Wondering if Enrolled Nurse contract work is right for you? Or how many years of experience do you need to start with agency roles in Australia? Learn what experience and clinical settings offer the best pathways for Enrolled Nurse travel contracts, and what to do if you are not quite there yet.
Agency and travel work is one of the best ways for Enrolled Nurses to build a rewarding career in Australia. Facilities in regional and rural areas are always on the lookout for highly skilled ENs.
So what does ‘ready’ look like? Read on for what facilities look for, where the demand is strongest, and how to build a profile that puts you in the best position for Enrolled Nurse travel agency contracts.
Can Enrolled Nurses become travel nurses?
Yes. Enrolled Nurses are eligible for agency travel nursing contracts. If you are looking for reliable work all across Australia, your years of experience and clinical background will be important. Read on to find out more.
Where is contract work available for agency Enrolled Nurses?
Most EN agency contracts are based in aged care facilities or regional and rural hospitals.
Affinity Nursing has a high volume of needs in regional and rural communities across settings such as Aged Care and Acute/Aged Care. There may also be demand for Medical, General Ward and Theatre, dependent on facility needs.
Memory on contract in VIC
What can EN travel contracts offer you?
Once you’re set up for agency work, travel contracts open up real variety and flexibility. Enrolled Nurses working regional and rural travel contracts can access:
- Competitive pay rates as an Enrolled Nurse
- Exposure to a broader range of clinical settings and patient presentations
- Greater clinical independence and confidence in your role
- The chance to work across different nursing environments and communities in Australia
- Opportunities to build toward more advanced and higher-paid positions
Is agency nursing right for me?
Travel nursing contracts can be a rewarding career for Enrolled Nurses who enjoy variety, independence and having more opportunities to discover Australia.
If you have strong clinical experience, enjoy adapting to new environments and are looking for a new challenge, agency nursing may be an exciting next step in your career.
How many years experience is required for EN travel contracts?
Facilities in regional and rural settings generally look for ENs with at least five years of full-time experience.
This requirement isn’t simply about years worked. It’s about ensuring you’re comfortable working independently in a variety of clinical settings, where support or resources can be more limited than larger metropolitan hospitals.
Facilities generally want nurses who can adapt quickly to new environments, confidently manage their workload, communicate effectively with multidisciplinary teams, and provide safe patient care.
Affinity Nursing requires at least five years of experience to start the onboarding process for you. If you are not quite there yet, we may be able to keep your details on hand.
Does your clinical background matter?
Your clinical background matters, and knowing where demand sits can help you plan your next move.
The following clinical areas typically see the highest demand for EN agency contracts:
- Aged Care
- Acute nursing
- Multi-purpose or rural health services
Areas where we may sometimes see demand:
- General Ward
- Theatre
If this isn’t where your experience sits, it doesn’t mean your skills aren’t valued, but that agency contracts are not yet a viable path. Broadening your experience across high-demand clinical areas will make you eligible for more roles, and make your nurse profile stronger and more well-rounded profile when the time comes.
Is it better to have specialised or diverse experience?
Experience across different patient groups and clinical settings can significantly increase the number of contracts available to you. Additionally, some facilities may also request specialty areas such as renal and dialysis at the Registered Nurse level rather than EN level.
The more broad and flexible your clinical background is, the more opportunities that will generally be available to you.
Why does experience matter more for regional and rural hospitals?
Affinity has a high number of regional and rural contracts available. Your number of years and type of clinical experience are particularly important in regional and rural settings, compared to large metropolitan hospitals.
In regional and rural hospitals, the team can be smaller, resources may be more limited. Nurses are expected to rely on their own clinical judgement more, to work confidently across a variety of patients and presentations.
For this reason, facilities seek experienced clinicians who can integrate quickly and comfortably into the facility’s team to provide safe, independent patient care from the beginning of their contract.
How do I gain more experience to prepare for travel contracts?
If you are a new graduate or are still building your clinical experience, you will need to have more experience under your belt. We would recommend:
- Continue developing your skills in a permanent or casual role where you may have flexibility to work across different wards
- Looking at what opportunities or additional learning is available within your clinical area
- Make the most of any opportunities to learn and further develop your skills
- Pursuing work in high-demand areas, like aged care
- Seeking out rural or regional exposure where possible, such as in Multi-Purpose Services (MPS)
- Staying on top of your CPD hours
- Upskilling in your downtime and between roles
- Taking role-specific courses like cultural safety, primary healthcare, manual handling and medication management
These will not only be useful for your day-to-day confidence on the floor, but can also support you in your transition to a Registered Nurse, if that is part of your longer-term career plan.
If regional, rural and remote nursing is the direction you want to take in your career for more diverse or rewarding opportunities, laying this groundwork will get you there sooner.
Brittany on contract in the ACT
Not quite there yet? Stay on our radar
Affinity has many ENs and EENs who call our community home, and we would love to welcome you when the time is right.
Not meeting requirements just yet doesn’t mean the door is closed. Focus on building up your profile – whether that be your years of experience or clinical area – and get back in touch once you’re eligible.
If you are close to meeting demand requirements when you join Affinity, our team may be able to add you to our delayed starter list, ready for being matched up to suitable opportunities as soon as possible.
Unsure about where you fit? Contact us to speak to a contract specialist, to find out whether your experience aligns with current opportunities.
We’re ready when you are
Once you’ve built the right experience, agency work opens up real flexibility.
Working as an agency Enrolled Nurse with Affinity can offer:
- A competitive contract package as an Enrolled Nurse
- A dedicated team who understands your preferences and goals
- A credentialling team to guide you through a smooth paperwork and onboarding process
- A team of in-house clinical educators for ongoing support and education
- Access to roles in every state and territory of Australia
- A team with decades of experience in nursing and midwifery
Ready to get started with travel contracts? Join the community to see where enrolled nursing can take you.
You might also like:
Frequently asked questions from ENs
Most facilities in regional and rural settings look for at least five years of full-time Enrolled Nurse experience, reflecting the level of clinical autonomy these roles require.
To get started with agency placements, contact a travel contract company like Affinity Nursing. Different agencies may have different requirements and roles available, which you can check on their website.
Aged care and general medical settings typically see the strongest demand for EN agency contracts in regional and rural Australia.
Agencies generally assess experience on a full-time equivalent basis, so it’s worth checking with your agency on how your specific hours are counted.
Keep building your profile through your years of experience and clinical area, then apply again when ready.
There are plenty of Enrolled Nurse jobs in metro, regional, rural and remote Australia. The number of roles may vary depending on clinical demand and the time of year.
The number of contracts you can do will vary depending on your clinical background and current facility demand. If back-to-back contracts are a priority for you, speak to your agency specialist for advice and recommendations on how to achieve this.
Disclaimer: This article is for general information only and does not constitute career advice. Always consult a professional for advice specific to your situation.