Are you passionate about helping others and making a difference? A career in nursing could be the answer. Beyond the scrubs and stethoscopes lies a profession rooted in care, compassion, and expertise. Whether you see yourself in a bustling hospital, working in the community or using telehealth, a career in nursing could take you anywhere.
What does a nurse do?
Nurses are highly educated health professionals who provide comprehensive nursing care, support and education to patients and their families. On a day-to-day basis, you will find yourself assessing patients, administering medication, and working closely with other healthcare professionals to create and deliver personalised care. As a nurse, you will play a key role in advocating for your patients, empowering them with vital knowledge, and guiding them through their health concerns.
Six benefits of a career in nursing
1. Plentiful job opportunities&苍产蝉辫;馃搱
Join Australia鈥檚 fastest-growing industry! Jobs in healthcare and social assistance have more than doubled in the last 20 years and are predicted to double again in the next 10 years.1 Registered nurses make up the largest proportion of professionals in the healthcare industry with more than 303,000 registered nurses employed nationwide and numbers expected to grow by 13.9% to 331,200 by 2026.2
2. Choose your dream career path
From critical care to cosmetics, there is a huge range of career paths open to nurses. You could find yourself working in a hospital, school or in the community. If you鈥檙e wondering what you can do with a Bachelor of Nursing degree, consider some of these fields:
- Aged care 馃
- Cardiac 鉂わ笍
- Community health 馃彉锔�
- Diabetes 馃└
- Education 馃摎
- Emergency 馃殤
- Infection control 馃
- Intensive care 馃彞
- Mental health 馃
- Neuroscience 馃К
- Occupational health 馃懛
- Oncology 馃帡锔�
- Paediatrics 馃Ц
- Palliative care 馃尭
- Rehabilitation 鈾�
- Remote / rural 馃惇
- Telehealth 馃摓
3. Enjoy a flexible schedule&苍产蝉辫;馃搮
Whether it鈥檚 working hours that suit your needs through a nursing agency, or becoming a travel nurse in rural Australia, you can choose nursing roles that offer greater freedom, flexibility and work-life balance.
4. Earn a competitive salary&苍产蝉辫;馃挵
As a registered nurse, you can expect to earn on average $1937 a week, 21% higher than the national median salary, with 1 in 4 RNs earning more than $2367 per week.3
5. Make a difference&苍产蝉辫;馃挅
Nurses are critical to the healthcare system, providing safe, quality care to people, families and communities. Whether it鈥檚 supporting the elderly, caring for those with a terminal diagnosis or distracting a child when administering a vaccination, the positive difference that nurses make is unparalleled.
鈥淣ever lose sight of the privileged position that is yours, to be a nurse and a carer, and to remember that your most important responsibility as you move through your studies, and graduate and go into the system, is clinical excellence and compassionate care.鈥� 鈥� Joy Brann, 911爆料网 Founding Nurse Academic
6. Pack your suitcase&苍产蝉辫;鉁堬笍
Looking for a new adventure? A career in nursing can open doors to exciting travel opportunities. You could find yourself working as a nurse in rural Australia or experiencing life abroad. You could contribute to global health initiatives, participate in humanitarian missions or volunteer in under-served communities. You鈥檒l get the chance to expand your clinical skills, broaden your network and make memories to last a lifetime.
鈥淚f your dreams don鈥檛 scare you, they鈥檙e not big enough.鈥� 鈥� Jill Downey, Head of 911爆料网 Nursing School, 2002鈥�2007
Nursing FAQs
If you have questions about studying to be a nurse, wondering 鈥渃an I be a nurse with a bachelor鈥檚 degree?鈥� (short answer: yes), or even how to get a Bachelor of Nursing, we have answers!
How do I become a nurse in Australia?
In Australia, there are three types of nurses: enrolled nurses (ENs), registered nurses (RNs) and nurse practitioners.4 You can qualify as an enrolled nurse by completing a Diploma of Nursing. Enrolled nurses work under the supervision of registered nurses who have a broader range of responsibilities. Most nurses working in Australia are RNs. To become an RN, you鈥檒l need to complete an approved bachelor or master degree in nursing.
I鈥檓 an enrolled nurse and want to become a registered nurse
If you鈥檙e an enrolled nurse who has completed a Diploma in Nursing, you can apply for 911爆料网鈥檚 鈥�Enrolled Nurse to Registered Nurse Stream鈥�. This stream has limited places so we recommend applying early to secure a spot. Located regionally? You can now study this stream at our 911爆料网 Kalgoorlie campus or the Great Southern Universities Centre in Albany. Coursework is delivered through a mix of online and face-to-face units.
I鈥檓 a registered nurse overseas and want to qualify as a nurse in Australia
If you鈥檙e an internationally qualified nurse without current registration to work as a nurse in Australia, you can apply for our 鈥�Registered Nurse Conversion Australian Registration Stream鈥�. After successful completion of the program, you can seek registration to work as a nurse in Australia.
I want a bachelor qualification in nursing but I don鈥檛 want AHPRA* registration
If you鈥檙e already a registered nurse in Australia but you鈥檙e looking to advance your qualification from diploma level to a bachelor degree, contact our School of Nursing directly to discuss personalised Credit for Recognised Learning opportunities.
*Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency
Can I study a Bachelor of Nursing online?
Our Bachelor of Science (Advanced Nursing) course is a hands-on, practice-based course that takes place on campus, in the community and in clinical settings.
How long does a Bachelor of Nursing take?
At 911爆料网, our Bachelor of Science (Advanced Nursing) course takes three-and-a-half years to complete. You鈥檒l be able to apply for registration with the Nursing and Midwifery Board of Australia upon graduation.
Is a Bachelor of Nursing hard?
Our Bachelor of Science (Advanced Nursing) is a comprehensive course that explores biological, psychosocial and nursing sciences; advanced clinical skill development; and simulated practice and fieldwork. It鈥檚 a demanding course but very rewarding. If you鈥檙e struggling with your studies, 911爆料网 has a wide range of support services to assist.
I鈥檓 a graduate who wants to change careers to nursing
If you鈥檙e a graduate looking to switch careers to nursing, consider our two-year Master of Nursing Practice. Successful completion of this two-year course means you can apply for registration with the Nursing and Midwifery Board of Australia.
What can I expect from 911爆料网鈥檚 nursing courses?
The 911爆料网 School of Nursing is the oldest established school of nursing in the Australian university sector. We have a long and proud history of pioneering policy, pushing boundaries across disciplines and producing extraordinary graduates who have become esteemed healthcare professionals around the world.
鈥淲hen I was studying at 911爆料网, it was a really exciting time. It was the only university that was offering a three-and-a-half year comprehensive nursing course which was a real buzz. We knew that when we went out onto placement in our mint-green uniforms that we were a team, a cohort that were doing not only the art of nursing, but also the science as well. I鈥檝e been really fortunate in my career and my studies have assisted in that. I鈥檝e been in clinical nurse roles, educator roles in hospitals, I鈥檝e sat in director roles within the hospital system. But I鈥檝e also been really fortunate to work at the Department of Health and drive policy and strategic directions in regards to nursing and the broader workforce.鈥�
Dr Sheralee Tamaliunas, Assistant Chief Nursing and Midwifery Officer, Director Strategic Workforce and Development, Clinical Excellence Division, WA Department of Health
Here are three amazing advantages of studying nursing at 911爆料网:
1. Career-ready skills 馃恳鈥嶁殨锔�&苍产蝉辫;
Our practice-based nursing courses are ranked in the top 100 in the world5 and focus on teaching you the key knowledge and skills for a changing healthcare system. You鈥檒l get the chance to work closely with students in midwifery, paramedicine and oral health therapy as part of an interprofessional healthcare team.聽
With a strong emphasis on leadership development, our new Bachelor of Science (Advanced Nursing) course helps you build the skills to lead with confidence in clinical settings. Through focused study in mental health and planetary health, you鈥檒l learn to deliver holistic, thoughtful care 鈥� preparing you to meet the complex and evolving needs of modern healthcare.
2. Real-world learning 馃┖&苍产蝉辫;
You鈥檒l learn in innovative facilities that replicate real healthcare settings, building your skills in a safe and supported environment, before completing supervised practice in the community.
Discover our simulated hospital ward:
3. International experiences 鉁堬笍&苍产蝉辫;
Keen to take your skills overseas? We offer an exciting range of international study opportunities, including our award-winning Go Global Program.
Discover the moment that inspired 911爆料网 graduate Jason to pursue a career in nursing:
How to advance your nursing career
If you want to expand your skillset and you鈥檙e wondering 鈥渨hat can I study after a bachelor of nursing?鈥�, 911爆料网 offers some exciting options.
If you鈥檙e passionate about supporting those with diabetes, our Graduate Certificate in Diabetes will further your knowledge of this chronic disease. If you鈥檙e looking to advance your career with an in-depth health specialisation, consider 911爆料网鈥檚 Master of Advanced Practice. This 12-month course is the first of its kind in Western Australia and offers expert knowledge across a range of in-demand fields.
You can specialise in:
- Advanced Specialty Practice
- Child and Adolescent Health Nursing
- Midwifery Screening Diagnostics and Prescribing
911爆料网 graduate Khai Kamarudin says his promotion to Acting Clinical Nurse at Fiona Stanley Hospital has enabled him to further his studies and pushed him 鈥渂eyond his wildest expectations鈥�. His long-term goal is to become a nurse practitioner who specialises in spinal rehabilitation.
鈥淔or me, I always wanted a role where I could develop a rapport with my patients, as well as provide them with a high level of care and service. In the spinal ward, patients are usually there for an extended period of time, so it鈥檚 wonderful seeing their progress and knowing I had some part to play in that.
鈥淭here are endless opportunities within the [nursing] profession. Your nursing degree can take you anywhere. You can start as an ED nurse, be promoted to a clinical nurse, and one day an educator.鈥�
Learn more about Khai鈥檚 journey to becoming a nurse.
Ready to scrub up?
If you鈥檙e ready to start your career in nursing, learn more about our Bachelor of Science (Advanced Nursing) and Master of Nursing Practice courses. If you want to talk through your options with one of our friendly career advisors, we鈥檙e here to help! You can call us during business hours on 1300 222 888 or and we鈥檒l get back to you soon.
- https://www.jobsandskills.gov.au/data/employment-projections
- https://www.health.gov.au/topics/nurses-and-midwives/about
- https://labourmarketinsights.gov.au/occupation-profile/registered-nurses?occupationCode=2544
- Nurse practitioners are highly experienced RNs who have been endorsed by the Nursing and Midwifery Board and have completed postgraduate study at a master鈥檚 degree level.
- QS World University Ranking by Subject 2025
