Enrolled nurses (ENs) will be able to deliver 10% of mandated Registered Nurse (RN) care minute targets, new guidance material from the Department of Health and Aged Care (DoHAC) reveals.
Mandatory care minutes are due to increase to an average of 215 minutes of care, including 44 minutes from a RN from 1 October 2024, as announced by Minister for Aged Care and Sport, Anika Wells in October last year.
However, DoHAC's 56-page 'Care minutes and 24/7 registered nurse responsibility guide', released on 16 May 2024, signals a shift in policy: "From 1 October 2024, care minutes targets will be increased to a sector average of 215 minutes per resident per day, including a minimum of 44 minutes of RN time per day. Also, ENs from this time may deliver 10% of RN-specific care minute targets."
The Department's Care minutes in residential aged care website, last updated on Monday, states the change has been made following "substantial stakeholder feedback" from "providers, workers (particularly ENs), worker representatives, older people, state governments, the TAFE sector".
"This adjustment recognises the important role of ENs in aged care, and will improve recruitment and retention of these skilled workers. It will also help you deliver your care requirements when facing workforce shortages," it states.
Providers will be funded as though the care minutes are delivered by RNs.
"You will still be funded to meet your care minutes from 1 October 2024 as though the full 44 minute target is met by RNs, ensuring you have the option to meet your full nursing target with RNs," the guide reads.
The Weekly SOURCE had reported in April that 68% of aged care homes were falling short on care minute targets that became mandatory in October 2023. Only 46% of aged care homes met the 40 minute RN requirement. Superior Care CEO Russell Egan said in September last year that the October 1 2024 mandatory increase in care minutes was "just impossible".
"Important first step"
Peter Hoppo, CEO of Aged Care Industry Association, an aged care training organisation that also advocates for approximately 30 member providers, said they would have like to see more EN care minutes counted towards the target.
"We'd like to see more, but it's a really important first step," he told The SOURCE.
"A lot of providers are sitting around the 39 or just under the 40 minutes for RN minutes at the moment.
"Allowing that 10% will allow them to achieve their care targets, which is really important because we've had targets that aren't achievable with the tight labour market."
"We're really pleased they've decided to go down this path."
Advocated for 30%
The inclusion of ENs pays "lip service" to the changes the sector was advocating for, David Reece, CEO of Not For Profit AdventCare, told The SOURCE. It only amounts to three or four minutes, he said.
"I've been advocating for a quarter, 30%, but they've said 10% - but we'll take it," David said.
"It does recognise that the Department (of Health and Aged Care) is listening to a degree."
ENs part of the workforce solution
“We’ve been calling for greater recognition of ENs as part of nurse minutes," said Roald Versteeg, ACCPA General Manager Policy and Advocacy.
“Every aged care provider is striving to ensure older people living in residential aged care can access the best possible care. This can only be achieved with a collaborative effort of skills, knowledge and experience across the nursing professions.
"We think enrolled nurses are a core part of the solution.”
You can read the 'Care minutes and 24/7 registered nurse responsibility guide' here.
