing, Bachelor of Midwifery and Graduate Diploma in Mental
Health Nursing or Graduate Diploma in Psychiatric and Mental Health Nursing
are offered at Flinders University and the University of South Australia. The Bachelor of Nursing is also offered at the University of Adelaide.
For
further information regarding entry requirements, visit the following websites:
Application Information
Applications for the above programs are processed through the South Australian Tertiary Admissions
Centre (SATAC).
Note: You will need to check the relevant details for the University of your
choice as there may be slight variation in relation to application and entry requirements.
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How to Become an Enrolled Nurse
Enrolled nurses generally work under the direction and supervision of registered nurses
and midwives and provide nursing care in many settings.
To become an enrolled nurse it is necessary to complete a Diploma of Nursing
(Pre-Enrolment) provided by colleges of TAFE SA
as well as other Registered Training Organisations (RTOs). The program is
usually studied full time over 18 months (or the equivalent part time).
Upon successful completion of the Diploma of Nursing (Pre-Enrolment) graduates
will have reached the competency levels set by the Australian Nursing and Midwifery
Council (ANMC) and will be eligible to apply to the Nursing and Midwifery Board of South Australia
(nmbSA) for entry onto the
Roll.
There are a number of programs which have been developed for students from
the rural and remote sector to assist in obtaining the Diploma of Nursing (Pre-Enrolment).
These include:
- The South Australia Rural and Remote Nursing Cadetship Program offers
the opportunity for rural and remote healthcare units to locally employ a
Nursing Cadet for a period of 18 months. During the 18 month period the Nursing
Cadet will undertake a TAFE SA Diploma of Nursing (Pre-Enrolment) and be employed
by the local health unit for 15 hours per week.
- VET in Schools – Pathway to Nursing for Rural and Remote Secondary
School Students. Students in Year 11 and 12 are able to complete the Community
Services Training Package – Certificate III in Community Services (Aged
Care) as part of their SACE certificate which on completion will enable students
to apply for the Diploma of Nursing (Pre-Enrolment).
Further studies may be undertaken by enrolled nurses to broaden their knowledge
in an area of particular interest. These are conducted by some RTOs and hospitals. There
are some formal arrangements for credit transfer between TAFE SA and universities that offer
the Bachelor of Nursing program.
Enrolled Nurses who wish to become registered nurses or midwives may do so
by completing the Pre-Registration Undergraduate Degree and may be given credit
for what is identified as prior learning. This may reduce the length of the
Bachelor of Nursing and Midwifery programs.
Course Information
Diploma in Nursing (Pre-Enrolment) is offered by various providers. For further
information regarding entry requirements:
Note: You will need to check entry details for the TAFE SA or RTO
of your choice as there may be slight variation in relation to entry requirements.
Application Information
Applications for Diploma of Nursing (Pre-Enrolment) are processed through
the South Australian Tertiary Admissions Centre (SATAC) for enrolment to TAFE SA campuses, or the Enrolled Nurse Coordinator at
the Hospital or RTO who is accredited to conduct the program.
Note: You will need to check the relevant details for TAFE SA or the training
provider of your choice as there may be slight variation in relation to application requirements.
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