Endorsed Enrolled Nurse

An Endorsed Enrolled Nurse (ENN) is a key member of a nursing unit team and provides quality patient care, playing a key support role in an interdisciplinary medical team.  A common career question is "What is an Endorsed Enrolled Nurse?" or "What is the difference between an Enrolled Nurse and an Endorsed Enrolled Nurse?". 

An Endorsed Enrolled Nurse administers medicine, cares for patients, identifies and reviews symptoms, records information, monitors patient health status, determines suitable patient treatments, plans recovery procedures and supervises trainee nurses.  They conduct their responsibilities under the direct supervision of a Registered Nurse (RN).  

Endorsed Enrolled Nurses must have successfully completed medication administration education at some stage in their career in order to administer medicines.  The primary difference between an Enrolled Nurse and an Endorsed Enrolled Nurse is that an EER completes a medicine administration module during their studies, allowing them to administer medicine.  Previously an ER couldn't administer medicine, even under the direct supervision of a Registered Nurse, however there are changes developing in this space, where Enrolled Nurses are also able to obtain the relevant qualifications and experience to undertake this responsibility. 

A Registered Nurse has a nursing registration that allows them to perform their duties unsupervised, so they typically oversee a nursing team comprising of trainees such as  Enrolled Nurses (ERs) and Endorsed Enrolled Nurses (EERs). The next stage of nursing for an Endorsed Enrolled Nurse is typically the role of a Registered Nurse.

An Enrolled Nurse (EN) works as part of a multidisciplinary team alongside other skilled professionals including doctors, surgeons, specialists, therapists, specialty nurses, social workers and many others to provide ongoing patient care to people who are sick, disabled, injured or recovering from surgery.  Enrolled Nurses deliver primary health care predominantly in hospitals, clinics, assisted living facilities, aged care facilities, Government or military institutions, community or school settings, in the home or in outpatient facilities.

Some of the responsibilities of an Endorsed Enrolled Nurse include:

• Work under the direct / indirect supervision of a Registered Nurse (RN)
• Perform holistic assessment including observation, and examination of patients
• Carrying out nursing care according to accepted nursing practices 
• Monitoring the condition and health of patients and record their progress
• Recording vital signs - temperature, blood pressure, heart rate and blood sugar
• Report any changes in condition to the Registered Nurse (RN) and doctors
• Provide assistance with personal care - showering, grooming, toileting and eating 
• Assist clients with rehab or exercise programs where applicable
• Plan, implement and evaluate nursing care plans in collaboration with RN and other health care team members 
• Assist with general first aid and emergencies
• Encourage and educate clients to lead a healthy lifestyle
• Administer medications based on the Endorsed Enrolled Nurse (EEN) scope of practice
• Promote the safety of self and others in all aspects of nursing practice 

You can specialise in other roles while working as a Nurse, undertaking further studies to obtain qualifications and specialise in a particular area of nursing.