Enrolled nurses and the professionalisation of nursing: a comparison of nurse education and skill-mix in Australia and the UK

In the UK prior to 1989 two levels of nurse were trained: first level, or ' Registered Nurses' (RNs), and second Level, or 'Enrolled Nurses' (ENs). In 1989 changes to nurse education driven by 'Project 2000' marked the end of EN training: nurse education moved into the higher education sector and a s ingle type of RN education replaced the original split-level training. Yet in Australia, where RN training has followed a similar path into higher edu cation, the split level training of ENs and RNs has been maintained. The re asons for this difference in approach to ENs are investigated and discussed . The paper goes on to explore the implications and possible outcomes of th e two different approaches in terms of the professionalisation of nursing a nd skill-mix in the health care workforce. Now that some UK nursing bodies are pressing for a degree-led profession, it is suggested that the Australi an model may have an advantage, as concerns are being raised that English n urses may 'price themselves out of the market' with the nursing role being encroached upon by non-nurse Health Care Assistants. (C) 1999 Elsevier Scie nce Ltd. All rights reserved.