In acute medical units, ENs develop strong foundational skills in patient assessment, monitoring vital signs, assisting with medications (within EN scope), supporting activities of daily living, and responding to changes in patient condition under RN supervision. You’ll learn to work with patients experiencing complex medical conditions, develop confidence in clinical documentation, and collaborate with multidisciplinary teams, reflecting the program’s focus on safe, supervised, high-quality care.

In surgical settings, ENs gain experience with pre- and post-operative care, wound management support, mobility assistance, pain management, and discharge readiness. You will strengthen your understanding of surgical pathways, sterile principles (within EN scope), and how to support patients through recovery. This area reinforces your skills in clinical observation, escalation, and providing both direct and indirect care.

Rehabilitation and sub-acute units offer an excellent opportunity to support patients as they regain function and independence. ENs assist with therapy support, mobility and transfers, personal care, cognitive and social engagement, and monitoring long-term recovery. You will work closely with physiotherapists, occupational therapists, speech pathologists and RNs.

In aged care, ENs provide compassionate support for older adults with chronic conditions, cognitive impairment, mobility challenges or high care needs. You will develop strengths in dementia-informed care, falls prevention, continence support, safe manual handling, and family communication. This setting reinforces the CREATE values of kindness, respect, empathy and consumer dignity

Community placements introduce ENs to health promotion, home-based support, chronic disease monitoring, wound care assistance, and helping consumers maintain independence. You will learn how hospital care connects with community pathways, and how ENs contribute to holistic, accessible, person-centred care outside the acute environment.

In ED, ENs gain experience in rapid-paced environments, learning how to support triage processes, patient preparation, wound care, observations, specimen collection, and recognising clinical deterioration under RN direction. Exposure includes working with high-acuity patients, developing calmness under pressure, and building confidence in clear communication, escalation and teamwork.

In mental health settings, ENs learn therapeutic communication, safety monitoring, de-escalation (under supervision), supporting daily living needs, and assisting with psychosocial and diversional activities. You will learn trauma-informed care principles while working closely with multidisciplinary teams. This aligns strongly with the PD’s emphasis on empathy, respect, understanding, and sensitivity to consumer needs.

ENs in oncology settings provide compassionate support to patients undergoing cancer treatment. You will assist with symptom management, patient comfort, education reinforcement, emotional support, and safe handling procedures (within scope). This area builds strong skills in communication, documentation and supporting vulnerable consumers.

Paediatric rotations allow ENs to gain experience working with infants, children and young people. You will learn developmentally appropriate approaches to care, assist with comfort measures, observations, play-based activities, and family support. This aligns with the EN requirement to follow child-safe principles and behaviour expectations.

ENs may gain exposure to postnatal care support, infant care assistance, maternal wellbeing checks, breastfeeding support (non-clinical), and family education. While ENs do not perform midwifery duties, this environment offers a valuable understanding of family-centred care, communication, privacy, and emotional support — strongly aligned with the PD’s focus on consumer dignity and respect.

ENs working in chronic disease settings assist with monitoring vital signs, supporting lifestyle education, reinforcing care plans, assisting with fluid balance monitoring, and supporting long-term patient engagement. In renal settings, ENs may assist with dialysis support tasks under supervision. These areas emphasise clinical observation, patient education, collaboration, and accurate documentation.