debbieuk

Practice Nursing is a different stress to hospitals- you maybe the only nurse there and have to use your own judgement. For me (a practice nurse/ ex hospital nurse) the pay is appalling!!! If you need money don't go to GPLand, the unions don't care and every practice pays differently. If you are happy where you are- stay

We had one from the UK come to our hospital and it wasn't recognised. A bit like ODPs. Didn't even get him a CN position I would thing a post grad cert in peri op would be more beneficial here.

I love the teamwork..I love the fact that my patient has come to us with a problem and we fix it..no long stays. The AMAZING things that surgeons can do.,still have my chin on the floor some days!! It never gets boring... the constant change in knowledge and techniques.. i am from the UK and now in Australia and RNs scrub and scout..and when needed recover..so we are always changing and learning....wouldnt do anything else xx

It all depends on what visa you are after.. you can get a job and a 457 visa with a years experience but a permanent visa wants 2 years experience ...many get jobs on 457s and then apply for an onshore permanent visa later.

YES YES YES.. Nursing is worth it!! On my very first prac years ago a nurse told me to run away..i was horrified..i was there to help people..to follow my vocation/ passion ect ect...hahaha..oh times have changed !! I have shite days as does EVERY JOB!!! you have to work to pay bills - fact of life.. but i can HONESTLY say that i still enjoy going to work...i work with some strong personalities (O.R) the joy of nursing is that there is an area for everyone..it is a diverse career choice...i hated Aged care and medical...loved community and theatres...give it a go...you might just love it..... And Go Victoria !!!!!!!! Good on ya!

sorry about that....bit of local slang debbie

thanks for that...just been and had my pot off...chuff it feels strange start physio end this week and i have to wearan air splint for the next 6 weeks.. debbie

hi all, i am an OR nursein the UK, scrub and circulate and i have broken my ankle..i have a fractured fibula and a bimalleollar fracture i had an ORIF and ended up with a 10 hole plate and 12 screws in all... my worry is that as an ortho nurse will i be able to tolorate lead? my surgeon has said i will be off work for at least 12 weeks (i am 5 wks in and going mad!) but in such a busy environment will this cause a problem to my long term future in a field i love dont know if any ofyou have done this or know some one who has but any advice would be great thanks a VERY bored non weight bearing nurse debbie

hi, i have been qualified for a year now and i also went straight into the OR. we had a 6 month induction and 6 month consolidation and by God you need it! i went through all the things you are going through but all i can say is stick with it it WILL GET BETTER. i have gone from the person in the corner scared to get in the way to scrubbing for a total hip (yesterday) i do trauma and on call now and feel part of a team. there is still downsides for example one surgeon will not accept that people have to learn and will expect new staff to be as good/fast as an experienced nurse which can cause problems but thankfully our senior staff are very good at supporting you. at 6 months in i seriously thought about giving up and that i was not suited to the OR but after talking to other people it seems that it is a common occurance..... so stick with it and you will be fine hope this helps debbie

hi, in the UK we also don't have pregnant women anywhere near cement debbie

i would like to wish you all a wonderful christmas and a happy new year. good luck in whatever ventures you are undertaking next year see you all in 2007 :smiley_aa :loveya: debbie :santa3: :reindeer:

blood, guts, bones, smells, aching feet, a bad back, lead gowns, never finishing on time, and politics......... great team work, fasinating surgery, good pay, patient care like no where else and something different every day.... i would not do anything else I LOVE IT debbie

hi, i dont know if this is the same thing as i am not sure of your terminology but in the UK we have operating department practioners whos main job is to assist the anaesthetist. the maintain the machines and are responsible f or the anaesthetic room. they assist with induction/rapid sequence anything really that the anaesthetist would need help with. they also respond to crash calls and the maternity units for help with epidurals and c-sections ect. they can also scrub and circulate if they wish to come over to the surgery side (but most dont) they are accredited and certified and i really wouldnt want an untrained one having patient contact and doing this sort of stuff. debbie

hey all just had to post this ..... as yoou know if you have read my other posts that i was joining the ortho or team and was very nervous .... BUT I LOVE IT!!!!!! the team are great (apart from GOD, sorry i mean one surgeon who thinks he is but thats another story). the work is amazing and really challenging but i get it. also we now have 5 new starters in our department so i am no longer the most junior staff member and my, what a difference it makes. i am now treated as a fully fledged member of staff. i am most often scrubbed but also i am second qualified in a or now which means i am the most senior circulator. an now i am able to use my own initiative everything is falling into place. just wanted to let you know so that other newly qualifieds can know that there is a light at the end of the tunnel and yes it can seem a long and painful road but it is so worth it in the end keep smiling Debbie

think i am gonna have to try and take my own advice now, i was told yesterday that i have to go to orthopeadics (or awfulpeadics as it is commonly known here) aaaaahhhhhhh!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! i have finished my 6months in general surgery and was getting to the point that i was happy with my work settled into the team and did the odd bit of ENT and MAX FAX ans the general and thaese are the same team, but awfulpeadics i just don't know, they have the worst surgeons and overrunning lists you are lucky if you get home before 7pm some days and the politics are horrendous in there. but..... the operations are fantastic, the first time i saw a hip being dislocated for a replacement i nearly passed out! i remember standing there as a student with my chin on the floor as i couldn't believe some of the things they where doing , i hope i still feel the same. i love the OR i really do but i have the feeling that i am going to be tested soon..... wish me luck debbie