greet n meet/cheese n wine

OzNurse69 · Feb 8, 2003

Actually I'd be interested to know that too, bewbew....just did a search for this topic, & of the three hospitals I found (Canberra, Woden Valley & Calvary) none mentioned anything about it....also found nothing on the ANF site....do you remember which particular hospital it was, leprecaun??

leprecaun · Feb 9, 2003

I will find out from the person who passed the message onto me and will post as soon as i can. I am not familiar with hospitals in that part of Australia, but does Stewart or Stuart sound familiar to anyone? I am sure it had that in the name.

frannybee · Feb 9, 2003

Everywhere I've worked has slagged off agency nurses, and I don't know if my experiences have been extraordinary, but I've *never* worked with an agency nurse who has slacked off, lazed about, shirked duties or basically done a bad job. I have seen agency nurses not turn up, and 99% of the time it was because the agency or the hospital, not the nurse, has stuffed up. Permanent staff were always shocked when I'd ask them "Is there anything you need/want me to do?", or "Can I help you with that?", or "Do you want me to write in the Kardex?". It's my job. With an agency, particularly a good agency, hard work + flexibility = good pay + good benefits + weekends/public holidays off.

Damn the UK Home Office. I would gladly have worked for Firstpoint for the rest of my nursing life if agencies were allowed to sponsor work permits.

Sooz · Feb 10, 2003

Just saying Hi! I'm an Aussie from Melbourne. Graduated in 1988 and have been living in the US since 1989! After all this time I'm planning to come home to Melbourne within the next year or so. Scary! I haven't worked there for so long. But I'm homesick now! I'm a travelling nurse at the moment and really enjoying doing this right now. I'm trying to save as much money here before I go home:) Have a great day everyone.

Sooz

OzNurse69 · Feb 10, 2003

Hey Sooz, welcome!! Don't forget, your savings will instantly double when you enter the country (from US$).....bonus!!

leprecaun · Feb 10, 2003

Well did alot of research, and contacted my friend, the story is that the course is being offered at Albury NSW at Charles Stuart University campus, it was primarily launced to hopefully help with filling vacancies at rural nursing facilities be it aged care or acute settings. The course is primarily work based with supported study modules from what i can find out. this is being trialled this year and will be closely monitored by other Uni campuses around the country to see the response by applicants and of course outcome. The reason i mentioned Canberra was the person who told me came from there and was part of the submission committee to gain permission for this trial to commence.

More info available at the Charles Stuart Uni web site home page under Faculty of health.

leprecaun · Feb 10, 2003

On another note, I have had a USA visitor staying here for past 12months on working/ study visa. The route taken to gain status here was long and arduous, firstly acquiring passport to travel then necessary visa through the Australian consulate in the USA ( in his own state),this was back in 2001. I suggested the study and work visa in case one or other was rejected, also the study visa ment he had more time in Australia. So armed with the dual visa which he subsequently acquired and having to enrol in a study course here during this past year, he arrived at beginning of 2002 and initially contacted Qld nurses registration board and was given provisional registration and allowed to work with conditions, this mostly ment in a supervised situation and not able to perform IV cannulation, venepuncture, or work in his speciality area which is intensive /coronary care, also not able to check or give S8 meds. After completing his year of study and year of part time work he can now apply for full registration here if he stays. His visa expires in a month and he is investigating possibility of remaining here and this entails about 40 pages of immigration documentation and me acting as a sponsor. For now he is returning to states to consider options, but he has throughly enjoyed the past 12months and the Australian hospitality.

Dyno · Mar 1, 2003

Hi everyone, I have only just found this Australian segment of allnurse, been logging on for a few years. I trained as an EN in Whyalla Hospital in 1979 (yes we wore caps but they were cardboard by then) I was very proud the day I received my 'stripe'

Worked on & off over years between family then did BN at QUT , finished in 2000. Am presently working in cardiac investigations (no weekends, yeah... but no money..). I am very happy that I took the plunge & did the RN course, am loving my work & the challenge of learning new things every day.

Uni vs Hospital, I have done both, albeit one was a while back, but I think hospital wins overall. Many of my friends that have completed the BN were ENs before like myself & we have all integrated better & I believe are SAFER nurses than those that had no previous training. Some of the nurses who worked as AINs whilst at uni are doing well, again, they have had EXPOSURE to the system, more than the majority who only had their 20 weeks clinical in 3 years.

Twenty weeks in 3 years is appalling & not safe. Why not better combine the two. Month on-month off blocks & rotate groups. The fight for good clinical placements between unis is getting ridiculous. The hospital staff are fed up with students who show little or no interest in the practicle side & willingless to learn BASIC CARE & HYGEINE standards (yes it really does matter when you rest all the clean linen on that one patients bed & then you want to make all the other beds with that contaminated linen..duh!) sorry, just venting. Yes there are some terrific uni trained nurses who never did any other nursing orientated work before graduating but they are few & far between. These are just my thoughts.... I will go back into my box now, bye......................

Dyno · Mar 1, 2003

Oh Tookie, is that an unwooded chardonay & some tasty Coon?? cheers.

Tookie · Apr 9, 2003

Lovely to see the new names here - welcome to all of you and l do hope that you all enjoy this Bulletin Board - I do (when l get onto it - which hasn't been enough recently) I always find people to be supportive and willing to share lots of information both nursing and general - So good luck.

Sorry lve not been around to 'offer the wine and cheese and yes it can be a Chardonay and coon or a lovely merlot and some edam - will throw in some macadamia nuts as well if you like.

Tookie

frannybee · Apr 10, 2003

Tookie, our hospital coffee shop has just started stocking macadamia flavouring syrup for the 'real' coffee. Soooooo yummy! I had to explain what a macadamia was to the girl serving though, since the humble macadamia isn't exactly well known here :chuckle

Aussienurse2 · Apr 12, 2003

Ya shoulda seen me trying to ask the shop girl in Sydney for some "Bauple" nuts! "Oh" she says, after five minutes explaining I wanted the ones in the front " The Bauple nuts, round white thingys, right there!". I'm from Queensland. sigh, have pity on me.