Preparing the nursing workforce for the next era: Re-classifying and reframing enrolled nursing knowledge

Health systems are being transformed and redesigned in Australia to better respond to changing health needs, technological advances, and new capabilities needed for safe and quality care. A capable and responsive nursing workforce, at both enrolled and registered nurse levels, is one of the mechanisms required for achieving effective health care reform.

This paper situates a critical discussion of enrolled nurse education within a symbiotic relationship model to consider how nursing knowledge can enhance workforce performance and contribute to improved function of health systems. Discussion focusses on classification, or what constitutes nursing knowledge, and how that knowledge can be presented, or framed, in nursing education.

It is contended that different nurse education systems in Australia mean the construction of professional enrolled nurse knowledge differs in form and structure from registered nurse professional knowledge. While different courses are needed for enrolled and registered nurses to reflect their different scope of nursing practice, it is important enrolled nurse education classified and frames nursing knowledge in ways that prepare graduates for complex nursing practice to safeguard the public.