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How to become an agency nurse or midwife

First Choice Care • November 22, 2021
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Are you looking for casual agency positions and the opportunity to expand your skills? If you are a nurse, midwife or assistant nurse, you have come to the right place, as we provide a broad range of work and learning opportunities.

 

What Nursing Jobs Are Available?


First Choice Care can provide you with opportunities across Australia with Registered nurse (RN) jobs, Enrolled nurse (EN) jobs, Assistant in Nursing (AIN) jobs, and many more. If you’re looking for midwifery jobs in Brisbane, or aged care jobs in Brisbane and beyond, we can help you with that as well.


Registered Nurse or Midwife. You will need to be an Australian citizen and have completed a Nursing or Midwifery degree at university.


Registered Nurse or Midwife (overseas). You will need a valid visa and have completed a nursing degree at an overseas university with an equivalent skill.


Enrolled nurse. You will have an 18-month or 2-year VET qualification or obtained a Diploma in Enrolled Nursing.


Assistant Nurse. You will need a qualification in health assistance. The minimum qualification level is Certificate III and will include work placement of around 120 hours.


New Graduate Nurse. You will have completed a nurse residency or new graduate program, which usually takes one year.

 

What Roles Do We Fill? Acute


  • Critical Care (ED, ICU, CCU)
  • Theatre (Peri, Post Op, Scrub/Scout)
  • Aged Care
  • Community Care
  • Mental Health
  • And more

 

What Are The Requirements?


We would love to see that you are passionate about helping people and are patient-focused, having a ‘can-do’ attitude. Besides this, you will need the following:


  • Current unrestricted APHRA certification
  • Current and clear Australian National Police Check Certificate
  • A minimum of 1,000 hours of paid Australian experience within the last 12 months in relevant clinical environment
  • Complete vaccination records
  • An ability to work both autonomously and in a multidisciplinary team
  • Capability to adapt to new environments
  • Highly developed verbal and written communication skills

 

Positions with additional requirements:


  • Enrolled nurse (EN) – must have 12 months or 1,000 paid hours experience in hospitals or aged care
  • Assistant in nursing (AIN) (Cert III) – must have six months paid experience for aged care or 1000 hours paid experience for hospitals
  • Nursing Student (AIN)– a minimum of three clinical placements with at least one in aged care.

 

How Do You Get Started?


If you want to apply for work with First Choice Care, the leading nursing agency, please apply here. Alternatively, you can apply directly on our job board here.

 

First Choice Care is well known as one of Brisbane’s most reliable and trusted companies nursing agencies, and we are the preferred supplier to leading healthcare facilities. We invite you to reach out to us if you want to become an agency nurse or midwife.


You can contact our friendly team here or look at our frequently asked questions for more information.

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What Flexible Nursing Means: Casual and Agency Nursing Explained Flexible work in nursing typically includes casual and agency roles, both of which give nurses greater control over their schedules. Casual nursing allows nurses to pick up shifts around personal commitments such as family life, study or travel. Agency nursing offers short-term and contract roles across a variety of healthcare settings, providing even greater flexibility and exposure to different clinical environments. There are common misconceptions about flexible nursing. Some believe these roles lack stability or consistency, while others assume they limit career progression. In reality, many nurses use flexible work to build schedules that suit their lifestyle. Working across multiple healthcare settings can also strengthen clinical capability, broaden experience and enhance employability. Benefits of Flexible Nursing for Work-Life Balance One of the key advantages of flexible nursing is improved work-life balance. Nurses can choose shifts that align with their personal priorities, whether that includes family commitments, study, travel or increased rest time. In addition, exposure to different healthcare environments helps build diverse clinical experience, expand skill sets and strengthen professional confidence. Moving Between Clinical Agency and Facilitation Roles in Nursing Flexible nursing can also support meaningful career progression over time. Many nurses begin in clinical agency roles to gain experience across a range of healthcare settings and build confidence in varied environments. From there, some progress into more specialised positions, including clinical nurse facilitation, where they support, mentor and guide other nurses in practice. Through First Choice Care, nurses can access opportunities across both metro agency roles and clinical nurse facilitation pathways, with the ability to move between them depending on experience, demand and goals. Challenges of Flexible Nursing (and How to Manage Them) While flexible nursing offers significant benefits, it also comes with considerations. Shift availability can vary, so planning ahead is important to maintain consistency in both income and scheduling. Working across different healthcare settings also requires adaptability, as nurses may need to quickly adjust to new teams, systems and processes. With the right planning and support, these challenges can be effectively managed, allowing nurses to fully benefit from the flexibility this career path offers. How to Take Control of Your Nursing Schedule Taking control of your schedule starts with understanding your priorities and setting clear boundaries around work. This includes identifying non-negotiables such as preferred days off, income goals and the types of shifts or locations that best suit your lifestyle. Casual and agency work allows nurses to build a schedule based on choice rather than fixed rostering. Over time, this approach supports a more balanced and intentional way of working, giving nurses greater ownership of both their time. The Future of Flexible Nursing in Australia The future of nursing is increasingly centred around flexibility, driven by ongoing workforce shortages and a stronger focus on wellbeing, retention and sustainability. Healthcare systems are evolving towards more adaptable workforce models, supported by digital rostering and shift management technology. These developments make it easier for nurses to choose when and where they work while still meeting service needs. As this continues to grow, flexible nursing is expected to become a core component of the healthcare workforce, offering greater autonomy, improved job satisfaction and long-term career sustainability. Find Flexible Nursing Opportunities with First Choice Care. Explore casual agency and clinical facilitation nursing opportunities here: https://www.firstchoicecare.com.au/all-jobs
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