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Looking to get into a career in nursing, but not sure where to start?
If you're considering a career in nursing, you may be wondering what the difference is between an Enrolled Nurse (EN) and a Registered Nurse (RN).
The main difference between an Enrolled Nurse and a Registered Nurse is the level of qualification, responsibility and clinical decision-making involved in the role.
An Enrolled Nurse completes a diploma-level qualification, such as the HLT54121 Diploma of Nursing, and provides direct patient care under the direction of a Registered Nurse or other healthcare professional.
A Registered Nurse completes a Bachelor of Nursing degree and has a broader scope of practice, including patient assessment, care planning and leadership responsibilities.
Both roles are essential to Australia's healthcare system and can lead to rewarding careers in hospitals, aged care, community health and specialist healthcare settings.
This guide explains the difference between an Enrolled Nurse and Registered Nurse, including their roles and responsibilities, qualification requirements and potential study pathways.
Enrolled Nurse vs Registered Nurse: Quick Comparison
| Enrolled Nurse (EN) | Registered Nurse (RN) |
|---|---|
| Diploma-level qualification | Bachelor's degree qualification |
| Registered with AHPRA | Registered with AHPRA |
| Provides direct patient care | Provides direct patient care and clinical leadership |
| Works under the direction of an RN | Can supervise and lead nursing teams |
| Faster pathway into the workforce | Broader scope of practice |
| Can progress further into nursing study | Qualified to work as a Registered Nurse |
What is an Enrolled Nurse?
An Enrolled Nurse (EN) is a qualified healthcare professional who provides direct patient care across a range of healthcare settings, including hospitals, aged care facilities, rehabilitation centres and community health services.
After successfully completing the HLT54121 Diploma of Nursing and meeting the registration requirements set by the Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency (AHPRA), graduates can apply for registration and work as an Enrolled Nurse in Australia.
Many students choose this pathway because it allows them to develop practical clinical skills and enter the healthcare workforce sooner while keeping future study options open.
What is a Registered Nurse?
A Registered Nurse (RN) is a healthcare professional who has completed a Bachelor of Nursing degree and meets AHPRA registration requirements.
Registered Nurses have a wider scope of practice and are responsible for assessing patients, planning care, supporting health outcomes and working with multidisciplinary healthcare teams.
Many Registered Nurses begin their careers through pathway options that allow them to first qualify as an Enrolled Nurse before continuing their studies.
What are their roles?
Typically, RNs will be given a greater level of authority than ENs in the workplace. Because RNs gain more specialised knowledge of the field, they are tasked with more responsibilities that require extra skill. ENs, on the other hand, will cover more general roles that keep the workplace afloat.
Here are some of the things you can expect to do as an Enrolled Nurse:
- Working in hospitals, medical centres, and aged-care homes.
- Taking care of patients and measuring and recording their health, symptoms and behaviour.
- Reporting urgent information to a doctor or RN.
- Performing essential medical practices, such as wound care, or bathing and toileting of patients and administering medications.
- Offering emotional support to patients and families.
And here’s what the role of a Registered Nurse looks like:
- While RNs work in similar roles and environments to ENs, they generally experience higher expectations and responsibilities.
- RNs work alongside doctors, specialists, and other allied health professionals to provide the best health outcome for patients.
- Performing many of the same clinical duties as an Enrolled Nurse, as well as tasks such as inserting indwelling catheters and nasogastric tubes, requesting diagnostic tests, administering medications, and assisting with procedures and operations.
- Creating patient care plans and referral to Primary Health Care (PHC) Services and allied health professionals.
- Assessing patient’s medical records and ensuring they’re up to date.
What qualifications do I need to be an Enrolled Nurse?
To become an Enrolled Nurse, you must complete a diploma-level nursing qualification.
The Diploma of Nursing is one of the most common pathways to becoming an Enrolled Nurse in Australia. Students gain practical nursing skills, undertake clinical placement experience and develop the knowledge required to provide safe patient care in a range of healthcare environments.
To become an EN, you must complete a diploma-level qualification. From here, you’ll have acquired the knowledge and skills needed to successfully enter a career in nursing.
The Diploma of Nursing at UOW College takes 18 months to complete and is available at the UOW Liverpool and UOW Wollongong campuses. The course is taught by nursing industry experts, who share their knowledge and experiences while providing individualised support. UOW College also provides many added study and personal support services to help you along the way.
There is no ATAR requirement to enter into a Diploma of Nursing, however there are other entry requirements, and all applicants must undertake a Literacy and Numeracy Assessment (LLN) test. The entry requirements (including the test) will apply for any registered training organisation approved to deliver the HLT54121 Diploma of Nursing.
What qualifications do I need to be a Registered Nurse?
To become a Registered Nurse, you must complete a Bachelor of Nursing degree and meet AHPRA registration requirements. A Bachelor of Nursing typically takes three years to complete and has a minimum ATAR requirement.
Some students choose to begin their nursing journey with a Diploma of Nursing before progressing into a Bachelor of Nursing. This provides an opportunity to gain practical skills, clinical experience and an industry-recognised qualification while continuing their studies.
If you don’t have the ATAR to get into the Bachelor of Nursing, you can complete the Diploma of Nursing at UOW College and gain guaranteed* entry into the second year of the Bachelor of Nursing at UOW.
Once you have completed a Bachelor of Nursing, and have the required industry accreditations, you will be qualified to start working as an RN.
Becoming an EN or RN is up to you. It depends on your personal goal or aspirations and reasons to want to become a nurse. Both roles are equally important and in high demand in the healthcare industry, regardless of which one you decide to pursue. However, you could decide to develop a career as an EN first to get a feel for the industry before pursuing RN qualifications when you are ready to advance in your career. Some students also choose to commit to the shorter amount of study initially to enable them to get into the workforce quicker.
Can an Enrolled Nurse become a Registered Nurse?
Yes.
Many students choose to begin their nursing career as an Enrolled Nurse before progressing to become a Registered Nurse.
Completing a Diploma of Nursing allows students to gain practical healthcare experience while continuing their studies towards a Bachelor of Nursing. This pathway can be particularly valuable for students who prefer a more gradual transition into university study or who want to enter the workforce sooner.
This makes the Diploma of Nursing a popular pathway for students who want to start working sooner while continuing their journey towards becoming a Registered Nurse.
At UOW College, eligible students may be able to progress from the Diploma of Nursing into the Bachelor of Nursing at UOW, subject to meeting relevant entry requirements.
Meet Lochie
The choice to become an EN or RN is not the be-all and end-all of your career path. Nursing is a versatile field to pursue because it allows you to work and study at the same time, gaining both practical experience and vocational training, which will come in handy as you enter the workforce.
This is what Lochie, a current UOW College student, chose to do. Lochie’s time studying the Diploma of Nursing at UOW College will allow him to continue his bachelor studies and gain a Diploma of Nursing qualification and work as an EN in the meantime.
Even though Lochie received the ATAR required for direct entry into a Bachelor of Nursing, he chose to study a Diploma of Nursing at UOW College first, so that he could learn the basics of this area of study.
“I wanted to get my clinical practice first and have that experience”, he says.
“I’d talked to friends and family who did nursing before, and they said becoming an Enrolled Nurse not only broadens your skill set, but also strengthens your proficiency as a nurse."
Starting his nursing career by studying a Diploma first, has allowed Lochie to gain practical work experience while also working towards his goal of being a registered nurse.
Meet Aahana
Aahana always wanted to be a nurse. She hoped to go straight into a Bachelor of Nursing after high school, but didn’t receive the ATAR for direct entry. Instead, Aahana applied for the Diploma of Nursing close to home at the UOW College Liverpool campus.
“I had originally applied to the Wollongong campus, but when I saw the Liverpool campus offered the Diploma of Nursing, I applied there,” she says.
The intimate class sizes and added support made Aahana’s learning experience more than just a pathway to her chosen career. She was able to build relationships and meet others in her situation with the same passion and drive to help others.
“UOW College was also the best option for me, because I had to start from the beginning (of my studies) as I had no knowledge of biology. I find the College really helpful, not just with the study but every step of the way. If you are struggling with anything, there is help available,” she says.
Where do I go from here?
With these distinctions in mind, you may have a clearer idea about which nursing pathway is right for you.
If you're interested in becoming an Enrolled Nurse, you can apply for the HLT54121 Diploma of Nursing at UOW College.
If your long-term goal is to become a Registered Nurse, but you'd like to gain practical nursing skills and qualify as an Enrolled Nurse first, UOW College also offers a pathway option that may allow eligible students to progress from the Diploma of Nursing into the Bachelor of Nursing at UOW.
This pathway can be particularly valuable for students who:
- Want to enter the healthcare workforce sooner
- Prefer smaller class sizes and additional support
- Want practical nursing experience before university study
- Do not meet direct Bachelor of Nursing entry requirements
No matter which path you choose, a career in nursing offers opportunities for learning, growth and making a positive difference in people's lives.
You can learn more about the HLT54121 Diploma of Nursing at UOW College, including entry requirements, study locations, clinical placements and progression opportunities, by visiting the course page.
*Guarantee is subject to meeting UOW entry requirements.