have you tried these australian nursing agencies?

gwenith, BSN, RN · Jun 8, 2005

Haven't had a lot to do with the last one but the first two have a reasonable rep. Code Blue though is one we use at times - it does command more money for your work BUT because they are the most expensive you will be the last on the list for jobs - so when things are slow you might not get the agency work you want.

Try to get an agency to agree to "place" you with one hospital for the first couple of weeks because our drugs ARE different with different names. There is less prepackaging at pharmacy etc and of course the laws governing administration are slightly different - i.e. We double check ALL IV meds.

Oh! And the language is different is some peculiar ways...........

bukko · Jun 8, 2005

i am trying to decide which nursing agency to go with in australia - after several days of discussing pay/benefits - i have narrowed it down to the following three
does anyone have any previous experience working with
Nursing Australia
Code Blue
or Mediserve?
ruth

I don't have experience with those three, but I can tell you about my dealings with two others: Eden and Acclaim. The personnel there were personable, as all Australians are, but in the end they couldn't deliver. At both, I had pleasant e-mail exchanges with recruiters. Also at both, my initial contacts abruptly stopped working there! At Eden, the replacement recruiter sent one e-mail and never followed through. My substitute at Acclaim set up a telephone interview at a hospital in Canberra (got an offer, but not keen on living in ACT) and promised to arrange an in-person chat at a private hosp. when I was in Melbourne. However, she didn't have the connections to get me in the door.

I got the feeling that with some international nursing agencies, you're not really working with an organization behind you; you're dealing with whatever individual who's been handed your file. And if your particular recruiter is not on the ball, you're behind the 8-ball. (I suppose that latter bit of slang doesn't make sense in a country that plays billiards...)

I appreciated the info in your recent posts, Ruthie, and I have a question for you. I'm now licenced in NSW and Vic. I'm working on lining up work at a hospital in Melbourne, but it's not happening fast enough for my taste. How hard was it to come from America and labor as a temp in Aus? The differences in work practises, medications, etc? What sort of orientation did you get? I'm a quick learner, and used to work agency when I lived in Florida. However, I was familiar with the basics of the American medical system. Did you have any background in the Aussie way before you started doing agency work there, or were you just expected to land on your feet and hit the ground running? Did you have any trouble getting the required 35 hours a week? I don't want to be in a position of having government agents knocking on my door saying "You haven't been working hard enough -- get out of our country, you lazy sod!"

Grace Oz · Jun 17, 2005

I don't have experience with those three, but I can tell you about my dealings with two others: Eden and Acclaim. The personnel there were personable, as all Australians are, but in the end they couldn't deliver. At both, I had pleasant e-mail exchanges with recruiters. Also at both, my initial contacts abruptly stopped working there! At Eden, the replacement recruiter sent one e-mail and never followed through. My substitute at Acclaim set up a telephone interview at a hospital in Canberra (got an offer, but not keen on living in ACT) and promised to arrange an in-person chat at a private hosp. when I was in Melbourne. However, she didn't have the connections to get me in the door.
I got the feeling that with some international nursing agencies, you're not really working with an organization behind you; you're dealing with whatever individual who's been handed your file. And if your particular recruiter is not on the ball, you're behind the 8-ball. (I suppose that latter bit of slang doesn't make sense in a country that plays billiards...)
I appreciated the info in your recent posts, Ruthie, and I have a question for you. I'm now licenced in NSW and Vic. I'm working on lining up work at a hospital in Melbourne, but it's not happening fast enough for my taste. How hard was it to come from America and labor as a temp in Aus? The differences in work practises, medications, etc? What sort of orientation did you get? I'm a quick learner, and used to work agency when I lived in Florida. However, I was familiar with the basics of the American medical system. Did you have any background in the Aussie way before you started doing agency work there, or were you just expected to land on your feet and hit the ground running? Did you have any trouble getting the required 35 hours a week? I don't want to be in a position of having government agents knocking on my door saying "You haven't been working hard enough -- get out of our country, you lazy sod!"

Bukko.... We DO play 8 ball here in Oz! And ... it'd be more likely a government agent would say; "you lazy bugger!" as opposed to; "Lazy sod". The word "Sod" is more of a "Pommie" (English) terminology than Australian. Though, you will sometimes hear the word used. But, not as often or as common as "bugger". Just FYI. Gotta help orientate you to the Australian way! lol.