American Nurse Seeking to Work in Australia

World Australia

Published

You are reading page 3 of American Nurse Seeking to Work in Australia

Specializes in Pediatric Primary Care.

Oh, this is so exciting! I'm very encouraged by the fact that you got your letter from AHPRA relatively quickly. I sent off my application 2 weeks ago, and they charged my credit card / sent me the email that they got my application 2 days ago!! Hopefully if I'm missing any documents, they'll be easy to acquire.

I'm thinking of Sydney..but I figured I wouldn't be able to be picky at all since the job market doesn't seem the best?

Yee213

17 Posts

:) I was surprised too coz everyone's telling me it takes overseas nurses forever to get their registration. It is a lot of work, I make sure every document that I send is correct and is in the format that they require, I organized all my documents in categories and arranged them in a binder....I called them frequently to get an update on my application....

Sydney is very expensive, but I still want to stay there for a few weeks pick up some casual shifts just for the experience. I don't think my paycheck can catch up with the rent in Sydney :( The job market in Melbourne is really not so good according to my friend who is living there. After getting a lot of different advice from my friends, google, and from "Bringonthenight", I'm really considering Brisbane for long-term stay, but still I need to look up more before I can make the decision.

Bringonthenight

310 Posts

Thank you so much for your reply. I did some research about public and private system, from what I understand is in general the public hospitals are higher acuity, and I enjoy working in the teaching hospitals, so I think I would prefer public hospitals. Which hospital is the cardiac hospital in Brisbane? I would like to do some research on that hospital :) can you also give me the names of some excellent hospitals so I can do some research on them too? Sorry I have too many questions :p Thank you!

Public system is great, more resources and better nurse:patient ratios. Research "Queensland Health" it's the name of the major public system in Queensland. The Royal Brisbane hospital is the largest public hospital in Queensland, followed by the Princess Alexandra. These are both what you would call "level 1" trauma and teaching hospitals. I've heard very good things about the cardiac wards and CCU at the PA. Don't know anyone that works in cardiac at the Royal but its a good hospital also. The hospital in Brisbane known for cardiac is called the "Prince Charles" hospital. It's apart of Queensland Health also. Right next door to Prince Charles is its private cousin "Holy Spirit" which has multiple cardiac wards and a CCU.

Even though it is private, "Greenslopes" hospital has an excellent CCU from what I hear but avoid the regular wards.

St Andrews is a known cardiac hospital as well though it is also private.

Avoid outer suburb hospitals such as Redcliffe and Caboolture. Avoid Logan. And when it comes to living unless you get a job at the PA stick to the northside of the river.

Did any of this post help or make sense? Sorry I'm half asleep at this time! Haha

Yee213

17 Posts

Re: Bringonthenight

Thank you so much for your input, it's really helpful, I will definitely look into those hospitals!! BY the way, which areas are considered north side of the river? Is it northern suburbs? like Newstead? Sorry I don't know the area :p...... How about Gold Coast & Sunshine coast? it seems like the rent in those area is more affordable :p

Thank you!

Bringonthenight

310 Posts

Re: Bringonthenight

Thank you so much for your input, it's really helpful, I will definitely look into those hospitals!! BY the way, which areas are considered north side of the river? Is it northern suburbs? like Newstead? Sorry I don't know the area :p...... How about Gold Coast & Sunshine coast? it seems like the rent in those area is more affordable :p

Thank you!

Yes Northern suburbs. Avoid the gold coast at all costs! It has turned into a major crime city. Sunshine coast is lovely but it is about an hour+ out of Brisbane. As is the Gold Coast.

Yee213

17 Posts

Oh no!! Thanks for the info, I will stay away from gold coast!! hehe...

Mwill378

1 Post

Specializes in ICU.

I'm really surprised that you received your registration so quickly. I sent my paperwork 30 July 2011 and just received my registration number. I'm an ICU nurse from Florida and have decided to relocate with my Australian partner back to Sydney. I was really frustrated with AHPRA and their communication. I've spoken to other Australian nurses ad their registration took 6 months. Does anyone know an average pay in Sydney at a public hospital? Are unit nurses paid more?I've heard mixed information on pay.

Bringonthenight

310 Posts

I'm really surprised that you received your registration so quickly. I sent my paperwork 30 July 2011 and just received my registration number. I'm an ICU nurse from Florida and have decided to relocate with my Australian partner back to Sydney. I was really frustrated with AHPRA and their communication. I've spoken to other Australian nurses ad their registration took 6 months. Does anyone know an average pay in Sydney at a public hospital? Are unit nurses paid more?I've heard mixed information on pay.

Have you checked the NSW health website? You can search for job postings and of course find out the salary information. Unit nurses are not paid differently to ward nurses, your paid depending on your level and grade which is generally determined by your years of experience but not always. A quick breakdown of the level and grade confusion: a new graduate RN is a Level 1 Grade 1. Level 1 goes up to grade 8. A Level 2 nurse is what we call a "Clinical nurse" (experienced RNs who are often charge nurses) Level 3 are your Nurse unit Educators and Level 4 is your NUM.

Also AHPRA is a relatively new organization and keep in mind that it is now a national registration company as opposed to our old state by state process. So onto of being new and working out the kinks in the system, they are also taking registration information and questions from nurses all across Australia and of course international nurses wanting to work here.

Good luck

Yee213

17 Posts

Hi,

I just booked my ticket to Sydney, so I will arrive Sydney on 9/3, so excited ( and a little bit nervous too :p). I decided to use nurse agency first when I get there, so I will work as an agency nurse in the first 1-2 months, and then go to Brisbane. I would like some local input on the nursing job market in Brisbane, I knew that nurses in Queensland protested against some changes in the health policy, so I'm just wondering would that affect the overall nurse job market over there?

Thank you! :thankya:

K+MgSO4, BSN

1,753 Posts

Specializes in Surgical, quality,management.

Ok first off you need to learn to flip your date writing. You arrive in the third of Sept?

That is written as 3/9. Here as in the UK it is written day/month/year.

Good idea going with agency that is what I did but I was in Sydney and Melbourne so I have no idea of the job market in Brisbane.

Yee213

17 Posts

Ok first off you need to learn to flip your date writing. You arrive in the third of Sept?

That is written as 3/9. Here as in the UK it is written day/month/year.

Good idea going with agency that is what I did but I was in Sydney and Melbourne so I have no idea of the job market in Brisbane.

I will arrive in Sydney first and stay there for 2 months, and I would like to know about job market in Sydney too if you don't mind sharing? :) If I want to apply jobs in Sydney, which ones would be good hospitals to work in? and which one should I avoid? Thank you!

K+MgSO4, BSN

1,753 Posts

Specializes in Surgical, quality,management.

Will type you a proper reply when I get my laptop working. Can't manage long replies on my phone.

+ Add a Comment