Nursing in Australia has certainly evolved significantly over the last decade, resulting in many classifications of Nurses performing overlapping and sometimes even the same roles. 
Enrolled Nurses with medication endorsements (EENs) are now performing similar or identical roles in the health care setting as RNs. Some EENs have many years of experience and additional training under their belts, yet the pay gap for EENs and RNs is significant. The award for EENs has even been changed/removed in recent years from the Nurses Award, giving them no financial merit for their experience and training in medication administration in the private sector.

Universities in Australia still require such health professionals to complete almost a full degree to achieve their Bachelor of Nursing. It is unreasonable to expect a Nurse displaying high levels of competence, skills and training to undertake 2, 2.5 or 3 years at University, acquire a huge HECS debt and attend unnecessary unpaid placements just to get a degree when it will not change their role with any significance.

We are asking education and regulatory bodies to implement a comprehensive and fair Recognition of prior learning and work experience to assess potential learning gaps for EENs in Australia, to allow us to upskill and upgrade to a Bachelor of Nursing qualification. Some Nurses may require a significant number of study units, while others may simply need to study the administration of Schedule 8 medications. 

In the midst of a global pandemic, Nurses are an integral part of carrying Australia through this health crisis! Like other industry in Australia, Universities and other accredited training institutions have lost many international students, leaving them struggling financially and desperate for enrollments. With an overhaul of the system that is respectful to reflecting the roles of Nurses in Australia today, enrolments to upskill would be plentiful. Nurses could continue to work full time and contribute their tax, instead of taking unpaid leave to attend placements that reflect the role they already perform on a daily basis. 

If you believe in this cause, please sign for change! We need our education and awards to reflect the roles of EENs in Australia today, and not continue with an outdated and backwards system.