Up-skilling Assistants in Nursing will help alleviate Australia’s nursing shortage, according to an industry expert.

Dr Mary Casey, CEO of health and nursing education organisation Casey Centre, said there was now a course enabling AINs to work within the public health system, creating a tiered effect.

“(Having) registered nurses work at a higher level and having the AINs to do the more menial tasks would alleviate the problem altogether,” Dr Casey said.

“Due to the increase in community nursing and the need for more AINs in the community, it has become a passion (of mine) to up-skill them and train them in all areas of nursing.

“The sky is the limit for AINs these days. They are also now working in the public sector which relieves some of the pressure in the nursing shortage.”

Dr Casey, who holds a Doctorate in Psychology, has worked in the nursing industry for more than 40 years in areas ranging from accident and emergency to intensive care, paediatrics, medical and surgical, spending the last eight years as Assistant Director of Nursing at a medium public hospital.

Dr Casey said the biggest challenges for nurses pursuing further education were a lack of funding and time.

“Time is also an issue in that nurses work different hours and shifts and getting them to commit to ongoing education can be difficult,” she said.

“I have always believed that education is important and these days it is essential in getting you to where you want to go.

“I also think that education is about gaining confidence and pursuing your goals and dreams.”