whats nursing really like in OZ

[erma]

Hello everybody

I haven`t logged on for a long time but I am addicted to this forum so I am keeping up to date reading postings.

I just wondered if any nurses out there could let me know what it is really like to nurse in Australia especially Queenslande. I have a prescreen telephone interview tomorrow and we are hoping to be in Queensland by May 2008.

Any thoughts or feelings on your experiences would be appreciated - good or bad!

cheers
Erma

[Gollywobbler]

Hi Erma

Welcome back.

It is strange that you have chosen today to raise your query because heere is a thread that was started earlier today:

http://www.pomsinoz.com/forum/genera...-homesick.html

It is only one opinion and homesickness could be behind it. Also, if Izwiz has started work so soon after arrival, he/she may be flattened by jetlag still, which wouldn't help.

It might be worth checking out the shifts idea before making a commitment to any particular hospital, though.

Cheers

Gill

[ali]

Hi, I work in mental health here in WA and got told that australia is 10 years behind, but the reality is that it isn't. Medications are the same just routines and paper work vary (just like the UK). The real difference I have found in MH here is that community resources aren't the same as in the UK where local authorities really seemed to develop them (as an opportunity to save money and reduce patient beds). Certainly the team I work in here is much smaller than the one I worked in the UK, but my day to day work is very similar.


Ali

[johatts]

Originally Posted by erma

Hello everybody

I haven`t logged on for a long time but I am addicted to this forum so I am keeping up to date reading postings.

I just wondered if any nurses out there could let me know what it is really like to nurse in Australia especially Queenslande. I have a prescreen telephone interview tomorrow and we are hoping to be in Queensland by May 2008.

Any thoughts or feelings on your experiences would be appreciated - good or bad!

cheers
Erma

I work in elderly care and I find that paperowrk is an issue. we do so much more of that than actuallyhands on patient care. In Elderly care, the funding is related to documentation. You cant prove you do something, money goes down, staffing goes dodwn! there is a BIG incentive to do the writing!

Hours for me are ok 0645-1515 and 1430-2145 - I do 5 of each per fortnight and I earn about $28 per hour!

[erma]

Hi
Thanks all for replying. Gollywobbler I think you could be right about Izwis it took me a week to get over our flights.
Seems like paperwork is an issue wherever we work.

Interview went well this morning, looks like Brisbane is the most likely job opportunity, has anybody worked in hospitals in this area? I would prefer Fraser Coast (Hervey Bay) area but I will go where the work is. Oh well fingers crossed.

cheers
Erma

[ali]

Good Luck Erma

[Caz_hen]

Hi Erma,
I was interviewed March 2007 for a job in Midwifery accepted a job in Brisbane Women Hospital. It took me 5 months to get put on the nursing registration. I am now waiting for my sponsorship number which seems to be just as slow. We wanted to be out for Jan 2008 but at this rate doesnt look like it. I am hoping myself that the quality of work will be a big improvement. Will let you know how i go. xx

[Bobcat]

Originally Posted by erma

Hello everybody

I haven`t logged on for a long time but I am addicted to this forum so I am keeping up to date reading postings.

I just wondered if any nurses out there could let me know what it is really like to nurse in Australia especially Queenslande. I have a prescreen telephone interview tomorrow and we are hoping to be in Queensland by May 2008.

Any thoughts or feelings on your experiences would be appreciated - good or bad!

cheers
Erma

Can't relate to nurses in Qld.............. but here in Perth I came in contact with nurses several time on a daily basis over the last 4 months. My dad was pretty crook and he was in Charlie Gairdners Hospital here in Perth for 3 weeks. When he got discharged he was sent home to our place in our care.............. and two different sets of nurses visited him each day. One lot was from the hospital itself; the other lot were from Silver Chain; plus there was a team from St John of God involved too.

Several of these nurses were new arrivals to Australia (Perth)............. and bar none, each one I spoke with really loved it over here and all were rapt with their new job...... new country........new scenery and what have you. They did a fantastic job looking after my dad............ nothing was too much trouble for them.

Over the years I have had a lot to do with the nursing fraternity............. mainly as a long term patient myself............ and I would just like to say a big THANK YOU to all and sundry because you do a sterling job in sometimes very trying conditions. I know the Aussie health service is sometimes much maligned........ but I don't really think it is too bad from what I can remember of same in the UK? If ever I got in Parliament.............. first job on my agenda would be to pay the nursing and associated staff what they are worth............... so straight away you'd get a huge well earned salary increase.

[Rajni]

Hi
I will be working in Prince Cahrles Hospital by Feb'08. Any idea how the place is? I a very very very nervous about our change.
Raj