Title: Enrolled Nurse Standards for Practice
Author: Nursing and Midwifery Board of Australia
About
The "Enrolled Nurse Standards for Practice," issued by the Nursing and Midwifery Board of Australia, outlines the professional standards for enrolled nurses in Australia, effective from January 2016.
The document aims to clarify the expected level of practice and guide the education and assessment of enrolled nurses. It focuses on person-centred care, requiring enrolled nurses to work under the supervision of registered nurses, and details their accountability in providing nursing care.
Author
The Nursing and Midwifery Board of Australia regulates the nursing and midwifery professions in Australia. The Board's role is to ensure public safety and high-quality health care through setting and enforcing standards, codes, and guidelines for nursing and midwifery practice.
Key Takeaways
- The Standards establish benchmarks for enrolled nurse practices, shaping their professional behaviour and care quality.
- Integral for nursing education, they influence curriculum design and nurse competency evaluations.
- Enrolled nurses are required to work under registered nurse supervision, ensuring safe and effective practice.
- A focus on person-centred care highlights the importance of individual, respectful patient treatment.
- Accountability in nursing care is emphasised as this is necessary to maintain trust and high standards in the profession.
What Does an Enrolled Nurse Do?
According to the Standards, the job of an EN is to provide person-centred care, ensuring each patient's needs and preferences are at the forefront. ENs operate under the supervision of a registered nurse, helping deliver safe and effective care. One qualifies to be an EN by completing a Diploma of Nursing.
EN responsibilities extend to assessing patients' health, planning and implementing nursing care, and evaluating the outcomes. In addition, ENs maintain communication within healthcare teams. They must commit to ongoing professional development.
Person-centred care refers to nursing care that is respectful of and responsive to the individual preferences, needs, and values of patients. This approach ensures that patient values guide all clinical decisions. It involves understanding the patient as a whole person, not just focusing on their medical or care needs, and incorporating their life experiences and values into their care plan.
Related: How to Become an Enrolled Nurse (EN)