AUS RN Program Rankings??

[pinkgeek]

Hi Everyone-

I'm inching closer to coming to the decision to come back to Australia and study nursing instead of doing it here in the states..

Are there any school rankings anywhere? Even informal? I can't find anything in my google search. My Mum would prefer I go to James Cook and be close to family - other family suggest Monash is the top program.

I'd appreciate more insight from RN's working in the field..

Thanks!!!!

[ceridwyn]

There are no official rankings of nursing schools, only top university guides and here is the link http://www.australian-universities.com/rankings/

All nursing programs are usually considered equal here, all have weaker skilled students and whoever works with those graduates or students gives that university considers all graduate from there 'bad'....as for international recognition I think its up to other countries Boards of Nursing and quite frankly no university from Australia will sound or be any different to them from each other. They will check the course and clinical hours. Have not heard any are worse than others in clincial or course content.

Graduate programs I heard are very good....Univ of Melb. Uni of Sy and MOnash have one but you already need degree and these are only 2 years programs so may not be acceptable even if great programs, everywhere, so undergrade is best in that respect....James Cook I have heard, when working in Brisbane never got a bad rap...from other nurses.....Their speciality would be tropical medicine so that may even have a glimpse in the nursing program. Monash has no better reputation down here in Victoria than other unis such as RMIT, Latrobe, Deakin. So I would stick to James Cook if you want Australian degree otherwise would stick to a USA degree not ADN- have heard in the past trouble to be registered here as RN if you have no experience.

This all of course is from my personal experience, travelling, meeting and what I have heard in hearsay, I have no expertise in any of this.

ps if you want some hints, pick one that you may get some paeds experience and maternity in the curriculum for electives.....nearly all do heaps of mental health, as if you want to go back to the US paeds and maternity seem to be the lack of study that we do, because maternity especially is for midwives to do, not general nurses which is one of the differences between us and the US

So go to the uni sites and most courses have there program for you to check out. Then email them and ask if they have electives or any chance of paeds or mat.

goodl luck