American Nurse Seeking to Work in Australia

World Australia

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Hey there! Sorry if this a repeat of several other topics..I've been reading through many threads, and there is so much information, I'm getting overloaded.

I'm an RN currently working as a traveler in the US. I have almost 2 years of experience. I would really love to work in Australia though. I have spoken to one travel agency - Worldwide Travel Staffing, but haven't talked to them much more than a couple phone calls. All I've really gotten out of them is it's usually a year-long commitment, and lots of paperwork?

I've seen some people say work with an agency, don't work with an agency..and the whole process just seems very confusing. Any tips, hints? Do I need to do one of the bridging programs..take an exam? I'm very tentative to do this by myself without an agency there to help me out.

Thanks!!

Specializes in Surgical, quality,management.

I was in Sydney 4 years ago so things have probably changed. There was plenty of work then but from what has been written on these boards things have slowed down.

You can sign with as many agencies as you want. At that time each of the big agencies seemed to have a certain area of the city that they supplied with staff but that may of changed. I worked for a small agency so I got sent everywhere. I had friends from home that worked for a bigger agency and they said that they didn't get the quality of care from the agency that I got. If I rang them after a shift and said do NOT send me back there they wouldn't, where as my friends would have to refuse a shift because they were talking to different people everyday

I would advise you to stay away from St Georges Hospital. It's attitudes to agency staff were terrible. If you are confident in your skills but not cocky, admit that you need to be shown around etc you should have no problems.

From what an American nurse I worked with there are big differences in medication names routine allied health members roles etc.

Is there any thing else that I can help you with?

Specializes in PCU / telemetry.

Hi All,

I've been skimming through this thread and am excited for Yee213! I am also a step down / telemetry cardiac nurse with 3yrs experience who is looking to travel to melbourne. I've already received my eligibility registration from the AHPRA, but it did take several months for me, and I also have my working holiday visa. Oh and I'm looking to travel to Aus in December of this year.

Couple questions:

1. Are there any agencies that include housing or a housing stipend?

2. One of the agencies I've been in contact with, Vital International, does not have any 3 or 6 month assignments for Melbourne, but recommends me to work with some agencies for more per diem scheduling. Do you think I'll be able to find sufficient work? I'm a bit cautious picking up and moving without a for sure job already in place. Or should I check out different agencies to obtain a 3 or 6 month contract?

Thanks for your help!!

Hi,

I was so busy moving, travelling, and settling in the last month, so I'm in Sydney now. Started working with 2 agencies since last Wednesday. Nursing is so different here compare to the US. Still trying to get use to the system, I'm completely overwhelmed. Worked in a few private hospitals, the only good experience I had so far is with St. Vincent Private, but they have been cancelling a lot lately. The recuiter said could be becasue of the school holiday. The recruiter also told me the staff in public hospitals tend to be nicer, private hospitals tend to be more picky becasue their pay rate for agency nurses are a lot higher than the public. Still pending my paper work for the public hospitals, hopefuuly it will be done soon. I need some emotional support........need someone to talk to :(

Specializes in PCU / telemetry.

Hey!

Sorry to hear you are overwhelmed, but I'm sure anyone would be given the circumstances. It's tough enough working at a new hospital, let alone new country, healthcare system, etc...

So you don't have a set contract length? You just registered with 2 agencies in hopes of filling your schedule with enough shifts? Which agencies did you go with and do you like them? What paperwork do you need for public hospitals? What's the most challenging aspect of transitioning to nursing in Aus?....sorry for the 20 questions... :(

But seeing how I'm sure to be in your shoes in a few short months...I'm all ears (eyes? haha) if you need to vent. Feel free to message me privately and I'm happy to send you my email address.

Good luck!!! :)

hello all,

Im interested in coming to Australia next year to to work as an RN. I currently work in southern california in a surgical intensive care unit as a floor nurse and relief charge nurse. Really looking forward to making the big change and all the experience that comes with it. i have found all your posts very helpful. I only have an associates degree though, but I do have 4 years experience as a nurse now. i have asked others about the qualifications with AHPRA in regards to education and many seem to think that i should be qualified enough. did any of you apply with just an associates degree and get approved with AHPRA? any feedback would be greatly appreciated. As for Yee213, congrats!! super excited for you, hang in there. im sure it will get better for you. would love to hear how your experience is going so far, im considering working in sydney as well. i hope i can find that same support when i get there, so im here for you if you need to vent!!

Specializes in Pediatric Primary Care.

Hi guys! This is so exciting to hear from everyone. My application is slowly...(but surely? hopefully?) progressing. Hoping to have my registration from AHPRA within a month, then will go thru the Visa process. Plan is to head to Sydney. And yes, too bad about being so overwhelmed =( There are just SO many new variables, I can't imagine it is an easy transition.

The idea of going there without a guaranteed job is also pretty scary. There are just so many things to take into consideration!

Specializes in Pediatric Primary Care.

Esperanza, I'm also in southern California! I'm working as a travel nurse in the San Diego area, and have been down here since January! Loooove it.

I do have my Bachelor's, so I didn't have the hurdle you may face, but I can post what AHPRA e-mailed me when my documentation from my college wasn't sufficient for them haha. Maybe it will shine some light:

Please note the minimum education requirement of a registered nurse in Australia is a Bachelor degree. A transcript of the theory subject hours and clinical subject hours as well as a record of clinical experience areas from [your college] is required. In order for an applicant to register as a Registered Nurse (Division 1) in Australia they must demonstrate both theory and clinical hours in the following streams: Medical/Surgical, Adult Nursing, Community Nursing and Mental Health Nursing.

Specializes in PCU / telemetry.

Hey Esperanza!

Hopefully one day we can all meet up in Sydney...haha :)

As far as qualifications for the AHPRA, I have a BSN, so I don't know about an associates degree. However, in all my research and reading, I don't recall seeing anything that specified the requirements in the paperwork. But I suggest going to the AHPRA website and submitting a web inquiry. They have been very quick in their email responses usually 48 hours.

Good luck! :)

Specializes in PCU / telemetry.

Esperanza,

Looks like based on Etoile88 response "the minimum education requirement for a registered nurse in Australia is a Bachelor degree"...bummer...

Specializes in Pediatric Primary Care.

Lilly, I am getting SO impatient waiting for my registration...!!!! Did they email you with addit'l documentation that you had to give them? Just wondering how long after that I may have to wait :dead:

Specializes in PCU / telemetry.

Etoile,

OMG...it took me forever! Partially because I received my BSN in an accelerated program, which I don't think they are familiar with, so I had several requests for additional information. After I mailed them the documents (and apparently I couldn't even send it fedex because it's a global post office box) it took about 10 days...snail mail status. I would typically get a response 1 week -2 weeks after via email. Sometimes it wasn't clear what they needed and what I interepreted wasn't always what they wanted, so that was a bit frustrating. In total it took me 5 months after several correspondences...(I did have some delays waiting for documents from my school so that cost me a good month +...so all in all, I would say it took me 3-4 months.)

Hopefully, yours will be much faster :)

Specializes in Pediatric Primary Care.

Blahhh. yeah, I'm getting nervous because it's been at least 10 business days and they say they don't have the documents.. and it was reallyyyy annoying to get some of that paperwork, argh. So they emailed you once they received addit'l documents?

I feel like I'm slowly selling my soul haha. Oh, and it is SO confusing as to what they want! I've made many phone calls because they're vague on the requirements. I just fear that the date I have to have everything in by is going to come and I won't have it all, and they'll close my application :( I'm two months in, not counting how many months it took me before that to just gather what I thought they wanted. Wheeeeee! Hahha

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