overseas nurses

joannep · Dec 25, 2003

Nurse managers here are not able to work pm's, weekends and public holidays and therefore do not qualify for penalties and earn less than associate nurse unit managers and even clinical nurse specialists. I decided long ago to stay away from being a nurse manager, the pay is not there.

nyapa, RN · Dec 29, 2003

Originally posted by jayna
If you want PR in Australian, ask the immigration officials. The NZ and Australian are toughing up their immigration laws and good on them, because mind you guys (aus/nz ) you will soon lose your national faces.
This is not right to say but its reality and scary when you look at it closely.

What is meant by "losing our national face?" Australias face was indigenous first. The Macassans were here long before the Europeans (the Yolngu word 'balanda' is very similar to the Indonesian word for the Dutch, and as I understand it means non indigenous ppl). Then the Europeans came out (I am one) but the Chinese were here very early in the piece - try the 1850s. Now we are lucky enough to have ppl from all over the world who have a lot to teach us, as well as those who were here first. I dont find it scary at all. It doesnt matter where you come from in nursing, if we are good practitioners, then we should be working together...and promoting a supportive work environment amongst us all. We have shortages in nursing...we should be welcoming everyone who can dig in with us.

Getting off my soapbox

Jacqui

nyapa, RN · Dec 29, 2003

Originally posted by rarry
I am a chinese nurse preparing for my study and work in Australia.For that,I've taken IELTS and TOEFL .Now I am applying for Permanemt residential of Australia with my husband.How about you if you are a overseas nurse who want to go to Australia? :roll

BTW best of luck rarry. Do you already have a university picked out where you are going to study?

Jacqui

ceridwyn · Dec 29, 2003

Comes to the old question:

What is an Australian?

Mind you, I was annoyed to hear that my 7 year boy who said to another boy at school "Merry Christmas" (I understand this boy was not offended) because he is not to say it as not to offend anyone. He was reprimanded in front of the whole class.!!!

Have the pollies and the education dept. gone mad. ? I am sure our immigrants do would not take offense at this greeting that has graced our country for 200 years and other countries much longer.

gwenith, BSN, RN · Dec 29, 2003

I agree C saying Merry Christmas is not offensive - they have a right to wish me a Terrific Toejam day or Happy Hopidays or whatever they believe in. Preventing somone expressing thier culture is not the way to encourage multiculturalism - instead we should embrace differences.

nyapa, RN · Dec 29, 2003

Why reprimand a child for wishing another a happy sentiment? What did the school expect him to say? And what if another child had gone up to him and wished him a happy Hanukkah or some such? Would that child have been reprimanded as well? Sounds like this school overcompensated...for what only they know

I really feel for your son

Jacqui

ceridwyn · Dec 30, 2003

Thanks for your replies. Apparently this states education policy now. Gwenith you hit the nail on the head, when you said we should embrace all customs.

I do like my children being shown and told about other countries customs and beliefs even help celebrating them, But taking Christ out of Christmas was very offensive to my son and myself. C

gwenith, BSN, RN · Dec 30, 2003

Don't worry C - I had an "incident" at work where I could not understand what a nurse was saying so I said " I am sorry I could not understand you it must have been your accent." She accused me of being racist - so I contacted the discrimination board and would you believe it - you cannot say that someone has an accent - that is a racist statement!! :eek:

I pointed out that in truth the only person who is deemed NOT to speak English with an accent is the Queen of England - hence the "Queen's English" - no go I had to write an apology.

nyapa, RN · Dec 30, 2003

is recognising that we all have accents. Another case of going overboard....and not very pleasant for you Gwenith

Jacqui

joannep · Jan 9, 2004

Heavens, no-one ever thought to apologise to my parents about their accents when we arrived in the 1960's. My father has a very heavy dutch accent, in fact according to my dear heart, he can only understand my father when he is concentrating very hard on what the old fella says, and my mother-in-law makes no attempt to understand what my father says, and ignores him (and I have lived with this situation for 20 years of marriage).

StuPer · Jan 17, 2004

Sorry to hear about your 'incident' gwenith, really the PC crowd have gone mad.... I come from the UK originally, I have a tendency to talk fast when explaining things I'm passionate about. I cannot count the number of people who've asked me to slow down so they can understand me.... now if people can lose track of my pommie accent, how can others be offended by being asked to enunciate slowly.

At the end of the day if you speak English, surely you either need to speak it clearly enough for others to understand, or you accept that some people will need clarification.

It is'nt a matter of racism, disrespect, or insult... it is simply a matter of understanding.... and in the field we all work in, a break down in understanding can have terminal consequences. Accents are another aspect of understanding, if your spoken English has a strong accent, how can you universally expect others to understand, and not seek clarification if they cannot comprehend what your saying..... beggars belief....

regards StuPer

Elenisiliel · Jan 19, 2004

Hello All, from currently rainy southern California! :) I am a newly licensed LVN (recovering from the agonizing two week and a half week wait for my test results to arrive...), and am looking into moving overseas to start my career. However, I am having a bit of trouble understanding the degree translations from America to Australia... I know in Canada, I would be considered an RNA (which I believe they got rid of??), in the UK I would be either an NVQ Level 3 or an RN Grade D (just guessing from the job descriptions...), but I can't quite understand how it would convert in Australia?

Any help or advice would be most welcome!! :)

Thanks so much!! :)