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Minor Group

254 Midwifery and Nursing Professionals

ANZSCO - Australian and New Zealand Standard Classification of Occupations
Reference period
2022

254 Midwifery and Nursing Professionals

Midwifery and Nursing Professionals provide care to mothers and their babies, the elderly, and physically and mentally ill patients in hospitals, nursing homes, medical centres and the community; provide clinical education to midwives and nurses; conduct research into clinical nursing practice; and manage health service units and sub-units.

Indicative Skill Level:

In Australia and New Zealand:

Occupations in this minor group have a level of skill commensurate with a bachelor degree or higher qualification. In some instances relevant experience and/or on-the-job training may be required in addition to the formal qualification (ANZSCO Skill Level 1).

Tasks Include:

  • assisting in examining patients, administering prescribed treatment, monitoring patients' progress, and facilitating lifestyle options and treatment plans in conjunction with patients' families, other carers and the community
  • evaluating nurses' ongoing educational needs and planning relevant syllabus structures
  • directing and controlling the allocation of human and material resources for a health service unit such as recruiting staff, human resource management, preparing budgets and financial management
  • providing care and management of pregnancy and birth
  • undertaking and promoting nursing and interdisciplinary research projects, and promoting uptake of findings into clinical nursing practice and patient management
Unit Group

2541 Midwives

Midwives provide care and advice to women during pregnancy, labour and childbirth, and postnatal care for women and babies in a range of settings such as the home, community, hospitals, clinics and health units.

Indicative Skill Level:

In Australia and New Zealand:

Occupations in this unit group have a level of skill commensurate with a bachelor degree or higher qualification (ANZSCO Skill Level 1).

Registration or licensing is required.

Tasks Include:

  • providing advice and support during pre-conception, intrapartum, antenatal and postnatal periods in partnership with women
  • providing care and management of pregnancy and birth
  • assessing progress and recognising warning signs of abnormal and potentially abnormal pregnancies requiring referral to an Obstetrician
  • monitoring the condition of women and foetuses during pregnancy and throughout labour
  • conducting health education classes and seminars to promote the health of mothers and babies such as reproductive health, antenatal education, preparation for parenthood and breastfeeding
  • providing advice on nutrition, childcare and family planning

Occupation:

  • 254111 Midwife

254111 Midwife

Alternative Titles:

  • Certified Midwife
  • Registered Midwife

Provides care and advice to women during pregnancy, labour and childbirth, and postnatal care for women and babies in a range of settings such as the home, community, hospitals, clinics and health units. Registration or licensing is required.

Skill Level: 1

Specialisations:

  • Community Midwife
  • Midwife Practitioner
Unit Group

2542 Nurse Educators and Researchers

Nurse Educators and Researchers provide clinical and theoretical education to and promote professional development of nurses and midwives, and conduct research into nursing practice.

Indicative Skill Level:

In Australia and New Zealand:

Occupations in this unit group have a level of skill commensurate with a bachelor degree or higher qualification and at least five years relevant experience (ANZSCO Skill Level 1).

Tasks Include:

  • researching, planning, developing and implementing nursing curricula
  • facilitating practical experience for general and specialist nurses
  • evaluating ongoing and changing educational needs and monitoring course outcomes
  • participating in developing and implementing policies affecting nursing, nurse education and health
  • undertaking and promoting nursing and interdisciplinary research projects, and disseminating research information
  • promoting utilisation of current research findings into clinical nursing practice and patient management
  • promoting the implementation of research and research findings into organisation-wide functions such as safety, quality and risk management
  • providing support and education for other nurses undertaking research

Occupations:

  • 254211 Nurse Educator
  • 254212 Nurse Researcher

254211 Nurse Educator

Alternative Titles:

  • Clinical Nurse Educator
  • Staff Development Nurse

Designs, plans, implements and evaluates the delivery of nursing education and staff development programs, and manages educational resources.

Skill Level: 1

254212 Nurse Researcher

Designs, conducts and evaluates nursing and interdisciplinary research projects, and promotes the implementation of research findings into clinical nursing practice.

Skill Level: 1

Unit Group

2543 Nurse Managers

Nurse Managers manage health service units and sub-units of hospitals, aged care and community health care facilities, supervise nursing staff and financial resources to enable the provision of safe, cost effective nursing care within specified fields or for particular units, and monitor quality, clinical standards and professional development of nurses. Directors of Nursing are excluded from this unit group.

Directors of Nursing are included in Unit Group 1342 Health and Welfare Services Managers.

Indicative Skill Level:

In Australia and New Zealand:

Occupations in this unit group have a level of skill commensurate with a bachelor degree or higher qualification and at least five years relevant experience (ANZSCO Skill Level 1).

Registration or licensing is required.

Tasks Include:

  • developing, implementing and monitoring policies and objectives of nursing care as they apply to units, staff and community groups
  • coordinating the allocation of human and material resources for a health service unit such as recruitment of staff, human resource management, preparation of budgets and fiscal management
  • monitoring and controlling the performance of nursing and support staff within the unit, and providing leadership
  • initiating studies to evaluate the effectiveness of nursing services in the unit in relation to objectives, costs and nursing care
  • promoting working relationships with community agencies and health and education providers
  • contributing to organisational objectives in relation to quality, safety and risk management

Occupation:

  • 254311 Nurse Manager

254311 Nurse Manager

Alternative Titles:

  • Charge Nurse
  • Nurse Supervisor
  • Nurse Unit Manager

Manages a health service unit or sub-unit of a hospital, aged care or community health care facility, supervises nursing staff and financial resources to enable the provision of safe, cost effective nursing care within a specified field or for a particular unit, and monitors quality, clinical standards and professional development of nurses. Registration or licensing is required.

Skill Level: 1

Unit Group

2544 Registered Nurses

Registered Nurses provide nursing care to patients in hospitals, aged care and other health care facilities, and in the community.

Indicative Skill Level:

In Australia and New Zealand:

Occupations in this unit group have a level of skill commensurate with a bachelor degree or higher qualification. In some instances relevant experience and/or on-the-job training may be required in addition to the formal qualification (ANZSCO Skill Level 1).

Registration or licensing is required.

Tasks Include:

  • assessing, planning, implementing and evaluating nursing care for patients according to accepted nursing practice and standards
  • working in consultation with other Health Professionals and members of health teams, and coordinating the care of patients
  • providing interventions, treatments and therapies such as medications, and monitoring responses to treatment and care plan
  • promoting health and assisting in preventing ill health by participating in health education and other health promotion activities
  • answering questions and providing information to patients and families about treatment and care
  • supervising and coordinating the work of Enrolled Nurses and other health care workers

Occupations:

  • 254411 Nurse Practitioner
  • 254412 Registered Nurse (Aged Care)
  • 254413 Registered Nurse (Child and Family Health)
  • 254414 Registered Nurse (Community Health)
  • 254415 Registered Nurse (Critical Care and Emergency)
  • 254416 Registered Nurse (Developmental Disability)
  • 254417 Registered Nurse (Disability and Rehabilitation)
  • 254418 Registered Nurse (Medical)
  • 254421 Registered Nurse (Medical Practice)
  • 254422 Registered Nurse (Mental Health)
  • 254423 Registered Nurse (Perioperative)
  • 254424 Registered Nurse (Surgical)
  • 254425 Registered Nurse (Paediatrics)
  • 254499 Registered Nurses nec

254411 Nurse Practitioner

Provides advanced and extended nursing care to patients, such as ordering diagnostic tests, undertaking diagnosis and health assessments, prescribing patient care management, medicines and therapies, as authorised in relevant nursing legislation, and referring to specialist Medical Practitioners and other Health Professionals in a range of health, welfare and community settings. Registration or licensing is required.

Skill Level: 1

254412 Registered Nurse (Aged Care)

Provides nursing care to the elderly in community settings, residential aged care facilities, retirement villages and health care facilities. Registration or licensing is required.

Skill Level: 1

Specialisation:

  • Registered Nurse (Gerontology)

254413 Registered Nurse (Child and Family Health)

Provides nursing care to children from birth to school age and their families with an emphasis on the prevention, early detection of, and early intervention in, physical, emotional and social problems affecting children and their families such as assistance with parentcraft, immunisation and developmental milestones. Registration or licensing is required.

Skill Level: 1

Specialisation:

  • Plunket Nurse (NZ)

254414 Registered Nurse (Community Health)

Provides nursing care, health counselling, screening and education to individuals, families and groups in the wider community with a focus on patient independence and health promotion. Registration or licensing is required.

Skill Level: 1

Specialisations:

  • Registered Nurse (Health Education and Promotion)
  • Registered Nurse (Public Health)
  • Registered Nurse (School Nurse)

254415 Registered Nurse (Critical Care and Emergency)

Provides nursing care to critically ill patients and patients with unstable health following injury, surgery or during the acute phase of diseases, integrating new technological equipment into care in settings such as high dependency units, intensive care units, emergency departments or retrieval services. Registration or licensing is required.

Skill Level: 1

Specialisations:

  • Registered Nurse (Acute Care)
  • Registered Nurse (Emergency/Trauma)
  • Registered Nurse (High Dependency)
  • Registered Nurse (Neonatal Intensive Care)
  • Registered Nurse (Paediatric Intensive Care)

254416 Registered Nurse (Developmental Disability)

Alternative Title:

  • Mental Retardation Nurse

Provides nursing care to people with intellectual and development disabilities in a range of health, welfare and community settings. Registration or licensing is required.

Skill Level: 1

254417 Registered Nurse (Disability and Rehabilitation)

Provides nursing care to patients recovering from injury and illness, and assists and facilitates patients with disabilities to live more independently. Registration or licensing is required.

Skill Level: 1

Specialisation:

  • Registered Nurse (Rehabilitation)

254418 Registered Nurse (Medical)

Provides nursing care to patients with conditions, such as infections, metabolic disorders and degenerative conditions, which require medical intervention in a range of health, aged care and community settings. Registration or licensing is required.

Skill Level: 1

254421 Registered Nurse (Medical Practice)

Alternative Titles:

  • Practice Nurse
  • Primary Health Care Nurse (NZ)

Provides clinical care to patients, undertakes clinical organisation and practice administration, and facilitates communication within a general practice environment and between the practice and outside organisations and individuals. Registration or licensing is required.

Skill Level: 1

254422 Registered Nurse (Mental Health)

Alternative Title:

  • Psychiatric Nurse

Provides nursing care to patients with mental health illness, disorder and dysfunction, and those experiencing emotional difficulties, distress and crisis in health, welfare and aged care facilities, correctional services and the community. Registration or licensing is required.

Skill Level: 1

Specialisations:

  • Psychopaedic Nurse (NZ)
  • Registered Nurse (Child and Adolescence Mental Health)
  • Registered Nurse (Drug and Alcohol)
  • Registered Nurse (Psychiatric Rehabilitation)
  • Registered Nurse (Psychogeriatric Care)

254423 Registered Nurse (Perioperative)

Alternative Title:

  • Operating Room Nurse

Provides nursing care to patients before, during and immediately after surgery, assesses patients' condition, plans nursing care for surgical intervention, maintains a safe and comfortable environment, assists Surgeons and Anaesthetists during surgery, and monitors patients' recovery from anaesthetic, prior to return to, or discharge from, ward. Registration or licensing is required.

Skill Level: 1

Specialisations:

  • Registered Nurse (Anaesthetic)
  • Registered Nurse (Operating Room)
  • Registered Nurse (Recovery)

254424 Registered Nurse (Surgical)

Provides nursing care to patients with injuries and illness that require surgical intervention. Registration or licensing is required.

Skill Level: 1

254425 Registered Nurse (Paediatrics)

Provides nursing care to children of all ages, including neonates, across a range of health and community settings with an emphasis on assessing children’s acute and ongoing needs while taking into account physical, social, cultural and family circumstances. Registration or licensing is required.

Skill Level: 1

254499 Registered Nurses nec

This occupation group covers Registered Nurses not elsewhere classified. Registration or licensing is required.

Skill Level: 1

Occupations in this group include:

  • Aboriginal Health Nurse
  • Flight Nurse
  • Immunisation Nurse
  • Nursing Officer (Defence Forces)
  • Pathology Nurse
  • Radiology Nurse
  • Red Cross Blood Service Nurse
  • Registered Nurse (Infection Control)
  • Remote Area Nurse