migrating to Australia from US

gwenith, BSN, RN · Sep 23, 2004

Go to the top of this forum there is a "sticky" thread there with lots of information.

Best advice DO NOT repeat DO NOT take any job that has the words "rural" or and especially "remote" in the job description. Our rural and remote particularly in SA and WA means that you spend half your time talking to Kangaroos because there is sod all else out there.

Nursing especially the drugs and drug names are too different it is best you go to a city first and get some experience there then if you want to you can go to the country.

There is no such thing here as a "sign on bonus" so don't ask unless you want to watch HRM staff choke with laughter - sorry!!!! (We do however have some great incentives to stay in the system)

Browse through this forum I have pasted quite a bit in the past and feel free to ask questions - I am the other side of the country though in Queensland.

wam79 · Sep 23, 2004

The thread at the top of the topic is great.I'm going to spend the afternoon looking at the sites.

No problem with the "sign on bonus" no such thing in Hawaii either. LOL

gwenith, BSN, RN · Sep 23, 2004

:rotfl: An awful lot of people get a little shocked when they find out we don't have them. We don't seem to have the equivalent of the "travel nurse" either but then the majority of our hospitals are goverment owned.

talaxandra · Sep 24, 2004

Hi, and congratualtions on your brilliant decision to come nurse in God's Own Country!

gwenith's absolutely right (as always :)) to say be wary of rural listings - 'remote' can have you situated four hours plane flight away from a doctor, let alone a hospital. Excellent autonomy for those who enjoy it, but maybe a bit much for your first Aussie posting (good money, though).

I can only give you the Victorian picture, and warn that I am a little biased! Victoria has the world's first legally-protected nurse: patient ratios, which has attracted nurses back into the public system. Though we are the second smallest state (after Tasmania), we have the second highest population density in Australia, and consequently a number of high-acuity hospitals.

Melbourne is much maligned by the other states - this is because we have weather, and they're jealous! We have a diverse environment, and Melbourne is the world's most livable city (although I have no idea how this is determined!)

Wherever you work, conditions in public hospitals are the same statewide - ratios vary depending on specific area and hospital acuity ranking, but pay, penalties, and other conditions (including 6 weeks of annual leave/year, complete with leave loading) are the same. Private hospitals vary from place to place; they also tend to be less acute.

You shouldn't have trouble finding positions whichever state you decide to settle in. Good luck!

gwenith, BSN, RN · Sep 25, 2004

:chuckle Don't get fooled Melbourne is the living example of the saying

"Climate is what you expect - weather is what you get.":roll:

DutchgirlRN, ASN, RN · Sep 25, 2004

We have a nurse at our hospital that moved here to the US from Austrailia. Fiona is a real delight to work with. Things seem pretty much the same to her except that in Austrailia it's the Doctor's who start the IV's !! Woo-Hoo !!!

gwenith, BSN, RN · Sep 25, 2004

That's changing - we now do a lot more cannulations. We have a nurse who just came over from the US and she says we are a lot more independant but I think that depends on where in the US you came from.

NurseRachy · Sep 25, 2004

Oh you ABSOLUTELY MUST come to Melbourne. Best place in the universe!

Not too hot, not too cold, pretty - yeah - world's most liveable city - says it all!

Good luck on your decision- I'm sure you'll be happy with any state in Australia.

Rachel

live4today, RN · Sep 25, 2004

we have a nurse at our hospital that moved here to the us from austrailia. fiona is a real delight to work with. things seem pretty much the same to her except that in austrailia it's the doctor's who start the iv's !! woo-hoo !!!

hmmmm....doctors starting iv's? :idea: now that is a kodak moment! :rotfl:

talaxandra · Sep 25, 2004

Yep, although we have some cannulation nurses, for the most part IV's (and tricky plebotomy) are strictly medical domain. I know some nurses from overseas find it frustrating, but there are shifts so busy I don't know how I'd fit it in. Not only that, I find it gives them a better idea of just how difficult maintianing IV access is in some patients - I think we'd have more patients on IV meds for longer if we cannulated routinely.

Farkinott, RN · Sep 26, 2004

I just want to say welcome to OZ! It is THE best country in the world! :) :)