Registered Nurse (RN) levels describe career progression from general practice (RN1) to advanced roles like Nurse Unit Manager (NUM) or Clinical Nurse Specialist (CNS), culminating in Nurse Practitioner (NP) or Director of Nursing (DON) roles, with progression based on experience, advanced skills (assessments, care plans, supervision), and leadership, often mapped to specific pay grades (RN1-RN5, Grade 1-8, etc.) under awards like the Nurses Award 2020.
6 roles in different nursing levels
What Are the Levels of Nursing? There are five levels of nursing: Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA), Licensed Practical Nurse (LPN), Registered Nurse (RN), Advanced Practice Registered Nurse (APRN), and Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP).
Nursing levels start with certified nursing assistants and progress to licensed practical nurses, registered nurses, advanced practice nurses, and non-clinical specialties. Each rank has its own education standards.
If you are a new grad you are an rn1. If you have experience and came from another hospital you are an rn2.
RN V (RN 5)
In general, level V nurses are also known as nurse consultants.
The Clinical Nurse II classification is distinguished from the Clinical Nurse III classification in that the Clinical Nurse II works under supervision while performing specific patient care assignments, whereas the Clinical Nurse III is expected to have the knowledge and abilities to assume charge nurse responsibility.
The different ranks of nurses, in order:
LPNs and RNs play distinct roles in healthcare, with LPNs focusing on task-oriented duties under supervision, while RNs take on broader responsibilities, including critical thinking and strategic healthcare management.
While RNs typically focus on implementing a plan of care, APRNs focus on directing a plan of care. Becoming an APRN often requires further education, such as a Master of Science in Nursing (MSN). Types of APRNs include nurse practitioners, nurse anesthetists, nurse midwives and clinical nurse specialists.
Band 7 nurses are senior-level healthcare providers who manage teams and patient care. They perform a variety of duties and have an extensive and diverse skill set, along with specialised training that allows them to work in diverse healthcare environments.
To become qualified, applicants must first obtain a qualification from an accredited nursing institution, such as a Diploma or Bachelor's Degree in Nursing. This is followed by practical hospital-based internships that allow students to gain the necessary experience working with patients in a healthcare setting.
6 Different Nursing Levels for All Types of Nurses
The most important descriptor to note in RN Level 1 is that 'an employee at this level performs their duties … under the general guidance of, or with general access to, a more competent registered nurse (RN) who provides work related support and direction'.
Doctorate in Nursing (PhD or DNP): A doctorate is the highest level of nursing education. A PhD focuses on research and advancing nursing knowledge, while a Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) is practice-focused, preparing nurses for the highest clinical positions or leadership roles.
Registered Nurse (RN) salaries in Australia vary significantly by experience, location, and sector, with averages often cited around $85,000 to $95,000 annually, but starting rates can be lower (around $60k-$70k) and experienced/specialized roles, like Nurse Practitioners, earning well over $100,000+. Hourly rates for standard RNs often start in the $30s and increase with seniority, while some high-paying cities or specialist roles can see hourly rates exceeding $60-$70+.
Becoming an LPN or LVN takes one year and is the quickest way to start a nursing career, though it means a more limited scope of practice. Becoming an RN typically takes 2-4 years, depending on your degree level, and requires graduating from a BSN program.
Clinical nurses are advanced practice registered nurses who hold master's degrees in nursing and have received specialized training in specific areas of medicine. They hold all the same responsibilities as a registered nurse, only the field in which they operate is more focused.
When understanding the difference between LPN vs. RN, it's important to recognize their different job duties. LPNs must work under the supervision of a nurse manager. RNs have a wider scope of practice which includes building care plans, analyzing patient assessment data, and coordinating care delivery.
Research with patients and patient outcomes has shown that nurses with a BSN have better patient outcomes on average. So, in a competitive healthcare market that must maximize patient outcomes, BSN has become the preferred degree for most hiring efforts.
For those interested in high-stakes and critical care roles, here are the 11 hardest nurse practitioner specialties:
Nurses at different levels do various tasks. RN I nurses help with basic care, RN II nurses handle harder patient care and guide others, and RN III nurses are in charge of leading teams and making policies work.
The Bachelor of Science in Nursing degree, or BSN, is a four-year bachelor's degree done at a university or college. A BSN degree offers a much broader education than the 2-year associate degree in nursing (ADN) and opens a whole new set of possibilities for a nursing career.
As a nurse or midwife your 'classification' is usually found in your enterprise agreement and reflects your role and responsibilities. Each classifications has grades, and most have sub-grades and increments, or year levels, to reflect that with experience your skills develop and attract higher wage rates.
Job Profile Level Direct Care 4 (DC4)
The main purpose of jobs at this level is to function as the most advanced practitioner integrated with the roles of educator, researcher and specialized resource to act as an authority on nursing practice for the organization.