August 12 2025

Enrolled Nurse vs Registered Nurse: Which Path Suits You?

When you think about healthcare professionals, you probably only consider doctors. But do you know who the unsung heroes of this profession are? We are talking about nurses. They keep hospitals running and care for patients in unimaginable ways. If you are thinking of pursuing this rewarding career path in Perth, you can choose between becoming an Enrolled Nurse (EN) vs a Registered Nurse (RN).

Both roles require you to pursue professional nurse training Perth and both involve saving lives. But they have a few points of distinction between them. Let’s take a look at them and help you pick the right path for your nursing training journey.

Enrolled Nurse: Roles and Responsibilities

Enrolled nurses (ENs) are an essential part of the healthcare team. They are tasked with taking care of their day-to-day needs, helping physicians with treatment and performing certain basic medical tasks independently.

They are crucial for providing comfort for patients and helping to speed the recovery process. An enrolled nurse, for example, may be responsible for wound dressing changes and injury site cleaning to avoid the risk of infection, or assistance in mobilising patients with exercise to help them regain strength.

Typical duties of an enrolled nurse include:

• Conducting observations and recording data on patient vital signs.
• Assisting patients with basic everyday activities, such as eating and taking a shower.
• Supporting patients through physical exercises designed to improve strength and mobility.
• Responding to emergencies with first aid interventions.
• Educating patients and caregivers on medical conditions and ongoing care needs after discharge.
• Collaborating with other professionals in the medical field to take care of the patient.
• Maintaining medical equipment, replenishing supplies at the nurses’ station, and keeping workspaces sanitary to reduce infection risks.

Registered Nurse: Roles and Responsibilities

Registered nurses (RNs) are trained healthcare professionals who perform a wide variety of clinical tasks, usually in association with doctors and other medical professionals. This specialist training for nursing in WA authorises them to perform more demanding medical interventions and would be applicable to clinical leadership.

Common responsibilities of a registered nurse include:

• Conducting comprehensive patient assessments and documenting results.
• Collaborating with physicians to review findings and design treatment plans.
• Providing holistic care to tackle both the physical and emotional needs of patients.
• Administering medications and monitoring patient responses.
• Observing patients to look for developing symptoms and inform doctors.
• Supervising and mentoring junior nurses, enrolled nurses, and nursing assistants.
• Maintaining cleanliness in line with national and facility-specific guidelines to uphold infection control standards.

Enrolled Nurse vs Registered Nurse

While both enrolled and registered nurses are essential members of the healthcare team, there are clear distinctions in their scope of practice, requirements for WA healthcare training in nursing, and career progression opportunities.

1] Scope of Practice

Those who study nursing Perth and become an Enrolled Nurse focus on basic care. They are restricted from carrying out certain complex procedures. For instance, while RNs can perform detailed patient assessments and administer a wide range of medical treatments under a physician’s direction, ENs may be limited to monitoring basic vital signs such as blood pressure or glucose levels. Enrolled nurses also spend more time on practical, hands-on tasks like assisting with grooming, feeding, and mobility support.

2] Educational Requirements

Those who desire to be a registered nurse have to be in a more advanced and often longer programme of study than that required for an enrolled nurse. RNs typically complete nursing degrees in Perth through an accredited programme. ENs, on the other hand, generally graduate from a two-year practical nursing program with training in key clinical skills, basic assessment and infection control. Both roles necessitate passing a licensure examination prior to practising.

3] Opportunities for Advancement or Specialisation

Career progression options differ between the two roles. Registered nurses often have a wider range of advancement pathways, such as moving into specialist fields like paediatrics, psychiatry, or advanced practice nursing through postgraduate study. Enrolled nurses may pursue additional certificates to work with specific patient groups, such as stroke survivors or elderly patients, but long-term career growth often involves obtaining RN licensure first.

Tips for Choosing the Right Nursing Career Path

Both pathways to nursing can help you establish a solid career trajectory. The correct decision varies depending on your preferred tasks, your level of interest in further education and what kind of career you want in the long term.

1. Reflect on Your Work Preferences

Identify the type of nursing duties you enjoy most. The EN pathway may be the route for you if you enjoy the more hands-on aspect of care and also enjoy helping patients with their daily requirements. If complex assessments, treatment planning and a higher level of decision-making are more your style, then RN might be the best role for you.

2. Consider Long-Term Career Goals

Think about where you want to be in five or ten years after pursuing nursing courses in Australia. EN roles can be rewarding, but many nurses eventually transition to RN positions for greater scope and specialisation opportunities.

3. Assess Educational Commitment

RNs undergo longer, more academically intensive training, often at degree level. EN programmes are shorter and focus on foundational clinical skills. Choose based on your readiness for study.

4. Seek First-Hand Insights

Speak to nurses in both roles to learn about their daily work, challenges, and rewards. Real-world perspectives can help clarify which path aligns with your strengths and lifestyle.

To Conclude

Choosing between an enrolled nurse vs a registered nurse depends on your goals and skills. You may enrol in EN through Diploma of Nursing course or pursue RN training directly. Both paths are fulfilling and meaningful. Each offers the opportunity to make a lasting difference in patients’ lives.

Also Read:- Diploma vs Degree: Choosing the Right Nursing Path in Australia