Submitted my AHPRA, now what?

[katye]

Hi,

I just submitted my AHPRA last week (phew - finally!) and I know they next stage is just a waiting game that can take weeks to months. In the mean time I wanted to go ahead and start gathering some information as to what to expect when trying to enter the job field here.

A bit of background on myself - I graduated with a BSN from the US in 2009 and worked in High Risk OB for 3 1/2 years at a women's hospital in Florida. I relocated back to Australia last year (I am a permanent resisdent) and have been out on maternity leave this last year. My family and I are living in Cairns at the moment. I'm ready and eager to get back to work, because I feel like a piece of me is missing and I also don't want my skills to diminish any more!!

I've been hearing some very discouraging things about job availability in this region and mixed input on whether or not to contact an agency. I'm told there are nothing but casual positions available at the base hospital here and that if I go with an agency then I am likely to be placed in a nursing home (not what I want to do). Some people have suggested that with my background I might be able to work in an obstetrical area, but I am pretty sure this is not true (I'm not a midwife). I fear that if I do get hired on as a causal at the hospital I am just going to be thrown into the "deep end" with very little orientation in an area I am not familiar.

What should I expect when I interview? Is it extremely formal? Is there a panel generally that you have to sit in front of? I am very fearful of this process. Also is it acceptable to go into a interview with certain areas you are willing to work in, in my case women's surgical, scbu? Also I've looked at the Queensland health nursing wages breakdown and am I correct in saying that I would be a Nursing Grade 5. Would my pay point be a 1? Or would they honor my experience and advance my pay point?

Any information would be greatly appreciated!

Thank you in advance.

[Leggings and Lattes]

Hi Katy!!

I'm not working in Oz, but like you, I worked OB in the States before moving to NZ. I had kinda prepared myself to not be able to work OB because I wasn't a midwife, but I did manage to get a postnatal slot!! Also, RN's are able to work in the delivery suite OR here. I rocked up to the hospital with my CV and started harassing managers of areas I was interested in. That's how I found out I was able to work postnatal. Good luck!!

[ceridwyn]

You really do not know until you become pro active and start asking the questions of people in the 'know'. Perhaps talking to HR at the base hospital, you will be pleasantly surprised, especially if you can be a casual first.

[Bringonthenight]

Nothing in cairns is formal!

[aussieboynurse]

Hey Katye, interview itself is a formal process. You normally go on a panel interview with two or three or even four panelists.

Just be calm, dress well and you'll be fine.

Interviews normally evolves with 4 themes, one is a clinical question, team work, conflict resolution. It seems majority of the interview questions would revolve on this.

If you are an RN you start Grade 5 (depends on your qualification overseas, Payrolll will assess but they need to see your certificate indicating you worked as an RN with the number of hours and how long and also if you are full time or part time) This is where they decide what Pay Level you will be.

[katye]

Thank you so much for your feedback. I guess I will just have to wait and see. I heard back from AHPRA that they have all my paperwork and don't need any further information. Now it is just a matter of waiting for everything to be processed.

[katye]

My AHPRA came through today!! Hooray! Now time to start hunting!

[ceridwyn]

Good luck!

[katye]

Thanks Ceridwyn! What is the next best step for me with regards to obtaining indemnity insurance? Do I have to have it when applying for jobs or do I wait until I get a job? Also what is the situation with unions here is Oz?

[K+MgSO4, BSN]

The ANMF offers PII through their membership. The Australian Nursing and Midwifery Federation is a pretty powerful union. There is pretty much a union presence in every hospital. It is not as gungho as some other unions in Australia. Contact your state ANMF branch to ask them some questions.

[katye]

So then am I understanding correctly that pretty much all nurses in Australia belong to a union? Just want to be clear on this because, while practicing in the US I was not a member of a union and in fact lots of hospitals try to keep the unions out.

[K+MgSO4, BSN]

At my hospital yes pretty much every nurse is member. We have a very union supportive nursing exec.