Hello! My husband and I are thinking of a possible move to NZ in the next five years. We're going to take a trip there in a year or two, but we're looking for a new culture and experience.
I am 41, and my husband is 46. His job opportunities in IT are drying up where we are living, and we're just at the stage where we're thinking of a new adventure where there are more opportunities. We're hoping in NZ, there is less emphasis on greed and "getting ahead," rush, you know, the rat race.
I have 1.5 years of experience in medical-surgical and cardiopulmonary step-down critical care. From my search, it looks like there are a lot of opportunities in nursing in NZ. What I would like to know are some of the particulars of working in nursing there. Do they do 12-hour shifts or have other arrangements available? If I worked in a cardiac setting, or possibly maternity (I'm thinking of some changing!), or maybe ortho, what is the patient load like usually? I know these are the generalities I'm asking for. There are a lot of pressures regarding what I call "perfection" nursing-meaning. I know we are trying to be our best, but the hospital I am at currently comes up with something new every week that we have to document, do for customer service, etc. They put coworkers against coworkers, spying on them to see if they are doing everything perfectly, and they audit our charting looking for any mistakes. Sometimes they are not mistakes but just documentation you don't have time to do until later in your shift because the day has been crazy-busy. So they call you on your phone and gripe at you for not having your documentation done.
Do you carry a phone or a phone and pager? Is there computer documentation? How do doctors tend to treat nurses overall? Is there more of an emphasis on complementary therapies in any facet of nursing?
I appreciate any info you can give me about what it's all like...I see the salaries are comparable to what I'm making as a new nurse. I make about 40,000 or so American money. I want to make as much or maybe a little better by then since I'll have my bachelor of nursing.
Does anyone know what sort of things I'll have to do to get the approval to practice in NZ? I know the bachelor's degree is necessary, but anything else??
