Student Nurse thinking about moving to Australia

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I am thinking about moving to Australia after I graduate. Forgive me if this has been asked elsewhere. I had a quick look and I didn't see anything. I just have a couple of questions I'd like to ask.

First, what is the different between nursing in the US compared to Australia? What about salary and things like that? How difficult is it to find a job as a foreign nurse with not much experience? I would appreciate any information that you could give me.

EDIT: Forgot to add, I'll be graduating next april with a bachelor's.

Specializes in Med/Surg, DSU, Ortho, Onc, Psych.
Thanks for the support Carol,

When you mention that no experience it will be extremely difficult and that all other nurses from other countries, that I consider even poorer and richer are as caring and as well educated, (as well as the Aussies) and want to move to Australia as well and vying for jobs as well, I am considered to be predjudiced and downing dreams, hmmmm cannot win, just trying to put some reality into the dream, we can make plans, as long as they are based on reality, not fantasy and lack of knowledge and stories.

Apparently us here in the country areas do not live a high standard of living as our city counterparts :rolleyes: Mmmmm true for health care, lack of hospital beds and specialists and wee bit more expensive in some foods. Need to look cityward :down: So I can spend all my extra money and extra time on hours of travel and on petrol and parking fees and fares getting to work and breathing in all ....nooo thanks.

I don't think any of your posts are prejudical. I think your posts state the truth about a situation/s and baby, people do not like the truth sometimes.

Some people go to nursing school and dream about caring for lovely, quiet, complacent patients - reality then hits them hard, and then they come on here and start whingeing. They don't seem to realise what nursing is ALL about - any job is not what it seems in real life.

Many people live on dreams from watching unreal TV shows & movies, then when they go out into the real worl. It's like having a bucket of iced water thrown in their face.

Lots of people do not live in the real world!

And yeh the city can be a lonely, very dangerous place to live. And I've worked my orifice off in country AND city hospitals, so I do know what you are talking about.

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Specializes in Med/Surg, DSU, Ortho, Onc, Psych.
Hi all,

I'm thinking about doing some travel nursing in australia - either in brisbane, perth, sydney, melbourne, or adelaide (got to narrow this down eventually!). I've already been in contact with the nurse manager (or director?) of a hospital in sydney, and she told me that she would be happy to consider a position for me once I get 1 year experience. I don't really have any questions about licensing/registration/visa's etc because you guys have already provided loads of helpful information about that, but my main question/concern is this: how would I, as an African-American nurse, fare in australia? I know it's kind of a silly question to ask, but I just want to know if I'll encounter any negativity in any of the cities I mentioned above -- im a little nervous about that. Thanks!

You should be right I reckon.

I personally think many English background Aussies ARE a bit racist. Our Aboriginal & Torres Strait Islander peoples get treated disgracefully sometimes by white nurses. I have had to on more than one occasion, had to have a quiet word with these nurses or my boss.

I worked with some South African nurses and I have to admit they were pretty good nurses, ditto with the Irish lasses.

I don't think many Aussies I've encountered are racist, but I hate to tell everybody, you get racist people everywhere unfortunately. But I've personally worked with people from all backgrounds, and the only thing I ever had a problem with was people not speaking English properly (or even so you could understand them!). It's not only frustrating when ur busy, it's downright dangerous.

Perth is absolutely beautiful, email me if u want more detailed info re it.

Good luck to you.

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As opposed to the Irish, English, Chinese, Taiwanese, Indian, Maori, New zealand, Filipino, Japanese nurses that pt see everyday?

Ozzies may have a reputation as being very racist but it is only a very small minority of pt that will have an issue with your race, just as anywhere else.

I have experienced racism here as an Irish nurse but I am not used to it and if I am told to "%#$$ off back to Ireland" I usually respond with can you give me the plane fare or are you not the descendent of an Irish convict Mr Murphy?. it is the exception rather than the rule. Your pt are more likely to be interested in your background and ask questions about it rather than have an issue with it.

As long as they can understand your accent they will be happy! (My brother claims that I have an Ozzie accent but it just that I speak slower than I do at home. My friends say that after I have been home for a break that I have to learn to speak the language again!!)

Thank you so much for your response, K+MgSO4! Yeah, I thought about the fact that so many different types of nurses are there, and figured that I wouldn't have much too worry about. I guess my main concern is whether or not I would experience racism outside of the workplace -- at shops, restaurants, residential areas, etc. It's not something that I think I could deal with on a daily basis :/.

Lol! I like your response to patients; I think I would probably say something along the same lines ;). Would be nice to pick up an Ozzie accent while I'm there too- I'm sure yours is adorable! But concerning the patients: I'm hoping that my interactions with patients won't be too strained. I want to have a pleasant experience while I'm there, and your advice has helped me feel more assure! Thanks again!

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You should be right I reckon.

I personally think many English background Aussies ARE a bit racist. Our Aboriginal & Torres Strait Islander peoples get treated disgracefully sometimes by white nurses. I have had to on more than one occasion, had to have a quiet word with these nurses or my boss.

I worked with some South African nurses and I have to admit they were pretty good nurses, ditto with the Irish lasses.

I don't think many Aussies I've encountered are racist, but I hate to tell everybody, you get racist people everywhere unfortunately. But I've personally worked with people from all backgrounds, and the only thing I ever had a problem with was people not speaking English properly (or even so you could understand them!). It's not only frustrating when ur busy, it's downright dangerous.

Perth is absolutely beautiful, email me if u want more detailed info re it.

Good luck to you.

carolmaccas66, thank you for your response as well! It's so sad to hear that nurses (who are supposed to take care of ALL types of patients regardless of where they come from) are treating native populations in that way.

It's very true that racism exists everywhere, even where I live in the States. Like I told K+MgSO4, what I'm most afraid of is experiencing overt racism on a daily basis. That is not something that I could deal with, and it would not make for a pleasant experience.

Definitely agree with you on problems with communication! Aren't people required to take the IELTS before getting registered over there, though? It's weird that they would have such difficulties speaking English, but were able to pass the IELTS.

I'll definitely take you up on that offer! Expect any e-mail from me shortly :) You're a doll!!

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Specializes in Med/Surg, DSU, Ortho, Onc, Psych.
carolmaccas66, thank you for your response as well! It's so sad to hear that nurses (who are supposed to take care of ALL types of patients regardless of where they come from) are treating native populations in that way.

It's very true that racism exists everywhere, even where I live in the States. Like I told K+MgSO4, what I'm most afraid of is experiencing overt racism on a daily basis. That is not something that I could deal with, and it would not make for a pleasant experience.

Definitely agree with you on problems with communication! Aren't people required to take the IELTS before getting registered over there, though? It's weird that they would have such difficulties speaking English, but were able to pass the IELTS.

I'll definitely take you up on that offer! Expect any e-mail from me shortly :) You're a doll!!

No worries mate. Email me anytime you want.

Carol

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No worries mate. Email me anytime you want.

Carol

Thank you! I will. I just realized, though, that I won't be able to PM you until I have 15 posts :(

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hello! i just recently graduated and am looking forward to going there after passing the board exam this july... but, because of your recent posts i'm slightly thinking twice... is it really that impossible to get a job and go there without working experience?

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Specializes in Surgical, quality,management.

It is not impossible but certainly a lot harder than with experience. If you are really keen on coming without experience talk to the international recruiters at some of the hospitals and see what they say. They are the people in the know.

I interview in my job and I want to see experience in the field or a related field. coming from a different country where nursing is different and drugs are different and hospital systems are different I would want someone who has a good grounding first. So many nurses are looking to Oz at the moment as a source of jobs that employers can be a little picker.

But talk to the recruiters at some hospitals. Nursing agencies will not look at you twice without experience.

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thank you K+MgSO4.

will try to talk to them. i plan to ask help from my cousin in Oz. to help find me a bridging program or work there.

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Specializes in Med/Surg, DSU, Ortho, Onc, Psych.
Thank you! I will. I just realized, though, that I won't be able to PM you until I have 15 posts :(

Well you'd better get busy then!!

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Besides Aus, do u guys have any other suggestions as to which country that can be an alternatives?

UK, Canada, Singapore, USA and etc.......

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Specializes in Medical and general practice now LTC.
Besides Aus, do u guys have any other suggestions as to which country that can be an alternatives?

UK, Canada, Singapore, USA and etc.......

UK requires minimum of 12 months experience plus job needs to be on job shortage list and there are not many nursing jobs on there. Canada has requirements and this differs from province to province. USA has retrogression and a long long wait of currently 5+ years

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