US-trained nurse looking to migrate to Australia or New Zealand

[BSNSN]

Hi,

I am looking to migrate to Australia and/or New Zealand. The Australian cities I had in mind are Sydney, Melbourne and Perth. The New Zealand cities I had in mind are Wellington and Auckland.

I graduated this month with my Bachelor of Science in Nursing from a US university. I also have a Bachelor of Business Administration degree from another US university. I have several years of experience as a marketing analyst and as a nursing assistant. I also have 2 years experience as a nursing tutor/ educator assistant. I am scheduled to sit for the NCLEX-RN examination next month. I am enrolled in a Masters of Science Nursing program right now.

- What are some options for me in terms of visa?

- How do I go about applying for these options?

- Do I need to get registered with AHPRA there or will my registration in the US be sufficient?

- Are there any nursing hiring agencies you recommend I contact?

- Should I apply for the masters degree programs there? Which universities have the best nursing programs there?

I am very confused. Any advice is appreciated! Thank you very much.

[kellieskorner]

I worked for 15 years in the USA,came here no problem.biggest difference american training is a lot harder, more science driven.american nursing is more thorough in that it is more head to toe disease/condition driven with a lot more supports and less automony

[kellieskorner]

I personally think Australian nursing is a lot better.Nurses are less stressed.Patients get free health care here and although we get wingers, American patients I found more demanding.Get em in get em out.Our working conditions are much better here.I work in the public system.We get 6 weeks paid holidays.double/triple time some holidays.one day paid rostered off a month.50/75 percent extra on our base pays working nights,weekends.We work shift work which is a huge difference from the USA.Australian nurses have more autonomy than US nurses and we provide a lot more hands on care.It's less territorial thinking someone's going to take your job.ICU nursing over here we do everything including vents, suctioning/meds.In Australia we draw up most of our drugs and have to know how to calculate, where as where I worked in the US we had Pyxis machines and antibiotics hung on a saline bag.I think US trained Nurses would find preparing meds a challenge, and a lot of the drugs are the same just different name used in the class and doses are less for some drugs.I love working in Australia.I believe our lifestyle, wages, conditions are the best in the world.Education wise we can get a 3 year Bachelor degree for $10,000 but Australian trained BN degree is not recognized as meeting US standards, but our clinical standards rock!!!

[nephron19]

Hi Julianna.00- I cannot figure out how to PM you but was wondering if you could answer some questions I have about moving to Oz! thanks!

[Silverdragon102, BSN]

Hi Julianna.00- I cannot figure out how to PM you but was wondering if you could answer some questions I have about moving to Oz! thanks!

Site requirement to send a pm is 15 or more posts. Maybe post your questions here as it may help others

[ANnot4me]

Unemployment in NZ is approaching 7.4% and times are hard for experienced nurses in NZ. I would not recommend coming to NZ. Wages are low and as I said, unemployment is high.

[Hagabel]

I trained in the UK, worked in the US for 20 yrs and have ben working in NZ for 18 mths in ER.

I actually prefer working in NZ, (even though the pay is crap) but the staffing, way you get treated and working conditions are much better.

[tristessa]

I live in Australia so these sites may prove useful: Im sure New Zealand has equivalent sites-

Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency - Home -for nursing registration information

australia.gov.au - for immigration information

Would be beneficial if you could be "sponsored" by a nursing agency or employer-they would organise all of your immigration & registration paperwork.

Just curious as to why you want to immigrate to Australia or New Zealand?? Maybe a working holiday may give you some idea of what its really like to live in either Australia or New Zealand??

Best of Luck.....

[Leggings and Lattes]

Just an FYI...the clinical hours for foreign nurses going to NZ is quite high. American nurses don't get registered without taking the CAP program in, and the waiting list is currently over 12 months.My OZ registration (Sydney branch) took 4 1/2 weeks to complete from the time they received it. I did it on my own without an agency, and had no problems. Just make sure to read and obtain what they ask for specifically.

[nephron19]

Bama, Just wondering how long ago you completed your registration?

[Leggings and Lattes]

I sent in my packet this past October, and I received approval in November.

[nephron19]

I was also wondering how easy it is to transfer licenses between states? So if I get my license thru the Victoria office but end up in Sydney would it be difficult to transfer it over or vice versa? I'm not sure where I will be living but want to get the ball rolling with my paperwork.

[K+MgSO4, BSN]

It is a national registration. AHPRA replaced the state nursing boards a few years ago so once you registered your good for anywhere in the country! One of the criteria for registration is that you have PI insurance. The cheapest way to get this is via the nursing union.

Unions are not the dirty word here as they seem to be in the USA!