need an OZ update! us rn seeking to flee country..

Marshaseattle · Oct 29, 2011

I to am looking into moving to Australia. Have started to get all my paperwork together for converting my license and visa stuff. Would like an update from people who have worked in the USA and now are working in Australia. Do you think nursing in Oz is better,the same, or liked USA nursing better?

ceridwyn · Oct 30, 2011

- recently someone turned me onto the idea of moving to OZ to work as a nurse. i'm trying to move out of the country to live somewhere else for a little while (i also recently got my TESOL so i can teach english in other countries). so ive been reading up on things on these forums to see what is going on over yonder.. and it seems that the posts' themes changed rapidly (within a year) from offering info about the plentitude of jobs, to the market for overseas nurses being shut down (the very recent posts).. did something happen that rapidly? or is information just conflicting.. i'd like to know the chances of me being able to get a job (hospitals? agencies?) if i decide to go ahead and register...
me: US Associates RN, 5 years experience in sub acute rehab and long term care

What do you mean? Nurses are flocking here from all over the world because all you needed was the piece of paper to say you were Registered here......no longer the case.....

Universities in Australia have increased undergrad places for nursing so for inexperienced nurses jobs are sometimes hard to get the first job especially in acute (aged care are very happy about this)

Nurses are coming here in the hundereds of applications every week (heard from an insider at AHPRA) they come from NZ, UK, EU, India, Phillipines and now they are 3 fold now applying from the US of A. something has gotta give.

As will you be able to get a job when you get here, to get registered with AHPRA and depending on what visa you want....will take months, what is available then, how long is a piece of string? and the saying, being at the right place at the right time,maybe helps at times, then having the specialty that is required for work, but no longer can you apply and expect the job.

Have heard when employers are applying to sponsor a IEN now have to provide far more information to immigration that no locals were available. Sponsorships are drying up, unless you are in a specialty that is required by a hospital and then there will be no problems getting work.

Mental health, icu seem to be advertised a lot and nurse manager positions so of course need experience in this and a post grad.

Seems the nurses from the Phillipines are getting sponsorship work in acute public hospitals around Sydney though these hospitals are not advertising, locally. So that might be the place to go.

Depends what visa you have...working holiday you need a job for 6 months duration...not sure agencies can supply this requirement.

Good luck

Grace Oz · Oct 30, 2011

[/seems the nurses from the phillipines are getting sponsorship work in acute public hospitals around sydney though these hospitals are not advertising, locally. quote]
then the question i ask to this is: why?
why is these positions not being advertised here in australia when there are australian nurses seeking work?!
oh ... maybe it's got something to do with how the loons running the country today are just giving our nation away to all and sundry!

talaxandra · Oct 30, 2011

Is there evidence of this? In Victoria public hospital jobs have to be advertised locally before being filled internationally.

Grace Oz · Oct 30, 2011

I dunno, Ceridwyn will have to answer this Q.

But ... if this is happening, then shame on them!

I know we share the whole planet, but charity begins at home!

JMHO. :)

ceridwyn · Oct 30, 2011

I dunno, Ceridwyn will have to answer this Q.
But ... if this is happening, then shame on them!
I know we share the whole planet, but charity begins at home!
JMHO. :)

I apologise for making this sweeping statement that the hospitals are not advertising.

3 Members of my national community group are/were mature aged student nurses one finished mid year, one last year and one has nearly finished university.

They have told me they have tried for jobs at hospitals east of the city as they all live around there and have been told to wait to when they advertise, as yet they wait and even though apply through the jobs website for jobs for nurses with some experience, have been unsuccessful and told they do not have the experience! or maybe I am talking about age discrimination, maybe different hospitals, I am not familiar with hospitals around sydney. They are after full time work.

So they have managed to get part time in aged care with extra shifts. One of my friends got into a grad program out west, but she did not want to go out there, has family in Sydney.

So my conclusions were this.....when do they advertise for nurses with little experience or ones would like to gain experience without the grad year and yet employ nurses from overseas with very little experience. or maybe we are talking about age discrimination, Who knows, I apologise again for the wrong conclusions. I feel their frustration in not getting work in the acute sector that they enjoy and want experience in.

nurseyNJNYC · Oct 31, 2011

aside from acute care.. would it be much easier to find work in aged care? or sub acute?

im really just looking to be able to earn income and live out of the US for a little while...

talaxandra · Oct 31, 2011

As in the US, there are fewer RN's in subacute and aged care, with the majority of the workforce aides and EN's. Experience is also preferred there, but in any case I think post-registration experience is a requirement of Australian registration - the fourth criterion only talks about recency of practice (ie within five years) as a registered nurse or midwife but doesn't talk about how much this needs to be.

I suggest you contact AHPRA, who will be able to let you know how much experience you need before you're eligible for Australian registration, then look at positions.

Given the significant differences in health care systems here and there (funding, drug names, clinical practices, role expectations) I'd have been extremely cautious about moving to the US without having a little experience under my belt first.

Good luck :)

moodscale · Nov 3, 2011

hi there... i've read AHPRA being mentioned a couple of times and I was just wondering if it's an agency or hospital?

I've been meaning to go down under myself and I need all the advices I can get...

thanks

talaxandra · Nov 3, 2011

Had you typed "AHPRA" into Google you'd have discovered it's the Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Authority, which is responsible for the registration and regulation of the ten health professions here that require national registration and accreditation.

If you go to their website (www.ahpra.gov.au) you'll find link to information about registration requirements, forms to apply for registration, and contact details.

joanna73, BSN, RN · Nov 3, 2011

More importantly, you need a BSN or BSCN. Associate Degrees are not usually accepted outside of the US. Everyone else Australia, Canada, England has moved to the 4 year degree program.