Why should I become a Professional Member?
- Expanded career pathway
- Take on a leadership role
- Take control of your practice
- Understand the importance of regulation in safe practice
- Gain a sense of contributing to the profession
- Better support peers and registrants
- Bring improved expertise to your clinical practice
- Improve your communications skills
The Nursing and Midwifery Council of NSW is offering Enrolled Nurses an opportunity to develop their skills, become leaders and give back to the profession by becoming a professional member. Enrolled Nurse professional members play a pivotal role in regulating the nursing profession by providing professional advice and expertise to the Council.
Ms Karen Hay and Ms Karyn Godier, two Council members and Enrolled Nurses, say there are personal and professional incentives for Enrolled Nurses to become professional members.
“In keeping with my desire for new challenges in my career, but also wishing to be an advocate for a profession I love, a role in regulation was very appealing to me. Becoming a professional member is an ideal way for Enrolled Nurses to learn new skills and develop an understanding of the importance of regulation in safe practice. As I enter my seventh year as an Enrolled Nurse Council Member, I continue to learn and to enhance my clinical skills” shared Karyn.
Becoming a Professional Member is not just about developing your skills but also about making a difference. Karen Hay shared her own inspiration for joining the Council.
“I wanted to give back to the profession, and by that, I mean ensuring that Enrolled Nurses had a voice in the decision-making processes. I wanted to do something in my career that was challenging, interesting, and made a difference. Every day, I have learnt something new from colleagues, which gives me the inspiration to explore a deeper understanding of what we do as nurses” said Karen.
Professional members are directly involved in reviewing complaints and making recommendations or decisions about nurses, amongst other duties.
“When assessing complaints, I gained a much stronger understanding of the standards that we must meet as ENs. Often, in the analysis of a complaint, I reflect upon my own practice to identify ways in which I could reduce my risk of potential error” said Karyn.
“You develop a greater insight and awareness of your own decision-making in daily practice. Importantly, it allows you to take control of your practice and make decisions, together with your peers, that hold up to the standards for which we are accountable” added Karen.
The development ENs can experience as professional members is not just limited to clinical decision-making.
“By being given leadership roles such as chairing meetings and panels, my confidence and communication skills, both oral and written, have improved. The flow on effect has been that interactions in my clinical role have improved and I am more effective when collaborating with treating teams and my patients. I believe my documentation skills have been enhanced too. There is also the opportunity to “de-mystify” the role of regulation by sharing your new knowledge with co-workers and making a real difference in your own workplace” said Karyn.
Karen expanded on the leadership role professional members carry out and the expanded career pathway.
“As a professional member, you engage on an equal footing with registered nurses and midwives who are leaders. You have an equal, valid and valuable voice in the regulation, implementation and review of the profession’s practises. Being a part of the regulatory system is transportable across divisions. It allows for another scope of practice that challenges the pre-conceived, and at times misconceived, perspective of what an Enrolled Nurse is and does” said Karen.
If a professional member role appeals to you, then express your interest now. Visit our Council membership page to complete and submit the expression of interest form before close of business 2 October 2020.