14 reasons to work as an aged care nurse

As a registered nurse, you’ve got a lot of career options in front of you. There are many different facilities that want your attention and many different specialisations to focus on. One of the best specialisations is aged care nursing.

Aged care offers a rewarding career path filled with challenges, variety, and wonderful people. There are a lot of options in aged care that will push you to develop, and use, a wide range of nursing skills.

There’s a lot to love about aged care. So, we’re going to break down 14 reasons why aged care is an awesome career choice for registered nurses.

1. Make a real difference

In aged care nursing you will regularly experience first-hand how it feels to change someone’s day for the better. You’ll be empowering clients to live at home independently with home care, or leading uplifting lifestyle activities, putting a smile on residents’ faces. Having the ability to spend more time with individual residents over a longer period of time allows you to get to know them and see the difference you make directly.

It's a space where your skill set really will shine. You’ll be doing wound care, medication management, leadership, acute care, rehabilitation, care planning, and so much more. There are a lot of different skills to tap into, and the residents you work with eagerly show their appreciation.

2. Hear incredible stories

Each day you’ll meet people who have lived amazing lives. Residents love to share their stories. So, you’ll learn from their pasts, hear about Australia’s good old days, and find out surprising things about incredible people. If you love hearing about history and other people’s lives you’ll love working in aged care.

3. Receive genuine appreciation

In aged care nursing you are much more than a number. You are appreciated each day for the value you bring to the lives of residents. The people you help in your work are genuinely happy to see you, often greeting you with a big smile.

Within aged care, you have more of a direct impact on a resident’s day-to-day life. Whether it be explaining what their medications are for, having a laugh over a story, or consoling relatives. You are at the centre of the residents' world, and an important person to their family. It’s a position that you’ll be thanked over for a lifetime.

4. Become an instant leader

Often, in aged care nursing, you’ll need to manage people and take charge. If you’ve never developed leadership skills before, then this will be the perfect space to grow. You’ll have plenty of opportunities to test and grow these skills, which will be a great boost to your career.

Of course, you aren’t just expected to pick leadership skills up out of nowhere. There are some incredibly talented nurses in the space who are role model leaders. You’ll pick up skills from them through mentorship and as examples to follow.

5. Meet new people

If you love meeting new and interesting people, then aged care is perfect for you. There’ll be a variety of residents, their families, kitchen staff, management, carers, and other healthcare staff who you’ll meet regularly. It’s all like being a part of one big family.

Aged care is the perfect space to share precious moments with a wide range of people that will make an impact on your life.

6. Learn new things

There’s always something new to learn in aged care. A wide range of your skills will be put to the test and developed as you rise to the variety of challenges you face each day. You’ll also gain academic lessons from other healthcare staff and life lessons from many of the residents. Aged care is enriched with a culture of learning.

With the flexibility gained from First Choice Care, you’ll also have the time to further your professional development through formal study while also gaining on-the-job experience.

7. There’s a lot of job flexibility

It can be tough for many aged care facilities to find skilled RN’s. So, facilities and nursing agencies will look after you when you sign up. You’ll be able to find a variety of different shifts to suit your lifestyle and will find your work-life balance is respected. They work hard to retain you long-term.

If you’re looking for a career path where you’ll feel appreciated and are seeking greater flexibility, then aged care nursing is for you.

8. Fulfil a sense of purpose

Many people become a nurse to fulfil a sense of purpose. If you’ve had family in aged care it can be heart-warming to make a positive difference in the lives of residents and their families. This sense of purpose can energise you and the work you do. It’s the perfect way to find your passion and feel fulfilled at work.

9. Network with a lot of health professionals each day

Every day you’ll be working with a wide range of healthcare professionals who will be relying on you for accurate and detailed information. You’re in the perfect position to improve resident outcomes, learn new skills, and make connections. You’ll be an integral part of the team, making a real difference to the overall health and well-being of your residents.

10. Work you can take pride in

If you’re looking for a career path that you can be proud of, then aged care is the perfect option. As mentioned before, Aged Care nurses make a huge difference in the lives of residents and their families. You’ll be the person caring for their parent, grandparent, sibling, aunt or uncle.

It’s an important role that takes a lot of patience and compassion but is extremely rewarding. You’ll see the smiles on the faces of the residents each day. You’ll become their carer and advocate, working to put their needs first so they get the best care. It truly is a role that impacts the lives of those you work with.

11. Become an advocate for the elderly

The elderly are a vulnerable population, and you’re in the perfect position to give them a voice and control over their care. You can advocate for them, sharing their wishes with other healthcare professionals to ensure they receive the care they prefer. By becoming an advocate for your residents, you’ll be the person they trust to ensure they get the care that they need providing better overall outcomes.

12. Loads of career opportunities

It’s a lot easier to stand out from the crowd in aged care. With more demand for nurses and fewer nurses in facilities, your successes stand out more. It means it’s a lot easier to get promotions, raises and commendations. You’ll be able to speed up your career progression and reach heights you never thought possible.

If you want to take things even further, look at agency nursing. Here you’ve got the opportunity to have all the great career opportunities from aged care nursing, plus access to greater flexibility, time, training programs, and much more.

13. There’s huge demand

As mentioned previously, there’s a lot of demand for aged care nurses. This is because the population of Australia is aging. There are more elderly people, more facilities, and more roles for nurses to fill.

So, regardless of whether you choose to become a staff nurse at a facility or want to be an agency nurse, you are sure to find an endless number of shifts to fill.

14. It’s a lifelong career path with a lot of variety

Demand for aged care nurses is not going away, in fact, it is projected to rise as time goes on. So, aged care nursing is a great pathway for anyone looking to enter a lifelong career that they can be passionate about. You’re guaranteed plenty of opportunities to grow and develop your career.

Not only that, but the role nurses will play in aged care will become increasingly more varied. With the advent of AI and other technologies, your focus will shift to providing higher-quality care for your residents. You’ll be free to do a wider variety of support tasks, working with other healthcare professionals to keep your residents happy, healthy, and cared for.

Conclusion

There’s no career quite like that of an aged care nurse. You’ll be providing an essential service to incredible people who are grateful for your work every day. By taking this path you’ll experience unmatched variety, flexibility, and networking opportunities. It truly is special.

The best way to make the most of your time as an aged care nurse is by becoming an agency nurse. You’ll have greater control and flexibility over the shifts you work and the direction of your career. Get started by registering your interest with First Choice Care.

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By Matthew Power • June 24, 2025

Having 12 months of experience working as a nurse unlocks a lot of doors! You’ve got some experience under your belt and a greater idea of what you want out of your career as a nurse. By this point, you’ve experienced parts of the job that you love, and some things you don’t love as much, which will help shape your pathway forward. One door that has now been unlocked for you is Agency Nursing. We think it’s the best next step for most nurses, whether you’re looking for more flexible work, or want to earn a bit extra while maintaining your existing job or study commitments. To help you see why, we’ve put together this list on the pros and cons of agency nursing. What do you want to achieve next? The first thing to consider when determining your next step is what exactly you are looking to achieve. Do you want more flexibility, to travel the country while working, to work and study, to earn a bit more money, or do you want to follow a specific specialisation? Your priorities can help you determine whether Agency Nursing is the right step to take in your career. Put together a list of what you value, want to achieve, and want to prioritise. If any of our pros below connect with you, then Agency Nursing may just be right for you. Upskilling and specialisations If you’re ready to try something new, then you may look at upskilling. Undertaking further study will allow you to work in new specialisations that align with your passions. There are so many options when it comes to specialising in nursing, like emergency, theatre nursing, clinical, aged care, midwifery, and more. If you choose to do further study, you can work around it by picking up shifts for a Nursing Agency (more on that below)! Agency nursing Agency Nursing is one of the best pathways for working in nursing on your terms. Whether you want greater flexibility, to supplement your income from your primary job, or to travel while working. 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Nurse of the Month May 2025 - Marjie

By Matthew Power • May 23, 2025

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Oops, Don’t Do That: Compliance & Credentialing Errors That Slow Down Your Start Date

By Matthew Power • April 1, 2025

So, you’ve nailed your application and interview—congrats! But before you can start picking up shifts as a casual nurse or healthcare worker, there’s one final (and very important) step: completing your compliance and credentialing requirements. Many applicants underestimate the time it takes to get their paperwork in order, and missing even one required document can delay your start date. To ensure a smooth onboarding process, here’s a checklist of the most common compliance mistakes and how to avoid them. Not Providing the Right References Your referees play a crucial role in verifying your experience and suitability for agency nursing. However, many applicants make the mistake of: Providing personal references instead of professional ones Listing references who haven’t supervised them in the last 12 months Forgetting to notify their referees that they’ll be contacted What You Need to Do: Submit 3 referees with their current phone number and email address Ensure referees have directly supervised you in the role you’re applying for within the last 12 months Contact your referees in advance and let them know they’ll receive an email or call from First Choice Care Missing Critical Proof of Experience If you’re applying as an Enrolled Nurse (EN) or Registered Nurse (RN) student, you’ll need to prove your recent clinical experience. A common mistake is not providing the right documents or thinking placements alone will count. What You Need to Submit: 2 x recent ANSAT reports or University Transcript (for EN/RN students only) 2 x recent payslips (from the same role you’re applying for—important for verifying recent experience!) Forgetting to Upload Key Qualifications Many applications stall because nurses and healthcare workers forget to upload their essential qualifications. Make sure you provide: Copy of your relevant certificates (Postgraduate Certificate, Bachelor, Diploma) Current AHPRA Registration (For nurses only—check your renewal date!) Not Completing Background Checks Your police clearance and working permits are non-negotiable for agency roles. A common mistake is not having the correct up to date documents or having the documents ready to go. What You Need to Submit: Certified Copy of a Current National Police Clearance (Dated within the last 6 months & clear of disclosable outcomes. Current Blue Card with Yellow Card Exemption (Required for Disability Support Workers only) Working with Children’s Permit (If applicable to your role) Proof of Work Rights in Australia (Passport, Australian birth certificate, or Confirmation of Enrolment for student visa holders) Not Meeting ID Requirements Not providing the correct identification and clear headshot is a common roadblock in onboarding. You need to provide at least 100 points of ID, such as: Passport (70 points) Australian Driver’s Licence (40 points) Marriage Certificate or Change of Name Certificate (25 points) What You Need: A clear headshot from the shoulders up for your ID badge. Think passport photo, not selfie. Not Submitting Immunisation & Health Clearance Records You’ll need documentation proving immunity to: Hepatitis B (Serology results with titre level OR record of 3 completed vaccinations) COVID-19 (Evidence of vaccinations required) Hepatitis A (If required for your role) Measles/Mumps/Rubella (MMR) (Serology results OR record of 2 completed vaccinations) Diphtheria/Pertussis/Tetanus (DTP) (Vaccination within the last 10 years) Varicella (Chickenpox) (Serology results OR record of 2 completed vaccinations) Fluvax (Yearly dose—mandatory for Aged Care, Community, and Disability roles, highly regarded for Acute nurses) Tuberculosis Clearance (BCG, Mantoux results <5 OR negative, QuantiFERON result required if applicable) Relevant certificates required: First Aid Certification (Must be completed within the last 3 years) Don’t Let Paperwork Hold You Back! Completing compliance might seem overwhelming, but getting it right the first time will speed up your onboarding and help you start working faster. Triple-check that all required documents are submitted in full Contact your referees in advance to avoid delays Make sure your police check, AHPRA registration, and immunisations are up to date Respond promptly to emails requesting additional documents Tip: Keep a digital folder with all your credentials handy, so you can upload them quickly when applying for roles. Conclusion Completing your compliance and credentialing requirements correctly is an important step in getting started with First Choice Care quickly. Review your compliance and credentialing documentation and match it to this list to ensure you're getting it right the first time. Then you'll be ready to start picking up shifts and enjoying the flexibility that agency nursing offers. Ready to join First Choice Care, Australia’s most supportive nursing agency? Check out our current roles or register your interest here .