Outback Nursing - Aus ... whats good/bad

LG1137 · Jan 9, 2010

Wow, some really inspirational posts. Makes me want to do it too!

K+MgSO4, BSN · Jan 10, 2010

I was working for a nursing agency in Sydney and decided that I wanted a change so I signed up for a 3 month rural placement.

It was the most amazing and terrifying experience of my life.

I was orientated to the 10 nursing home and 5 acute and 2 bed ED and the 15 hostel beds that we looked after on nights as well. I was told that I would be working with an EN who was not med endorsed and the GP/ base hospital phone triage system was explained to me.

So after those 2 days I was flying solo........thankfully not much came through ED that I couldn't manage myself or with a phone order from the base hospital so I got into the routine of ward with the washes and feeds and meds.

Then the next week all hell broke loose. In 3 consecutive shifts I had a full resus with no GP on site just an emergency consultant on the end of a phone and the ambos who brought the pt in staying and helping.........not a good outcome but they had worked on her for an hour in the field.

The next day a 6 month old baby presented with boiling water burns to 40% of his body. had the community children health nurse with me so she was in the shower while I spoke to the base hospital, got med orders and organised the ambulance.

The next day a mum came in labour. packed her into an ambulance and luckily she made it to the base hospital with 2 hr to spare

the next week was slightly better but you are everything out there. Nurse practitioner, speech pathologist, OT, physio, social worker, methadone counsellor, morgue manger and tech!

It was remote and I had no car but the women that I worked with took me out to their farms and lent me their cars from time to time.

The local supermarket was a bit dodgy by Thursday for fresh food!

The pay was great and the staff and community were very friendly.

But 3 months was enough for me. I like the multi disciplinary team and trauma patients

I did have plently of dates with farmers though!

LG1137 · Jan 10, 2010

AWESOME!

imsodizzy · Jan 11, 2010

I worked in a remote/rural care hospital. A whole 19 beds. That was including a Birthing Unit. ICU. Acute and respite.
I can totally say without hesitation that it was the most fantastic time of my life.
The experience you can gain is second to none.
At the hospital I was at, the Nurse's were a Jack of All Trades and the first port of call before the Doctor was called.
So were were responsible for Triaging & treating all Cas patient's. The Doctor was called ONLY if needed.
If he couldn't be contacted, he loved his fishing, we admitted the patient's and started appropriate treatment until the Doctor could be contacted. So were were also Nurse Practioners in a way.
Then we ran the CSD Department. Set up & assisted in OP/Theatre with the Doc. Were Radiologist's. Pathologist's and Specialist's in Wound Clinic.
And that was on top of our other duties.
I highly recommend the experience even if it's turns out not to be your cup of tea.

Wow that sounds awesome!

amandapink · Jul 25, 2011

Interesting what you all say. I'm here ready to go and work in the outback but finding I'm spending a lot of time on the internet trying to get leads. Leads to sites, potential jobs etc. I have aged care and management experience most recently but would love to get some neonatal experience too. I'm looking for 3 month placements initially.....Can someone lead me to a good site or agency.

Thanks

amandapink · Jul 25, 2011

Thanks for that, how did you organise the work? I think I'm pretty good with the computer but some of these sites just want to send me straight back to a job in NZ. I'm hoping this forum can fast track me to where I need to be.

K+MgSO4, BSN · Jul 25, 2011

neonates are lifted to at least the base hospitals if not the city. Just go onto any of the nursing agencies and contact them

carolmaccas66, BSN, RN · Jul 26, 2011

hi,
i'm interested in spending some time (years) working in the australian outback in southern australia. does anyone know how or where to get imformation to get started? my area of specialty is adult critical care. i've been working in a medical icu for 5 years in new york.
thanks,
stacie

here's some info i typed up a while back. these are some of the main agencies. all these agencies as far as i know do rural contracts.

nursing agencies, australia

hendercare - http://www.hendercare.com.au/

mediserve - http://mediserve.com.au/

drake, australia - http://www.drakeintl.com/au/home.aspx

ramsay health care - http://www.ramsayhealth.com.au/default.aspx. they operate many private hospitals all around australia, employment info is on their website.

st john of god (for perth, wa) - http://www.sjog.org.au/. sjog also has hospitals in other states and territories as well.

** ** ** ** ** **

hmns (health management - www.hmns.net.au/[color=#0e774a] (for south australia and country regions).

nursewest (control all the public hospitals and recruitment through nursing agencies for all of western australia) - www.nursing.health.wa.gov.au/nursewest/index.cfm

[color=#0e774a]nasa, nursing agency of south australia - http://nasansb.com.au/[color=#0e774a]. on this site, there is a site for international nurses to visit. also down the bottom, it lists all the other main nursing agencies for other states and territories. you can click on them for more info.

good luck, hope this helps.

carolmaccas66, BSN, RN · Jul 26, 2011

interesting what you all say. i'm here ready to go and work in the outback but finding i'm spending a lot of time on the internet trying to get leads. leads to sites, potential jobs etc. i have aged care and management experience most recently but would love to get some neonatal experience too. i'm looking for 3 month placements initially.....can someone lead me to a good site or agency.
thanks

g'day, try these agencies: