Nurse practitioners in Australia and New Zealand

[ivanh3]

Hello everyone! My wife and I are considering a move to Australia or New Zealand from the USA after I finish my masters for nurse practitioner. My wife is an emergency room nurse, and currently I work as ICU nurse. I have experience in adult, pediatric, and neonatal critical care. I guess my main questions is regarding nurse practitioners, how (and if) they are used, pay, working conditions, etc.

Thanks in advance for your time.

Ivan

[gwenith, BSN, RN]

You will be able to get any job virtually anywhere as an ICU nurse but nurse practitioner jobs are much rarer. I know Queensland is currently developing nurse practitioner role for CCF patients but there are no nurse practitioner roles in ICU that I am aware of.

[ivanh3]

You will be able to get any job virtually anywhere as an ICU nurse but nurse practitioner jobs are much rarer. I know Queensland is currently developing nurse practitioner role for CCF patients but there are no nurse practitioner roles in ICU that I am aware of.

Thanks for the response. I actually hope to go into some type of primary care as far as being a nurse practitioner goes. Is there a need for that? How are NPs being used in Australia right now? Do you think the role will expand/grow there? Even though it has been around for awhile in the states, it has a long way to go here. Is there a demand for nursing instructors in Australia?

I think right now we are probably focusing on Sydney because my wife's brother lives there. He and his wife moved there about a year a ago and they love it. Thanks for your help!

[Grace Oz]

NP's are still in the minority here in Oz.

Your best bet would be to contact the N.S.W nurses board since you're contemplating Sydney.

Best wishes with your masters!