Djuna

Oh sweety, wait til you've been around as an RN before passing judgment on me. You have no clue what you're talking about.

JKL33, thank you for your post. I appreciate the dispassionate outside view. I admit, I am angry. I am an overseas RN and in my country this phenomena is not as widespread. I thought I could facilitate change but I am obviously wrong. Your post has made me rethink things a bit. Again, thank you.

Oops. I meant I am at a point.

Thank you RN-Cardiac for your post. We dispense starter packs which consist of up to 6 tablets depending what the drug is, because we have no 24 hour Pharmacies in this State. Sometimes when Drs don't want to write a 'script they will give s starter pack to take home. I am certainly feeling the lack of power we RNs really have.

Thank you HiHoCherry-O and BabyLady for your posts. The contract sounds like a great plan. We have people on pain contracts from their PCP yet the ED Providers still give narcotics. BabyLady your points are very valid and I realise this is the stumbling block. As an RN I hand out starter packs of narcotics and I personally feel it is a breach of my ethical standards to be complicit in actually providing drugs. It is a huge problem when Drs do not want to confront a patient and say "No". A while back we had a drug seeker receive a starter pack of Percocet and was witnessed selling it in the parking lot. The Police got involved and it was all documented. He came back the next day and was given another starter pack. If the Medical Director isn't on board with wanting to control this epidemic then I guess as an RN I can do nothing it would appear.

If you can't answer my specific question then please don't respond. I'm not interested on a debate on who needs narcotics for chronic pain. I am interested in helping our community address the prescription drug problem and ways our ED can control the wanton prescribing of narcotics.

The ED where I work is inundated with drug seekers as I assume all US EDs are. I have brought to my Managers attention numerous people who are frequent fliers, but nothing is ever done about it. I am not at the point where I want some serious questions answered and some changes made to our narcotic prescribing policy but I am unsure how to go about it. Does anyone have any ideas? Medical Board, the media, higher management? Who would I speak to?

And perhaps your time would be better spent providing answers to questions you DO know something about instead of attacking me. Don't bother replying thanks.

I already have my Vermont license, I have been working here for 18 months so that didn't apply to me and doesn't help me whatsoever with my original question.

I didn't require the CES report to obtain my Vermont license. I had my transcript sent from NZ to Vermont and they oked my qualification. I sat NCLEX and that was it.

Then I don't need VisaScreen at all because I already have PR. I'm trying to figure where else I can work other than Vermont. Anyway I'm just being lazy, I am perfectly capable of going to every BON and checking their requirements.

I am an foreign trained RN working in Vermont. Are there any other states that I can work in that don't require CGFNS or VisaScreen? I did look at the Compact License website but I don't think a compact license allows me to bypass the CGFNS or VisaScreen.

I would recommend Middlemore Hospital personally. I trained there and worked there and it had a very progressive work environment, however Auckland City Hospital would be closer and more convenient for you. You would more than likely be on Step 2 and the starting salary is $48,238. Here is the link to the Collective Agreement where you will find all the information you require, eg pay rates, penal rates, conditions, etc http://www.nzno.org.nz/LinkClick.aspx?fileticket=Ri%2b7C27Uh0k%3d&tabid=436

The cost of living in New Zealand is a lot more than Australia. Wages for nurses are less in New Zealand than Australia. I have lived in both countries and by far Australia offered a better standard of living. You won't get a job in either country as an RN with absolutely no experience.

You can quote those figures however I know from experience working in NZ and Australia that the wages are higher in NSW. You also mentioned cost of living. I don't know where you are getting your information from but cost of living in Australia is much more affordable that almost anywhere in NZ. Have you not read the NZ Herald lately stating that more people are moving to Australia than ever before.