Where can I work as an RN in a hospital, for FREE

[Sahaya]

I had been job-a-hunting for a year and half, no luck in hospitals. Finished my 2-year RN program December 2012, unfortunately I didn't get any new grad offers. Currently working in Aged Care, but desperate to amp my clinical skill set (dream job: Haematology/Burns Unit) and really really really wanting to work in the hospital. I know it's very competitive out there--so...I am just wondering if anyone knows of any hospitals here in Sydney area that has a program of taking in RNs to train them, if budget is the problem, no worries--I am not expecting compensation. I am willing to volunteer (part time) just to have a hospital experience, accumulate practicum hours, and maybe in a year or two, I'll have a better chance of getting accepted for future hospital job applications. I know it sounds crazy, but I am serious. I can make it work. I will only do it part time and do other jobs in other days for practical reasons. I just need recency of practice as per AHPRA (equivalent to 3 months full time in a 5-year period, is that correct?)...I just need to gain clinical experience in a hospital setting...

I got this idea from my partner's friend. She is an Aussie Citizen and finished her radiology cert. She was volunteering (yes, working in a radiology unit in some hospital, for free). She did it for some time to get the hours, and when she accummulated enough and was ready, she applied to a major hospital in the North Shore area, and she got in! So I am just wondering if this volunteer thing in hospitals is also available for nurses...

If anyone has any info, please share. And I ask not to be judged...I am just desperate to get a hospital training...not meaning to offend anyone. Nothing is working for me at the moment, so maybe someone out there knows something.

This is very hard for me to write...and I won't even write this if I don't feel desperate enough...just taking a chance maybe there is such program/training somewhere.

THANK YOU

[ceridwyn]

No, Australia does not condone working for nothing. You may be allowed to be an observer, but to work as an RN one must be paid the award and therefore as per requirements as conditions of AHPRA registration ad have RN indemnity insurance bought privately, through employer were you are working as RN or as union member. Contact nurse banks at hospitals or agencies and explain your inexperience working in acute area, are you not working as RN already and have some experience already.?

[Fiona59]

This is concept of working for free as a nurse is a nasty concept that many nurses of a specific nationality seem to think is normal. To me it's a form of voluntary slavery.

[ANnot4me]

Working for free is not an option in New Zealand.

[Sahaya]

Thanks for all your reply. When I wrote this post I was very emotional. I am in the verge of giving up, I really don't think that I have a chance to work in the hospital as an RN. I did not mean to offend anyone...with regards to the title of my post, I just thought of it being catchy and hoping that it will attract attention and someone will give me an advise--and someone did--thank you ceridwyn!

I am thinking more in the lines of a placement/training/inteternship--when I heard about this person really volunteering (or whichever is a more appropriate term) in the radiology department of a hospital and gaining experience, thereby, increasing her chances of being a preferred applicant because she had some experience, that's how I come to think of posting...sorry, not meaning to offend or upset anyone, I was just hoping someone knows about some training/internship somewhere here in Sydney area...I was just really emotional and desperate when I posted this. I will try and contact admin to have this taken out. I am just so grateful that I got replies...I am almost giving up and it's not a good feeling and sometimes it makes you think crazy/silly thoughts...thanks all for your time!

[ceridwyn]

I hope you find sonething in acute setting, but agec care is more acute than it was and RN , s working in it who ard effective practitioners are doing acute asssessments all the time.