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Gday,
Ive been on the gold coast for 3 months working on a neurosurgical ward at the Allamanda hospital. So far everything is going well the staff are really friendly, ward manager is great as in off duty and stuff as I have two kids millie 5 Harry 4. Staffing levels are great I have just come in from a late shift and had 5 patients and none of them were really unwell.
Having said that I was one of the few who wasnt leaving the UK because they are disillusioned with the NHS, I actually loved my job in the UK, I worked as a specialist nurse with patients who have had a subarachnoid haemorrhage for 2 days a week and worked for 2 days with the critical care outreach team. so although the ward is nice it is not very challenging and for anyone who is used to working as an autonomous practitioner they may find that it is very much going backwards as in you cant do anything without the doctors strict orders and this can be frustrating as well as possibly deskilling.
but it is only early days yet and for now the job suits me as I can focus more on settling into life down under. Which I have to say has so far been a lot easier than I was expecting, my kids have just took to Aussie life with no problems ( mind you what kid wouldnt when your at the beach most days and in and out of the pool.) Also the Allamanda is a private hospital so I dont know if things are the same in the public sector.
Word of warning anyone heading to wellington point, Cleveland areas, my friend has been working at Greenslopes nad she said it is worst than in the uk, on most shifts she has 10 patients on her own with a care assisstant and most of them are on a PCA and need assistance with all their ADLs she also said morale is really low all the staff are moaning and looking for jobs elswhere, as is she, she has just had an interview at the redland bay hospital. I do trust her opinion as I worked with her for 7 years in the UK and she is a hard working positive and motivated nurse, so BEWARE.
good luck to everyone
sharon
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