Nursing student could not find a job while studying ...

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I'm an international student currently having finished my first semester of Bachelor Nursing Degree but not done my first clinical placement yet. I live in Darwin, Australia. I tried to apply for a job in Residential Aged care Facilities and was told that Certificate III in Aged Care is preferred and because I don't have experience in physical care. Although I stated that I'm keen to learn and willing to commit to long-term training, it was said that University Students are not as skillful as vocational ones.

I wonder why employers always ask me to have experience but no-one gives me opportunity to gain it?

I started desperate as my university just teaches me theories and unnecessary academic essays, and I'm not learning basic nursing skills. I wish to pursue a career as an aged care registered nurse but I feel like my course is just focusing on scientific and clinical aspects of Acute Care. My study plan has itself eliminated gerontology and aged care placement.

Is there any other Australian student like me outside there ... ? Just give me some advice.

Yeah, I'm a local student. I also work for a company with over 8,000 staff so it's fairly large which I think helped.

What is the company's name? Does it has any location in Darwin NT ? Maybe I can try it ... :):):)

Specializes in Aged care, disability, community.

Sorry we're only in Queensland and northern New South Wales

As a fellow international nursing student studying in NSW right now, I understand your frustration. However, I do also understand that when a facility hires you, your employer expect you to work at full capacity because he/she would have to trust you with their clients. It is reasonable that they want to hire someone with experience and essential skills instead of a student who has not gotten any clinical experience yet. I suggest you wait until you finish your first year of study. I am in my second year now and working in a local hospital as AIN. Stay positive and all will come to you in good time. Clinical placement is a great opportunity for you to experience the real world practice, so you should make the most out of it. All the best luck to you!

For students who are studying to becoming RNs, it is expected that they possess certain understanding behind the care actions, it is a lot different from studying to be ENs or Cert III which are more practical skills focused. And from what I have heard, there are more and more science theory content added to EN courses as well. The theoratic knowledge you are studying right now come in handy once you start your transition year and working as a RN. However, like you said, it is a dilemma that our courses are very much theory and knowledge oriented that we lack the skills and technique to care for a patient. What you can do is to try and make the most of your clinical placement, and keep looking for jobs in a care facility.

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