Entry into Enrolled Nurse Course?

Hi Derek
I am also a mature student (45 today actually). I done my Cert 3 in aged care in 2008 and was working as an AIN at my local hospital. In 2009 I was lucky enough to receive a scholarship for my Diploma of Enrolled Nursing.

There was 21 students in my class and the oldest student was 62. I finished the course in August 2010. At times I found the physiology and anatomy hard to get my head around, but working in the field is a definite advantage. I found it easier to understand a lot of the subjects because I had seen it first hand.

I am still working at the hospital as an EEN and have just been accepted into uni to do my RN's and go straight into my second year and received 80 credit points. I am really glad that I done it this way as I was really doubting whether I could cope with all the studying and now feel confident about continuing my education.

Good Luck Derek, you will be fine, and your never to old to start. If you need any help along the way just yell, I am more than happy to help out.

Julie

Oh Julie..., 'Happy Birthday"for 29th January.

From Derek (AIN)

Derek, as you live in NSW and presumably would like to study in your home state, you have several locations at which you can study.

You can do a Cert IV in Nursing, but this is currently being offered at Cootamundra TAFE only. Otherwise you can do a Diploma in Nursing, at one of the following locations in NSW:

- Ultimo TAFE

- Meadowbank TAFE in conjunction with the Sydney Adventist Hospital, Wahroonga

- Cootamundra TAFE

- Shellharbour TAFE

I recommend either Ultimo or Meadowbank, as they are easy to get to if you live nearby, and because Meadowbank TAFE delivers their nursing course along with the Sydney Adventist Hospital (the SAN), so there may be opportunities to do paid EN work at the SAN while you study. Contact the TAFE colleges that I have listed to ask whether they offer online learning / course delivery.

From James

Thanks Derek, right now I just have to concentrate on my studies to achieve the best HSC marks and ATAR possible, while giving myself a break to focus on my current casual job. I would like to find work as an AIN in a hospital (preferably Westmead Hospital, the SAN or Norwest Private Hospital). How can I find work as an AIN, and is the Cert III in Aged Care absolutely essential or is it just recommended? Thanks so much for your anticipated reply. Ciao, a piu` tardi! (Bye, until next time!)

Hi again Derek! (lol)

Perhaps we could share our email addresses? My email is jrschofield93@yahoo.com.au

My dream occupation is not actually registered nurse, rather it is trauma surgeon, however I would like to gain some experience as a hospital AIN before I start university to see if I am suited better to nursing, or to see whether I should become a nurse before becoming a doctor. I also like the idea of becoming a perioperative nurse practitioner (I could very well be the first surgical NP in Australia!).

I actually applied for the Cert III in Aged Care, starting in July 2010, and I even got a place in the course at Ultimo. Unfortunately it was a full-time course, and although I really wanted to leave school, become an AIN and then do my EENs through TAFE before applying to medicine or nursing at university; my mother was hearing nothing of it. So now I'm stuck in school and unqualified to be a part-time AIN - do you think I could complete the cert III 'on the job' i.e. complete the certificate part-time (evenings) through TAFE while I work as an AIN? There is a vet in my family, and my dad has lots of nurse friends, so I have learnt heaps from them, plus I am trained in first aid (CPR and basic life support) and know how to treat common emergencies (e.g. anaphylactic shock). Even though am lacking cert 3, still would not be unsafe around patients, as know how hospitals work (have had surgery in the past week and visited A&E half a dozen times). So what do you think - could one enrol in aged care whilst working as an AIN or PCA (happy to do PCA for a few years)?