Elliott-Family Posted April 3, 2011 Share Posted April 3, 2011 Hi, i'm a UK trained RMN currently working in mental health for Peninsula Health, vic. I've been qualified for 20yrs and been here 6months. I'm incredibly frustrated with the mental health system here and feel as if i know nothing. I feel that psychiatry is viewed as a 2nd class stream of medicine where as in the UK i felt more respected by other disciplines. I'm not too sure if my frustrations are because our team is run on part time staff, i'm only 1 of 3 full timers in a 24hrs service. We are majorly short staffed and i'm based in a busy ED (A&E) where they def' view psychiatry as 2nd class. Yet again they are trying to tell me i cant take any leave due to staffing shortages. I couldn't take any leave during the summer due to low staff numbers and now they are saying the same again. In 6months of being here i have worked constantly and picked up many extra shifts incl' nights so i am really ready for a break. Although i've been offered a 'sort of' promotion once i've completed a 2yr uni course i just feel so under skilled at present and that the system here is rather behind what i'm use too. How have you found the transition?? Ian Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ali Posted April 3, 2011 Share Posted April 3, 2011 I've found it under resoursed - I worked in a crisis/home treatment service in the UK which had loads of money thrown at it to make it successfull. I'm now a CNS in a community team and have done a stint as psych liaison. Certainly where I work the ED staff/Dr's canvessed for the 24 hour psych liaison to continue, they're very much part of the ED staff and well respected. For me the biggest thing is that it's not seen as a specialist area of nursing which does undermine it a little. Having said that. We're also understaffed at the moment and advertising. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gilliantay Posted April 3, 2011 Share Posted April 3, 2011 Hi, i'm a UK trained RMN currently working in mental health for Peninsula Health, vic. I've been qualified for 20yrs and been here 6months. I'm incredibly frustrated with the mental health system here and feel as if i know nothing. I feel that psychiatry is viewed as a 2nd class stream of medicine where as in the UK i felt more respected by other disciplines. I'm not too sure if my frustrations are because our team is run on part time staff, i'm only 1 of 3 full timers in a 24hrs service. We are majorly short staffed and i'm based in a busy ED (A&E) where they def' view psychiatry as 2nd class. Yet again they are trying to tell me i cant take any leave due to staffing shortages. I couldn't take any leave during the summer due to low staff numbers and now they are saying the same again. In 6months of being here i have worked constantly and picked up many extra shifts incl' nights so i am really ready for a break. Although i've been offered a 'sort of' promotion once i've completed a 2yr uni course i just feel so under skilled at present and that the system here is rather behind what i'm use too. How have you found the transition?? Ian I am not a Mental health Nurse but what I will say is that I found I was more autonomous in the UK. It is all swings and roundabouts here..........what is good here is crap in the NHS and vice versa. I have said before that I find the UK to be more professional both in nursing and medicine. I shake my head at nurses who present on shift wearing myriads of piercings and wrists full of Pandora bracelets and Doctors (female) who totter from ward to ward wearing shoes that are as tall as skyscrapers:huh: The changing face of Healthcare......but then, I am old school and habits die hard Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest tandcmum Posted April 3, 2011 Share Posted April 3, 2011 I am not a Mental health Nurse but what I will say is that I found I was more autonomous in the UK. It is all swings and roundabouts here..........what is good here is crap in the NHS and vice versa. I have said before that I find the UK to be more professional both in nursing and medicine. I shake my head at nurses who present on shift wearing myriads of piercings and wrists full of Pandora bracelets and Doctors (female) who totter from ward to ward wearing shoes that are as tall as skyscrapers:huh: The changing face of Healthcare......but then, I am old school and habits die hard Luckily I am preaed fr te culture shk s I have heard that Nursing in Oz is behind the UK, who would have thought the NHS would be getting praise. I actually do love my job in the UK and have nothing against the NHS just have a desire to travel and experience life in another country. Mind you with regards the nurses dolled up to the nines with earings and pandora bracelets there seems to be a trend of this in a large teaching hospital not so many miles away from where I live now (17 miles to be precise :biglaugh:) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gilliantay Posted April 3, 2011 Share Posted April 3, 2011 Luckily I am preaed fr te culture shk s I have heard that Nursing in Oz is behind the UK, who would have thought the NHS would be getting praise. I actually do love my job in the UK and have nothing against the NHS just have a desire to travel and experience life in another country. Mind you with regards the nurses dolled up to the nines with earings and pandora bracelets there seems to be a trend of this in a large teaching hospital not so many miles away from where I live now (17 miles to be precise :biglaugh:) Gone are the days of lining up in front of 'sister' for inspection............................. Remind me not to apply to the 'white elephant' 17 miles down the road for a job:nah: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Andy and Lisa Posted April 3, 2011 Share Posted April 3, 2011 Hi Ian, Iam a fellow Brit living the Oz dream of mental health nursing. I emmigrated 12 months ago and started at a Youth Crisis Team having come from the U.K as a deputy manager of a Crisis team and I was under the impression my skills would transfer easily. The transition has been difficult with a variety of issues similar to your's but after finding my feet and my way around the complex mental health public and private system I now find it much easier. It was a similar situation for me with being one of only a few full time clinician's which made taking leave difficult but not impossible. You have to persist and assert the fact you need time off. If this is not successful contact the union I would suggest HACSU the Specialist Mental Health Union. If this is not successful I would consider another employer as you are on a 175 Visa and are not tied in to any one employer and there are lots of vacanicies throughout Victoria for a guy with your skills and experience. Stick in there as it will all come good. Kind Regards Andy:cool: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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