14 reasons to work as an aged care nurse

As a registered nurse, you’ve got a lot of career options in front of you. There are many different facilities that want your attention and many different specialisations to focus on. One of the best specialisations is aged care nursing.

Aged care offers a rewarding career path filled with challenges, variety, and wonderful people. There are a lot of options in aged care that will push you to develop, and use, a wide range of nursing skills.

There’s a lot to love about aged care. So, we’re going to break down 14 reasons why aged care is an awesome career choice for registered nurses.

1. Make a real difference

In aged care nursing you will regularly experience first-hand how it feels to change someone’s day for the better. You’ll be empowering clients to live at home independently with home care, or leading uplifting lifestyle activities, putting a smile on residents’ faces. Having the ability to spend more time with individual residents over a longer period of time allows you to get to know them and see the difference you make directly.

It's a space where your skill set really will shine. You’ll be doing wound care, medication management, leadership, acute care, rehabilitation, care planning, and so much more. There are a lot of different skills to tap into, and the residents you work with eagerly show their appreciation.

2. Hear incredible stories

Each day you’ll meet people who have lived amazing lives. Residents love to share their stories. So, you’ll learn from their pasts, hear about Australia’s good old days, and find out surprising things about incredible people. If you love hearing about history and other people’s lives you’ll love working in aged care.

3. Receive genuine appreciation

In aged care nursing you are much more than a number. You are appreciated each day for the value you bring to the lives of residents. The people you help in your work are genuinely happy to see you, often greeting you with a big smile.

Within aged care, you have more of a direct impact on a resident’s day-to-day life. Whether it be explaining what their medications are for, having a laugh over a story, or consoling relatives. You are at the centre of the residents' world, and an important person to their family. It’s a position that you’ll be thanked over for a lifetime.

4. Become an instant leader

Often, in aged care nursing, you’ll need to manage people and take charge. If you’ve never developed leadership skills before, then this will be the perfect space to grow. You’ll have plenty of opportunities to test and grow these skills, which will be a great boost to your career.

Of course, you aren’t just expected to pick leadership skills up out of nowhere. There are some incredibly talented nurses in the space who are role model leaders. You’ll pick up skills from them through mentorship and as examples to follow.

5. Meet new people

If you love meeting new and interesting people, then aged care is perfect for you. There’ll be a variety of residents, their families, kitchen staff, management, carers, and other healthcare staff who you’ll meet regularly. It’s all like being a part of one big family.

Aged care is the perfect space to share precious moments with a wide range of people that will make an impact on your life.

6. Learn new things

There’s always something new to learn in aged care. A wide range of your skills will be put to the test and developed as you rise to the variety of challenges you face each day. You’ll also gain academic lessons from other healthcare staff and life lessons from many of the residents. Aged care is enriched with a culture of learning.

With the flexibility gained from First Choice Care, you’ll also have the time to further your professional development through formal study while also gaining on-the-job experience.

7. There’s a lot of job flexibility

It can be tough for many aged care facilities to find skilled RN’s. So, facilities and nursing agencies will look after you when you sign up. You’ll be able to find a variety of different shifts to suit your lifestyle and will find your work-life balance is respected. They work hard to retain you long-term.

If you’re looking for a career path where you’ll feel appreciated and are seeking greater flexibility, then aged care nursing is for you.

8. Fulfil a sense of purpose

Many people become a nurse to fulfil a sense of purpose. If you’ve had family in aged care it can be heart-warming to make a positive difference in the lives of residents and their families. This sense of purpose can energise you and the work you do. It’s the perfect way to find your passion and feel fulfilled at work.

9. Network with a lot of health professionals each day

Every day you’ll be working with a wide range of healthcare professionals who will be relying on you for accurate and detailed information. You’re in the perfect position to improve resident outcomes, learn new skills, and make connections. You’ll be an integral part of the team, making a real difference to the overall health and well-being of your residents.

10. Work you can take pride in

If you’re looking for a career path that you can be proud of, then aged care is the perfect option. As mentioned before, Aged Care nurses make a huge difference in the lives of residents and their families. You’ll be the person caring for their parent, grandparent, sibling, aunt or uncle.

It’s an important role that takes a lot of patience and compassion but is extremely rewarding. You’ll see the smiles on the faces of the residents each day. You’ll become their carer and advocate, working to put their needs first so they get the best care. It truly is a role that impacts the lives of those you work with.

11. Become an advocate for the elderly

The elderly are a vulnerable population, and you’re in the perfect position to give them a voice and control over their care. You can advocate for them, sharing their wishes with other healthcare professionals to ensure they receive the care they prefer. By becoming an advocate for your residents, you’ll be the person they trust to ensure they get the care that they need providing better overall outcomes.

12. Loads of career opportunities

It’s a lot easier to stand out from the crowd in aged care. With more demand for nurses and fewer nurses in facilities, your successes stand out more. It means it’s a lot easier to get promotions, raises and commendations. You’ll be able to speed up your career progression and reach heights you never thought possible.

If you want to take things even further, look at agency nursing. Here you’ve got the opportunity to have all the great career opportunities from aged care nursing, plus access to greater flexibility, time, training programs, and much more.

13. There’s huge demand

As mentioned previously, there’s a lot of demand for aged care nurses. This is because the population of Australia is aging. There are more elderly people, more facilities, and more roles for nurses to fill.

So, regardless of whether you choose to become a staff nurse at a facility or want to be an agency nurse, you are sure to find an endless number of shifts to fill.

14. It’s a lifelong career path with a lot of variety

Demand for aged care nurses is not going away, in fact, it is projected to rise as time goes on. So, aged care nursing is a great pathway for anyone looking to enter a lifelong career that they can be passionate about. You’re guaranteed plenty of opportunities to grow and develop your career.

Not only that, but the role nurses will play in aged care will become increasingly more varied. With the advent of AI and other technologies, your focus will shift to providing higher-quality care for your residents. You’ll be free to do a wider variety of support tasks, working with other healthcare professionals to keep your residents happy, healthy, and cared for.

Conclusion

There’s no career quite like that of an aged care nurse. You’ll be providing an essential service to incredible people who are grateful for your work every day. By taking this path you’ll experience unmatched variety, flexibility, and networking opportunities. It truly is special.

The best way to make the most of your time as an aged care nurse is by becoming an agency nurse. You’ll have greater control and flexibility over the shifts you work and the direction of your career. Get started by registering your interest with First Choice Care.

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Oops, Don’t Do That: Compliance & Credentialing Errors That Slow Down Your Start Date

By Matthew Power • April 1, 2025

So, you’ve nailed your application and interview—congrats! But before you can start picking up shifts as a casual nurse or healthcare worker, there’s one final (and very important) step: completing your compliance and credentialing requirements. Many applicants underestimate the time it takes to get their paperwork in order, and missing even one required document can delay your start date. To ensure a smooth onboarding process, here’s a checklist of the most common compliance mistakes and how to avoid them. Not Providing the Right References Your referees play a crucial role in verifying your experience and suitability for agency nursing. However, many applicants make the mistake of: Providing personal references instead of professional ones Listing references who haven’t supervised them in the last 12 months Forgetting to notify their referees that they’ll be contacted What You Need to Do: Submit 3 referees with their current phone number and email address Ensure referees have directly supervised you in the role you’re applying for within the last 12 months Contact your referees in advance and let them know they’ll receive an email or call from First Choice Care Missing Critical Proof of Experience If you’re applying as an Enrolled Nurse (EN) or Registered Nurse (RN) student, you’ll need to prove your recent clinical experience. A common mistake is not providing the right documents or thinking placements alone will count. What You Need to Submit: 2 x recent ANSAT reports or University Transcript (for EN/RN students only) 2 x recent payslips (from the same role you’re applying for—important for verifying recent experience!) Forgetting to Upload Key Qualifications Many applications stall because nurses and healthcare workers forget to upload their essential qualifications. Make sure you provide: Copy of your relevant certificates (Postgraduate Certificate, Bachelor, Diploma) Current AHPRA Registration (For nurses only—check your renewal date!) Not Completing Background Checks Your police clearance and working permits are non-negotiable for agency roles. A common mistake is not having the correct up to date documents or having the documents ready to go. What You Need to Submit: Certified Copy of a Current National Police Clearance (Dated within the last 6 months & clear of disclosable outcomes. Current Blue Card with Yellow Card Exemption (Required for Disability Support Workers only) Working with Children’s Permit (If applicable to your role) Proof of Work Rights in Australia (Passport, Australian birth certificate, or Confirmation of Enrolment for student visa holders) Not Meeting ID Requirements Not providing the correct identification and clear headshot is a common roadblock in onboarding. You need to provide at least 100 points of ID, such as: Passport (70 points) Australian Driver’s Licence (40 points) Marriage Certificate or Change of Name Certificate (25 points) What You Need: A clear headshot from the shoulders up for your ID badge. Think passport photo, not selfie. Not Submitting Immunisation & Health Clearance Records You’ll need documentation proving immunity to: Hepatitis B (Serology results with titre level OR record of 3 completed vaccinations) COVID-19 (Evidence of vaccinations required) Hepatitis A (If required for your role) Measles/Mumps/Rubella (MMR) (Serology results OR record of 2 completed vaccinations) Diphtheria/Pertussis/Tetanus (DTP) (Vaccination within the last 10 years) Varicella (Chickenpox) (Serology results OR record of 2 completed vaccinations) Fluvax (Yearly dose—mandatory for Aged Care, Community, and Disability roles, highly regarded for Acute nurses) Tuberculosis Clearance (BCG, Mantoux results <5 OR negative, QuantiFERON result required if applicable) Relevant certificates required: First Aid Certification (Must be completed within the last 3 years) Don’t Let Paperwork Hold You Back! Completing compliance might seem overwhelming, but getting it right the first time will speed up your onboarding and help you start working faster. Triple-check that all required documents are submitted in full Contact your referees in advance to avoid delays Make sure your police check, AHPRA registration, and immunisations are up to date Respond promptly to emails requesting additional documents Tip: Keep a digital folder with all your credentials handy, so you can upload them quickly when applying for roles. Conclusion Completing your compliance and credentialing requirements correctly is an important step in getting started with First Choice Care quickly. Review your compliance and credentialing documentation and match it to this list to ensure you're getting it right the first time. Then you'll be ready to start picking up shifts and enjoying the flexibility that agency nursing offers. Ready to join First Choice Care, Australia’s most supportive nursing agency? Check out our current roles or register your interest here .

Nurse of the Month March 2025 - Aisling

By Matthew Power • March 20, 2025

Introducing our nurse of the month for March 2025 – Aisling! Congratulations, you’ve been working hard to deliver exceptional care to your patients. We’re really excited to present you with this reward. If you want to learn more about Aisling’s time with First Choice Care, check out her interview below. What do you like most about First Choice Care? I love working for First Choice Care as they are a great team. From signing up to providing full-time hours they are always helpful, supportive and understanding. Why did you want to be a nurse? My Dad was my inspiration to become a nurse, seeing him in hospital and his positive outlook on life no matter what cards he was dealt made me want to be there to care for people, to bring them some sort of normality in a very abnormal setting. Every day is worth going to work for when you can see patients making progress or be there to comfort those who are in their final days along with their families. Being an advocate for patients and ensuring they get the care they deserve is what is most important to me. What has been the highlight of working with First Choice Care? First Choice Care have given me the opportunity to gain huge experience. I have the opportunity to work in different facilities and in different specialties learning something new in each one. Would you recommend First Choice Care to other nurses and why? I already have! First Choice Care will always do their best by their nurses; you get to speak to the same people and you're not just a number with a space to fill. The allocations team really are amazing at what they do!

Oops, Don’t Do That: Common Mistakes in Your Nursing Agency Application

By Matthew Power • March 5, 2025

Are you ready to start working as a casual nurse with a leading nursing agency like First Choice Care? That's a great choice! Agency nursing offers unmatched flexibility, variety, and control over your shifts. But, when applying many nurses unknowingly make small mistakes that can cost them an interview. To help you avoid these pitfalls, we’ve compiled a list of the most common (and easily avoidable!) mistakes nurses make when applying for casual work. Typos & Incorrect Contact Details Imagine this: You’ve submitted your application, your experience looks great, but when the recruiter tries calling you calling... the phone number doesn’t work. Or worse, your email address is missing a letter, and you miss that interview invite. Fortunately, these are easy to fix. Common mistakes: Incorrect phone number or email address Not checking voicemails or unknown numbers Emails from the agency going to your spam folder Double-check your contact details before hitting submit. A small typo in your phone number or email can mean missing out on an interview. Make sure your voicemail is set up too and remember to check them. Not Meeting the Minimum Clinical Experience Requirement Unlike graduate programs or permanent hospital roles, casual nursing jobs require applicants to have a minimum amount of clinical experience. This is to ensure that agency nurses can step into different healthcare settings with minimal supervision. Common misconceptions: Thinking that newly graduated nurses can apply without any post-grad experience Assuming that clinical placements during university count toward the required hours Forgetting to clearly list your experience on your CV First Choice Care typically requires nurses to have a minimum of 12 months of recent clinical experience in their specialty (this can vary based on role and location). Before applying, check that you meet the minimum experience requirement listed in the job ad, this experience is clearly stated in your CV and you're able to provide evidence of this experience. If you’re unsure, reach out to the First Choice Care recruitment team! Sending a CV That’s Too Long (or Too Short) Your CV should highlight your nursing experience, skills, and qualifications clearly and concisely—but many applicants go wrong here: Too much detail: Listing every duty from every job you’ve ever had can overwhelm recruiters. Too little detail: A bare-bones CV that just lists job titles without responsibilities or specialties may not stand out. Ideal CV length: 1-2 pages, with clear sections on qualifications, clinical experience, and key skills. Bonus Tip: Tailor your CV for agency work by including: Years of experience in each role (e.g., “XXX hours in an acute ward”) Range of settings you’ve worked in (e.g., hospitals, aged care, community) Specialised skills (e.g., ICU, paediatrics, wound care) Using a Generic or Outdated Cover Letter Cover letters are not always required but if you do choose to send a cover letter keep it brief and personalised. Mention why you’re interested in agency nursing, your flexibility, and what you bring to the team, this is especially important if you are new to working as an agency nurse. If you have specific preferences, such as type of facility or shifts, the cover letter is a great place to include that information. Conclusion Getting your application right is the first step to starting your journey as an agency nurse. With these tips, your application is sure to stand out and get you through the recruitment process quickly. Ready to join First Choice Care, Australia’s most supportive nursing agency? Check out our current roles or register your interest here.