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How to Prepare for Your First Nursing Agency Interview

​So after working as a registered or enrolled nurse for 12 months, you’ve decided you are ready for your next adventure - agency nursing. This type of casual nursing is likely different from what you’re probably been used to lately but Carestaff are here to help you quickly find your feet and earn some extra money. Here we will explore what you need to know to ace the agency interview and get started quickly. As you read this post, just remember, Carestaff Nursing Services are on your side. They want you on board and are incredibly excited you’re here so don’t hesitate to ask them any questions you may have.

Ensure your resume is current and tailored to agency nursing

As you’ve been nursing your tail off for 12 months, your resume likely needs updating. Not a big deal and nowhere near as tricky or daunting as it may seem. Here are quick points to remember whilst you make the necessary updates;

●Are your contact details correct?

○Is your name spelled correctly and present at the top of the first page?

○Is your home address, phone number, and email address correct? As the interview will likely be via the phone, these details are critical to get right.

●How long is your resume?

○It should be no more than 2-3 pages in length. It should be as short as possible and still convey your worth.

●What size font have I used?

○ Size 12 font is most common. You can use large fonts to emphasise your name but don’t be tempted to shrink the font in order to fit the detail onto fewer pages.

●What font type have you used?

○Times New Roman, Serif fonts, Cambria and Georgia are recommended. Choose one and stick to it. Avoid fancy, curly fonts.

●Have you used black text?

○Alternative text colours are unnecessary. If you want something to stand out, consider using bold, capilitise, or italic text instead.

Contact your referees prior to the interview to ensure they are prepared

Who should I ask to be my referees? How many referees should I provide? These are really valid and important questions to ask when preparing for a nursing agency interview. Typically, when applying for a nursing agency position, you need to supply two referees. These people should hold a position within the nursing field which is higher than you, think a Nurse Unit Manager (NUM), Assistant Nurse Unit Manager (ANUM), or Clinical Nurse Specialist (CNS).

Though you may have a good relationship with your previous boss at your part-time job during university, try and choose somebody who has worked with you more recently within the healthcare field.

The referees should;

●Have worked closely with you as a nurse within the last 2 years

●Be able to speak highly of you and articulate why you'd make a great agency nurse

●Be in a management/leadership position

●Be different from those you used on your resume when applying for a graduate nurse position

Once you have picked your potential referees, you need to ask them if they are happy to be listed. If they agree, which majority will ask them for their contact details (which you need to list at the bottom of your resume) and when is the best time Carestaff Nursing Services should make contact about your application. Again, if you have trouble choosing your referees don’t stress, Carestaff will help guide you on who is the most appropriate. You just need to ask.

Complete the Mandatory Nursing Documentation


Though the words mandatory documentation doesn't sound very interesting, you can’t do much in the nursing field without addressing them, unfortunately.


Here is a list of paperwork you’ll need to complete, and show evidence of completing, before you arrive at your agency nursing interview.

●National Police Check

○Chat to the Carestaff team about the most effective resource to use here.

●Nursing Registration

○Nursing registration needs to be paid to the Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency (AHPRA) board on an annual basis. This link provides details on how much you will need to pay. AHPRA will supply you with a card and registration documentation, bring these along with you to your interview.

●Continued Professional Development (CPD) hours

○Every year, in order to renew your registered or enrolled nurse registration, nurses need to complete a certain number of hours dedicated to learning more about the nursing and healthcare profession. This ensures your practice is up-to-date so your patients are receiving the best possible care.

○Though it’s not necessary for you to have completed all your hours before the interview, knowing where you’re up to (apps like Ausmed can help you keep track) and how you think you’re going to achieve them is a good idea to consider before the interview. This is not something you need to stress over though. Be honest and open with the Carestaff Agency during the interview if you don’t know. They have a partnership with the Australian Healthcare Academy (AHA) who offers a range of interesting and interactive courses which make the process simple.

Prepare Your Answers


Now you’ve got your paperwork sorted, start to think about your answers to the following questions/situations if they were to be asked;

●Your work experience

Where did you work throughout your graduate year? What skills did you learn which you deem relevant to agency nursing?

●Qualifications

Have you completed any special training such as a First Aid certificate, Basic Life Support, Advanced Life Support, cannulation, or trauma management which you deem would be useful in obtaining particular shifts with Carestaff?

●Work rights in Australia

If you are a registered or enrolled nurse from a county other than Australia - welcome! We’d love you to work with us but we need to ensure you are legally permitted to. Bring along any relevant documentation such as your visa and sponsorship to your interview so we take a good look.

●Mode of transport

Do you have a current driver's licence and a working car?


Your preferences


If you were to be employed by Carestaff Nursing Services when and where would you like to receive shifts? My tip is to be open to working morning, afternoons, weekends, and night shifts particularly in the beginning whilst you're developing relationships and learning how agency nursing operates.


In summary, Carestaff Nursing Services wants you on their team. Take the time now to prepare your resume, chat with your referees and be ready to answer the likely first question, “why do you want to be an agency nurse?”


We can’t wait to meet you and have you join our team at Carestaff Nursing Services!

Cheers,


Emma Smith



Registered Nurse 

By Matthew Power 22 Mar, 2024
Congratulations to our nurse of the month for March 2024 – Leah! We’re proud of all the hard work and passion you put into nursing. At Carestaff, we love having you on our team. You can read all about Leah’s time with Carestaff at the interview below. What do you enjoy the most about working with Carestaff? Chatting with the wonderful allocations team, and the flexibility. Tell me about a rewarding experience you’ve had whilst working with Carestaff? Working across all the hospitals and feeling like a part of the team, no matter where I am. What makes you passionate about nursing? Knowing I've helped to make a difference in a person’s life. If you had to sum Carestaff up in one or more words how would you describe Carestaff? The team is supportive, understanding, flexible and wonderful to work with.
By Matthew Power 22 Mar, 2024
Diving into your first aged care shifts with Carestaff is super exciting! There are a whole lot of new things coming that will help you grow as a nurse and fall in love with your career all over again. But first, you’ve got to conquer your first day. We’ve put together the top 12 tips for first-time aged care agency nurses, that’ll help you settle in quickly, and hit the ground running, in any facility you enter. 1. Start with some research on the facility Before you arrive, get to know the facility a bit. Do some Googling to learn about where it is, how to get there, what they do, and they may even show some of the people you will be working with. Having some foreknowledge about the facility will let you know what to expect when you arrive. 2. Arrive early for your shift Showing up early to your first shift will give you time to ease into things. You’ll have time to be onboarded, learn your way around, and more without feeling rushed. It’ll make your first shift so much more relaxed. Take the extra time to have a walk through the facility and see if you can locate things like the bathrooms, etc. 3. Introduce yourself and be confident When entering a new workplace where everyone knows each other, except you, it can require a little confidence to break the ice. Go up to the team you’ll be working with and introduce yourself. Get to know their names, roles, and more. Be confident. Remember you’re an amazing nurse too who does belong there, even if it’s just your first day. 4. Be assertive and proactive Many nurses have an instinct to try to blend in on the first day, but you should ignore that instinct. Dive into your work with energy and passion. Be proactive in asking questions, it’ll help you learn how the facility operates and ways you can improve your own abilities. 5. Know the codes Ah the joys of being locked out of the bathroom, staff room, drug room, or the linen cupboard, because you forgot the codes! It can be easy to do, we’ve all been there. It’s important to write these down somewhere so you can grab them when you forget. If there are keys, keep them safely around your neck or in a pocket so that you don’t forget them. 6. Know your role We can absolutely bet that you’re an awesome nurse, and you’ll fit right into every facility. But one important tip is to understand where you fit into every facility you enter. They may require you for specific tasks in resident care, or for you to work with specific people. Ask around and find out where you fit into the team and what your role is. 7. Familiarise yourself with the facility It’s important to get familiar with the layout and procedures of any facility you enter. Learn where the evacuation points, fire extinguishers, emergency resources, and the nurse in charge of management are located. You should also get familiar with procedures such as the evacuation procedure, who you report to in an emergency, and your responsibilities in such a scenario. 8. Work out who needs priority care To plan out your shifts it’s a good idea to get ahead by reviewing each resident file to see who likes to be attended to first, and who likes a sleep-in. Also, check to see who needs a wash or a shower and who’s a two-person assist. If you can’t find this information don’t be afraid to ask, it’ll make your day a whole lot easier. 9. Always carry a phone or pager You never know what could come up, especially on your first day. So, always carry your phone or a pager with you to avoid any situations where you’re waiting around for help in an uncomfortable position. Never be afraid to call for help when you need it. It’s your first day so it is common to need assistance from team members for some of the more difficult tasks. 10. Write down Activities of Daily Living (ADLS) as you go If you want to save yourself a tonne of time and avoid the guessing game each day, take notes of everything you did with each resident. You’ll likely have a lot going on at once, so to keep track of everything, keep a pen and notebook on you. After each visit with aresident note down everything you did, then transfer that to the official documentation before you leave for the day. 11. Learn what time your breaks are Breaks are super important. You’ll be learning so many new things on your first day that you’ll need to use those breaks. So, check in when your breaks are and how many you get. Knowing when your breaks are will also allow you to better manage your time and prioritise tasks. 12. Get your timesheet signed early Avoid spending a long time trying to find the nurse in charge to sign your timesheet. Jump ahead a few hours early so you can get it signed on time, and avoid interrupting them during handover time. Once you do get your payslip, review it to make sure you’re getting paid for all the hours you worked, including overtime. If something doesn’t make sense, feel free to reach out and seek clarification. Conclusion Make your first day a breeze by following these tips. You’ll be knowledgeable before entering the facility, confident on the job, and energised by the fresh start. Agency Nursing is an exciting career path filled with new opportunities, and these tips will help you make the most of it. If you’re yet to start your first shift with Carestaff, feel free to reach out to us!
By Matthew Power 21 Feb, 2024
Congratulations to our nurse of the month for February - Piper! You are awesome to work with so we're so proud to give you this award. You can read all about Piper's time with Carestaff in the interview below. What do you enjoy the most about working with Carestaff? The Allocations team, they are wonderful Tell me about a rewarding experience you’ve had whilst working with Carestaff? Going back to facilities and seeing residents that I haven’t see for a while and them recognizing me What makes you passionate about nursing? Nursing is something Ive always wanted to do. Keeping people safe and happy. Looking after those that need help If you had to sum Carestaff up in one or more words how would you describe Carestaff? Inclusive – Carestaff feels like a big family
By Matthew Power 20 Feb, 2024
You’ve put together an amazing application, checked it twice, and clicked send. Now you’re wondering, what happens next? It’s exciting, and daunting, to sign up for a new nursing agency. So, to help you out and put you at ease we’ve put together a guide on what happens after you’ve submitted your application. This covers everything that goes on behind the scenes, as we process your application, prepare for your interview, and onboard you. We’re so excited to have received your application, so let’s dive into what happens next. The first 24-48 hours In about 24-48 hours after we have received your application, our team is right on it, reviewing it. We’ll have a look over everything you’ve sent through and make sure it matches what we’re looking for. If it’s a match, then you’ll progress to the next stage. To increase your chances here, write your application based on the requirements in our Ad. Ensure all of the requirements and skills asked for are listed in your application. It even helps if you use the same wording that we do. Introductory call If you’ve passed the first stage, then you’ll get an invite to an introductory call. Keep an eye on your inbox as we will email you through your invite. This call is our chance to get to know each other, discuss your skills and experience, as well as answer any questions you may have. In the call we love to hear about your goals, what you want to get out of agency nursing, and the kinds of shifts you’re looking for. It’s important for us to be a good fit for you as well. Onboarding Once you’ve gotten passed the introductory call we’ll be ready to onboard you. An email will be sent with a link to onboard yourself by creating a Carestaff profile. Here you’ll need to complete: 100 points of ID A payroll pack Evidence of education and immunity status A medical disclosure Reference check As a part of the onboarding process, we will complete a reference check. You’ll need to provide 2 references. They must be an Enrolled, Registered, or Clinical nurse who has directly supervised you for at least 6 months. Each reference must also be registered with AHPRA. Once you’ve provided their details, they will be contacted via SMS and email. Education After you’ve completed onboarding and your references have been checked, we’ll send through a series of online modules. These are completely free but must be completed within 7 days. They’ll help prepare you for work with Carestaff. Induction interview The last step is to book in your induction interview. Here’s where you’ll learn everything you need to know about booking shifts, representing Carestaff in healthcare facilities, uniforms and much more. This induction can be completed online or in the Carestaff office. During this time we will arrange your uniform and ID. Once you’ve finished this stage, you’re officially a Carestaff nurse! Conclusion Applying is just the beginning. There are a few stages you’ll go through before you can start picking up shifts. Fortunately, these stages can be quite quick, especially if you have all the information handy. Once you’ve applied, make sure you gather all the information we’ve requested so that you’ll be ready when you receive the interview email. We’re so glad that you applied, and we can’t wait to meet you! If you’re yet to apply, feel free to do so here.
By Matthew Power 18 Jan, 2024
Agency nurses are important people who make a big difference in every healthcare facility they step inside. As a nursing agency, we’re extremely fortunate to know some of the kindest and most passionate nurses. In our time working with nurses there are 8 skills that we have noticed amongst our nurses that make them exceptional agency nurses. These skills have been developed through experience in agency nursing and allow the nurse to have the greatest impact in each facility they step into. Here’s a breakdown of the top 8 skills that successful agency nurses have developed. 1. Communication Great communication makes all the difference in agency nursing. You’ll need it to connect with the team at healthcare or aged care facilities you enter, understand what’s going on, and connect with your patients or residents. It’ll make entering any new facility a lot easier as you’ll know the right questions to ask and the best way to get the information you need. Adding to that, communication is essential for achieving your career goals. If you want to take on specific shifts, try a new specialisation, work in certain locations, or only at certain times, then the support team needs to know. When the team knows your career goals, they can work with you to help you achieve them. 2. A cool head under pressure Dealing with tricky situations while maintaining a cool head is an art form of its own. As a nurse, there are a lot of stressful, high-pressure situations where it could be easy to lose your cool. But your patients, their families, and your team are relying on you. Keeping a cool head in any situation will allow you to maintain order and prevent situations from escalating. Sometimes the pressure can be higher as an agency nurse because you’re representing both yourself and your agency. That’s why the most successful agency nurses develop this skill, making them highly valuable to all facilities they enter. 3. Adaptability As an agency nurse, you will be dealing with a lot of different situations, facilities, shift times, and more. There’s an absolute tonne of variety. This variety keeps each shift unique and interesting but does require a touch of adaptability. You’ll need to be able to adapt to the layout, processes and equipment of every facility you enter (especially if switching from private to public). Plus, you’ll need to pivot regularly to meet the changing needs of your patients or residents. There will be different shifts that you need to take up, times you’ll need to work each week, and challenges you’ll face. It’s why it’s the perfect career path for nurses seeking a lot of variety and a fast-paced environment. Adaptable agency nurses will find the transition into each facility, and the changes each week, a breeze. 4. Stamina It’s well known that nurses have a tough job. You need to be on your feet for many hours working with many different people. To do a day's work as a nurse you need to have a lot of physical and mental stamina. For agency nurses, you also need to add in the extra stress from travelling to unfamiliar locations and working irregular patterns with people you may not know well. That’s why agency nurses need to have great stamina and resilience, so they can keep on going to take advantage of all the great benefits of agency nursing. 5. Attention to detail Moving from ward to ward, you always need to be on the ball. The observations and records you make need to be accurate to ensure your patients get the best care possible. As agency nurses jump between different facilities it’s important to not get distracted by new surroundings and focus on your patients or residents. The most successful agency nurses dive into each shift, enjoying the variety, but focusing on getting the best care for their patients. 6. Positive attitude Agency nurses are an important part of a healthcare team. You have the opportunity to reinvigorate each team you join with new energy. This can make a difference to the team members, patients, and their families. How can agency nurses be this force of energy? With a positive attitude. Positivity can be infectious and provide wide-reaching effects. As an agency nurse, developing a positive attitude will transform every facility you step into. 7. Teamwork You’ll be working with a lot of different teams. Whenever you step into a facility, you’ll be working alongside new people with a different team dynamic. Agency nurses need to develop exceptional teamwork abilities so they can fit into each team easily. A well-working nursing team will make the quality of care your patients receive even better. 8. Dependability Facilities are struggling right now with staff shortages. They are desperate for dependable nurses who can take care of their patients or residents. Which is why agency nurses are perfect. Successful agency nurses are extremely dependable. They know how to jump into a facility and gel with the team to take care of their patients or residences. Conclusion Agency nurses are highly valued because of the skills they have developed. Due to the unique way they work in healthcare, successful agency nurses have learnt a wide range of skills that allow them to make a real impact in healthcare facilities. As you delve into agency nursing keep these skills in mind and look to take every opportunity you can to learn them. If agency nursing excites you, register your interest with Carestaff.
By Matthew Power 18 Jan, 2024
Congratulations to our first Nurse of the Month for 2024 - Petrina! We are proud of the hard work and dedication you put in every day. Your efforts are noticed. It's great having you as a part of the Carestaff team. Petrina has loved the flexibility she gets from working with Carestaff and enjoys the support she receives from the team. She loves that Carestaff are always comparing and compassionate. You can read more about Petrina's time with Carestaff in the interview below. What do you enjoy the most about working with Carestaff? The flexibility it gives me. The care provided by the Carestaff team, the team provided a more personable approach than other agencies I have worked with in the past Tell me about a rewarding experience you’ve had whilst working with Carestaff? Receiving lovely positive feedback from a facility, made me feel really appreciated. What makes you passionate about nursing? Helping people that are in a vulnerable state. I feel like I was “born to be a nurse”. From a young age I knew this is what I wanted to do, I couldn’t imagine being anything else. If you had to sum Carestaff up in one or more words how would you describe Carestaff? Caring and compassionate Congratulations Petrina! Feel free to head over to our Instagram and send your own congratulations by commenting on our NOM post.
By Matthew Power 15 Nov, 2023
With their unique way of working in healthcare, and wide variety of experience, agency nurses develop special skills that make them some of the most sought-after nurses. These skills enhance the care provided at facilities that hire them, resulting in happier patients. It's why agency nurses are an incredibly important part of rounding out the team in healthcare facilities. Wondering what exactly these skills are and how you can develop them? We’ve got a list of the top 5 skills we’ve seen in our agency nurses which make us proud! 1. A never-ending desire to care Often, when we let our nurses know of a last-minute shift request to help a patient, the responses are heart-warming. Our nurses are just ready to drop everything and get out to care for the patient. It’s this passion for caring for others, despite anything else happening in their life, which always amazes us. This is to not say that regular nurses don’t care, quite the contrary, but agency nurses need to foster this desire to care differently. As agency nurses have higher degrees of flexibility their desire to care is often the driver for choosing to fill shifts and pick up shifts outside their normal schedule. 2. Adaptability When you’re an agency nurse each shift is different. You may be at a different facility, in a different area, or working with a different team. This requires constant adaptability both before and during your shift. The plus side of this means you become adaptable to almost any situation. You’ll have experienced a wider range of challenges which you’ll have solved, experienced different roles in healthcare, and have learnt from a wide range of incredible nurses. This makes you an absolute superhero in almost any setting, improving your patient’s quality of care. 3. Remaining professional As an agency nurse, it's important to uphold certain standards during your shift as you are a representative of your agency.. There will be requirements on how you act while on shift, the quality of care you provide, the clothes you wear, and a lot more. The thing is that no-one is there from the agency watching you to make sure you uphold these standards. So, you’re in control of how you behave on shift. It’s up to you to put your best foot forward ensuring that both you and the agency are viewed in the best light possible. So, agency nurses need to develop the ability to self-reflect on their presentation and behaviour to ensure they remain as professional as possible. If you’re looking to build this skill the best thing you can do is think about an agency nurse who you consider phenomenal. Look to their behaviour and the way they dress on shift as a starting point. 4. Excellent communication Communication is vital in agency nursing. Agency nurses need to communicate well with their support team to ensure they get the shifts they want, when they want, and where they want. On shift, they need to communicate with the on-site team, their patients, and their patients’ families. It’s important to be clear, direct, and straightforward, but also understanding and caring. You’ll be dealing with a variety of situations and people where good communication is essential for getting the best results for your patient, your team, and yourself. 5. A love of learning Agency nurses never stop learning. There are constant new experiences during the wide variety of shifts, and many further study opportunities are available. It’s essential that agency nurses love learning, seek it out, and understand how it can help improve their skills. The best thing you can do as an agency nurse is to take advantage of all available courses to broaden your skills and learn new things. By having a wider range of skills you’ll become invaluable in every facility you step foot inside.  Conclusion With the unique way they interact with healthcare, agency nurses gain some incredibly important skills. These skills allow them to remain flexible, integrate perfectly into a team, and enhance the capabilities of care facilities provide. If you want to improve your abilities as a nurse, consider developing the above skills. You’ll find that you become a more flexible, experienced, and well-rounded nurse. If you want to make the switch to agency nursing register your interest with Carestaff.
By Matthew Power 15 Nov, 2023
Congratulations to our nurse of the month for November - Sean! We're really proud of your hard work and dedication to the care of your patients. You're an extremely talented nurse and we're excited to give you this reward. You can learn all about Sean's time with Carestaff in the interview below. What do you enjoy the most about working with Carestaff? Lots of things. The flexibility to be able to work around my family. I enjoy working with and meeting people and Carestaff enables me to do that. Working with great staff and working together as a team Tell me about a rewarding experience you’ve had whilst working with Carestaff? Being able to comfort and look after a staff member who feel ill at work. What makes you passionate about nursing? Helping and looking after people who need care. I feel like I am a people person and working as a nurse and caring for the vulnerable allows me to do that If you had to sum Carestaff up in one or more words how would you describe Carestaff? UNBELIEVABLE!!!!! It is the greatest place ever to work. Carestaff are always there for me whenever I need them Give your congratulations to Sean on our Instagram and Facebook!
By Matthew Power 17 Oct, 2023
Congratulations to this months’ nurse of the month, Robin! We’re so excited to give you this award. You’re an extremely valued part of the Carestaff team. You can read more about Robyn’s time with Carestaff in the interview below. What do you enjoy the most about working with Carestaff? The Carestaff Team are approachable and friendly. I Love going to a variety of facilities and sharing my knowledge and passion for nursing. The variety that Carestaff provides is great. Tell me about a rewarding experience you’ve had whilst working with Carestaff? There is a particular facility that have had some recent trouble with recruiting staff and I have been able to provide the nursing support they have needed during such a difficult time. What makes you passionate about nursing? After 35 years of nursing, I still feel passionate and enjoy what I do. Despite different variations that we as nurses are placed into, don’t ever underestimate your skills. If you had to sum Carestaff up in one or more words how would you describe Carestaff? Friendly & Approachable. I don’t just feel like a number  Feel free to share this post on Instagram or Facebook to help congratulate Robyn!
By Matthew Power 12 Oct, 2023
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 Carestaff, 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 Carestaff.
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