Thank goodness I've found you!

gwenith, BSN, RN · Sep 30, 2003

Hmm It is slightly different from state to state but here in Qld we have AIN's - Assistants in Nursing which is roughly equivalent to your CNA's, we have Enrolled Nurses - roughly equivalent to the LPN/LVN and we have registered nurses and Midwives and Registered Psychiatric Nurses. We can also be endorsed for Rural and Remote nursing as well as immunisation. At present we do not have nurse practitioners and that is a problem.

Hmmm thinking of things that will give you insight..... The sticky thread at the top of this forum has links to the registration boards and they have more information as does both the Australian Nursing Federation and the Queensland Nurses Union.

However if you want the "flavour" of Australian nursing follow these links mostly from the ABC online but that is our best media resource and has transcripts

This was a documentary made by nurses

http://www.abc.net.au/documentaries/nurses/nurse/default.htm

This is a transcript from a comedy/variety show and kudos to the three nurses who proved we are not only human but have a sense of humour

http://www.abc.net.au/enoughrope/stories/s812030.htm

nurse practitioners

http://www.abc.net.au/rn/talks/lm/stories/s70173.htm

rural nursing

http://www.abc.net.au/northwest/stories/s811489.htm

http://www.abc.net.au/farnorth/stories/s826896.htm

http://www.abc.net.au/dimensions/dimensions_health/Transcripts/s897439.htm

LeAnne from US · Sep 30, 2003

Gwenith,

Thank you so much for your explanation and the links! There is so much information on the web, and one can browse all day long and still not have the appropriate information.

What would you say are the primary health concerns for Australian residents?

In the U.S., it is mostly heart disease, diabetes, cancer, and obesity. (We really are a FAT nation, which certainly has an impact on the rates of heart dz, diabetes, and certain cancers!)

I am aware of the health initiatives and goals listed by your Commonwealth Dept. of Health and Ageing, which include things very similar to our "Healthy People 2010". (Access to care, rural health, enhanced quality of life for older persons, etc. ).

It seems that in the grand scheme of things, our countries are quite similar in a lot of ways. Makes the world seem just a bit smaller and more friendly!

Thanks!

gwenith, BSN, RN · Sep 30, 2003

They are very similar to the US with the addition of one thing - Skin cancer we have the highest rate in the world and therefor we have big campaigns to address the issue - the most popular was the "Slip, slop, slap" campaign which was to slip on a shirt, slop on some sunscreen and slap on a hat. So effective we are starting to see vit D deficiencies :eek:

In the urban non-aboriginal population it is very similar to America but the aboriginal population is VERY different. If you want those figures

http://www.atsic.gov.au/issues/disadvantage/health/background_briefing.asp#How%20bad%20is%20Aboriginal%20health?

I have it on good authority (Fergus51) that these figures mirror the Canadian statistics for indigenous health.

LeAnne from US · Oct 1, 2003

I love that slogan--"slip, slop, slap"! Very catchy! I am always after my husband to put sunscreen on his ears and neck...he is an avid golfer and that area of his body is always exposed. Of course the wide-brimmed hat (Greg Norman style) would be much better, but I take what I can get!

In viewing the other message boards, it seems that the vast majority of nurses view their salaries as substandard. Might I ask what the average annual salary is for a 4-year prepared RN? In the U.S. the average is probably about $35-50,000, depending on years' experience and job title.

Such a shame that you don't have nurse practitioners yet. I think it would be financially beneficial for your Medicare program, and perhaps increase access to care in some of the rural areas.

Thanks so much for your replies! The links are so helpful, too. I accessed all the others this afternoon, and found the documentaries of the 4 nurses to be quite meaningful, and very similar to our nurses here. I think the concept of nursing is actually very universal......CARING. One must care deeply for humanity at every level to be a care provider.

gwenith, BSN, RN · Oct 1, 2003

Our salary is much the same as your but the standard of living is different so it is hard to compare. Like we have PAYE tax so the taxman takes first bite and our health care is free so that is one expense that we do not have.

As you can tell from the link we are working on our Nurse Pratitioner role not there yet esp here in QLD but we are trying. We do not have medical assistants/physician assistants either. One of the stumbling blocks is that it is so difficult to get aknowledged by Medicaire to get rebated for services - downside of having the goverment underwrite health.

LeAnne from US · Oct 1, 2003

It is my understanding that everyone is eligible for Medicare there, as long as they are Australian citizens or have a visa...is this so?

Does this include the Aboriginal and Torres Islander people also?

In the US, one of our indigenous marginal populations is the Native American Indians, who can either integrate into society as "regular" Americans, or can stay on Indian Reservations. The rules are different on the reservations, such as taxation is different, so there are some benefits to staying there for some people. And of course, the cultural practices are embraced more on the reservations than in mainstream America.

For the average working individual here, the tax rate is approximately 25-33%, depending on your income level. Of course everyone always gripes about it, but if the money goes toward the school system or children's health or some other worthwhile cause, it's not so bad and you don't mind it as much.

Have you ever been to the Outback for more than a day trip, such as to live there or stay there for a week or more? I have always wanted to visit Australia, really more than any other country. It is a very expensive trip for us, though, from the US, because I think one would need to stay for about 2 weeks to really get an idea of what Australia is really about.

Have you been to the US?

gwenith, BSN, RN · Oct 2, 2003

Everyone and I mean everyone is elgiable for free hospital care the only people who are not eligable are overseas visitors and students and then we tend to treat first and work out payment later:D

We have PAYE tax which is Pay As You Earn. Out tax is taken out before we are paid so if you don't look it doesn't hurt so much.

As for going to the outback well it depends what part of the outback you are talking about. Although Australia is an island it is the same size as mainland USA so a couple of weeks does not get you very far:chuckle

On the up side it is a land like no other on Earth.

LeAnne from US · Oct 2, 2003

Gwenith, you are so nice to keep corresponding with me! I am writing my paper today and tomorrow, so soon the questions will CEASE!

In the US, RN's are allowed to do quite a lot of medical procedures, provided they have been properly trained. The role of the RN is becoming a more educated one, vs. being the doctor's handmaiden, and we are focusing more on "Evidence-based Practice", where the care provided is based more on scientific research than on "the way we've always done it". There is still a long way to go, but at least the vision is there.

What would you say about the role of nursing in Australia?

gwenith, BSN, RN · Oct 2, 2003

No problems - I think that the trickle down effect of widening responsibilities is world wide as the medical role has expanded the more "routine" things have trickled down to nursing but this depends greatly on where you are and political set up of the ward. Here in QLD the major teaching hospitals in SE QLD have a lot of newly graduated resident doctors so they are given a fair amount of the grunt work but if you are in Camooweal

http://www.queenslandholidays.com.au/outback/camooweal.cfm then you can just about perform major surgery as well as diagnose, dispense take x-rays and give veterinary aide!!! (Hey I had to sew up a dog once:chuckle)

We are now acknowledging the broader scope of practice for rural nurses and have added it to the registration endorsement. Our licenses are not legally limited in what we do and this is deliberate. Although there are certain minimum standard competencies we are not disallowed to do certain things because they want us not to be prosecuted if we have to do something extraordinary to save someone's life. I know nurses who have done cricothyrotomies and ICC insertions because they HAD to there was no-one else. Check out that link to Camooweal - middle of nowhere - it has a big aboriginal population and all the health problems that go with that. The main back-up is the RFDS and if they have to fly out at night you have to round up the townspeople to drive out to the airport so they can light up the runway with the headlights from their cars!!!

Some of the remote areas we are starting to link with higher tech equipment but it is a long way off yet.

We do have Evidence Based Practice here in fact we have one of the biggest centers in the world with centers from England to Auckland. http://www.joannabriggs.edu.au/about/home.php although it says allied health it is nurse founded and nurse run!!!

Okay bit of justifiable pride there.

LeAnne from US · Oct 3, 2003

Wow, your scope of practice is quite different from ours! Americans are so sue-conscious, and it seems everything is related to proper charting and legal issues. It seems so ridiculous that we spend so much more time charting than really taking care of the patients.

In my research, I am quite impressed with your healthcare system and your educational requirements for nurses. Now I'm even more impressed with your nursing itself! :cool:

I can certainly see where a remote nurse would need to have a vast array of talents....so much different from providing care in a facility with lots of equipment and supplies, and highly organized policies and procedures. Would take a very independent and courageous nurse! I have visited all the links you've included, and have added the JoAnna Briggs site to my list of favorites.

My job as a home health nurse is not nearly as exciting, but I have been chased by a full grown male turkey before! He ran me all around a patient's yard before the wife came outside and chased him away with a broom! :)

I have a coworker who was bitten on the leg by a pot-bellied pig....nothing serious, but we got quite a laugh out of it! We decided we should take the two of them and have quite a meal!

Anyway, I have incorporated our discussions into my paper, which should be finished in about another hour, and cannot thank you enough for your help. You have been more than kind, and have made this assignment much more fun and interesting. I have really enjoyed learning about your country!

E-mail me if you'd like a copy of the paper, and I'll be glad to send it to ya.

Thanks again, and G'day!

LeAnne Avery

[email protected]

gwenith, BSN, RN · Oct 3, 2003

My pleasure Leanne and I hope that you get a good mark for your paper!!! :)