Canadian Perinatal RN working in UK/NewZealand

[v.wolf, BSN]

Hi everyone,

I was wondering if anyone had any information about this. I am a Canadian trained Perinatal RN. My experience is in Labour and Delivery, High Risk Antepartum, and Scrub Nursing for Caesarean Sections. I do have some experience working in Pediatrics and Emerge, but most of my experience is in L&D. I love my job here in Canada, but for a few years now I have been hoping to gain some further experience working and living abroad. I was particularly interested in experiencing Ireland and Scotland, but it looks as thought the job situation for international nurse isn't great. My other interests (outside of the UK) include New Zealand and Australia.

However, when I look into jobs in New Zealand, Australia, and the UK it seems as though "Labour and Delivery RN" jobs don't really exist -- looks like all of these positions are filled by midwives. Does anyone know if there are any RN positions with expertise in Obstetrics? Or do these position simply not exist? I am definitely open to working in other areas. Any information about working in the UK or New Zealand/Australia as a perinatal RN would be very much appreciated!

Thank you kindly for your help!

[Silverdragon102, BSN]

Moved to the International forum

In the UK most deliveries are done by the midwife either at home, in hospital or some other authorized facility. Only time a doctor steps in is if risk to mother and child or C section is required

Issues in the UK isn't too great with unemployment at a high with nurses struggling to find work. If you have not got a passport from a country from within the EU then there is a difficulty in finding a employer willing to go the work permit route as preference is given to UK/EU before rest of the world.

Not sure for Australia/New Zealand but I am sure someone will step up and say what is required there

[ceridwyn]

Unfortunately, unless you have a degree in midwifery a Registered Nurse does not cut it.

Midwives are very protective of their area (mind you most of them are still RN's)

You become a midwife, by a direct entry degree, Bachelor of Nursing or as an add on Graduate Diploma of Midwifery as a part time mid student and part time uni student.

There are a few universities offering Master of Clinical Midwifery that also qualifies you for mid.

A short time ago when there was a nursing/midwife shortage they used experienced RN's in post partum, but delivery wards are a midwife domain.......no nurses required.

I have heard it is the same set up in New Zealand.

If you did qualify as a midwife there is no problem getting work, they seem to need midwives more than RN's because midwives from the Phillipines and India are not qualified as midwives here and the UK seems to be the only place that also has this system.

ps women can opt for a home birth with a midwife, but these are not as common as the uk, usually babies are born in hospitals.

They have been importing midwives from the UK t0o makeup shortages but RN's with experience no, not at my hospital anyway.

Rn's and RM's have a divide between them, as big as the english channel and Tasman sea.