Advanced skill enrolled nurse

Enrolled nurses (ENs) who can demonstrate a specialist or advanced set of competencies may apply to be classified as an advanced skill enrolled nurse (ASEN).

An ASEN is a specialist in their area and is able to undertake more complex aspects of care and is remunerated as such. ASEN classification is an industrially led process where ENs are recognised for their advanced skills and practice through experience and completion of a Workbook (i.e. ASEN 1 and 2), or a post registration qualification for ASEN 3.

The WA Health System – United Workers Union (WA) – Enrolled Nurses, Assistants in Nursing, Aboriginal Health Workers, Ethnic Health Workers and Aboriginal Health Practitioners Industrial Agreement 2022 outlines ASEN Classification requirements in:

Part 5 – Rates of Pay, clause 24, subclause 24.1 (a) (v) to (vii), as below:

(v) “Advanced Skill Enrolled Nurse Level 1” (ASEN 1) is an Enrolled Nurse who has sufficiently demonstrated competencies* relevant to their area of clinical practice and at least four years’ experience as an Enrolled Nurse.

(vi) “Advanced Skill Enrolled Nurse Level 2” (ASEN 2) is an Advanced Skill Enrolled Nurse in the second year of employment as an Advanced Skill Enrolled Nurse.

(vii) “Advanced Skill Enrolled Nurse Level 3” (ASEN 3) is either an Enrolled Nurse or an Advanced Skill Enrolled Nurse who has completed a:

(A) post registration qualification** that did not lead to initial registration as an Enrolled Nurse, relevant to their area of clinical practice; and

(B) minimum three years’ experience as an Enrolled Nurse in the WA health system, who is appointed as an ASEN 3. The Employer may recognise relevant service as an Enrolled Nurse outside the WA health system for the purposes of meeting the minimum three years’ experience requirement.

* “Sufficiently demonstrated competencies”, in reference to ASEN 1, means the Employee has satisfied the competencies process contained in the Advanced Skill Enrolled Nurse Competencies Workbook.

** “Qualification”, in reference to ASEN 3, means a qualification specified in the Australian Qualifications Framework (AQF) (external site).

Australian Qualifications Framework Information Sheet (PDF 183KB).