Psychiatric nursing jobs?

[Joan01]

Hey guys,

I work in a low secure unit in Scotland, its called an Intensive Psychiatric Care Unit (IPCU) here. I'm really struggling to find a similar unit in Queensland, does anyone know if there is low or medium secure units, or any units that specialise in Forensic nursing?

Any help will be greatly appreciated
Joan
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[Joan01]

Thankyou very much, at least that gives me something to go on and I now know that a forensic hospital exists. What visa did you guys go on? Did your wife apply for sponsorship before applying for a visa? I have actually heard of Robina Hospital it came up on one of my searches.

Thanks again

[Joan01]

Well that is very interesting to know humpy, thanks very much for that. Do you know where to find out when QH will be in the UK? I do regularly go on the Queensland government website but haven't seen anything regarding that. I've had no joy finding the forensic hospital in Queensland, though I found the medium/high secure unit which is in Townsville. Did you do everything through an agent then?

[fruitcakechic]

Hi Joan, just read you're post. Don't want to sound too negative but here goes. I would'nt advise anyone to come over on a 457 visa, as you are then tied to whoever sponsors you. I am also a psychiatric nurse and worked in a busy acute admissions ward outside glasgow, came over here Jan, on a 457 visa with queensland health and I have major regrets, the mental health nursing has got to be about 10 years behind, I work at royal brisbane and hate every minute of it! My experience is once your over there is no support, you also need to work full time. If you are considering coming over get permanent residency and you can chose where you want to go. One last thing the only good thing oz has got that the uk has not is the sunshine, it's a true saying the grass isn't always greener. So sorry for being negative, Myra

[Joan01]

Hey Myra, I really appreciate your input and honesty as I don't want to go over with rose tinted spectacles. So sorry to hear that you hate the work, will you stick it out? How long do you have stay with your sponsored employer? So I should apply for the skilled migrant visa then? In what way is the mental health services so behind? I had heard that but I've never known in what way? I read that UK psych nurses are far better trained as well. Is it an acute ward you work at in the hospital? Are there a lot of jobs available? Sorry for all the questions!!

Joan
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[Joan01]

Hey humpy, I have put in an expression of interest, although I still have to do a CV. Never done one before so I've been putting it off. Does your wife enjoy the work that she does? Is there anything that you would have done different? I realise that getting sponsored can be a drawback as well, especially as someone on here said if you hate your job etc. So now bit worried about doing sponsored thing.

[fruitcakechic]

Hi Joan, I would definatley apply for a skilled sponsored visa, it might take a bit longer but will be worth it. It's hard to explain why it's so behind but I'll try. First of all nurses do not have the same responsibility as they do in the UK, it's the doctors that call the shots, however I think the nurses over here are quite happy with less responsibility. Very little one to one interaction goes on between nurse and patient, on some shifts you only have 4 or 5 patients to look after, no chance of getting too stressed! The medicine round is a joke and an accident waiting to happen the nurses do their individual patients meds, so everyone is hanging around treatment room, crazy stuff. Anyway again sorry to be negative, there is always plenty of jobs with queensland health so you could choose when you wanted to start. Hey it's not all bad you're guaranteed a suntan!! Hope this has been of help to you, Myra

[Joan01]

Arrgh sounds like a nightmare with nurses not having a proper say in patient care. I'm very opinionated sometimes at my work with patient care, after all its us nurses who spend time with the patients and do constant assessment etc not the docs. At my work we can have as little as 3 patients, nature of an IPCU unfortunately but bores the hell out of me, so I always like it when we get the acutely unwell. Really like a challenge. That really is crazy doing that with the meds, why oh why do they do that?!?! Crikey!! Do you rent in Brisbane? Well I do appreciate the info, as I think its good to get a proper picture rather than all being rosy and great. So how long have you been in Oz?

Joan