SmithH75

hehehe.. forgot to say as a reply to Q5.. the food is always awful and many patients go home malnourished as the hospitals contract out to companies who can feed and provide meals at the cheapest cost. There have been studies done in UK about weight loss in long stay wards. As a result of poor diet and eating, wound infection, constipation etc, etc. Patients stay longer and the cycle starts again. I really don't think any country has it right, in NZ and in UK both have the option of 'going private' and have standard operations done quicker, for example hip replacements, knee arthroscopy etc. A friend of mine had private medical cover from his job, he got spinal cancer, saw a consultant, had MRI scans done, blood test etc all with his private insurance, and it cost a lot of money in £ - but when it came to chemotherapy he ended up on the ward with all the other 'regular' patients, as his private hospital didn't provide chemo. Many people that can't afford to have private cover call it 'queue jumping' as people see the consultant and take his time up privately and then he can't work so many hours in the 'public hospitals'. Also it's been known that a patient will pay just for private consultation and then have the surgery done in public hospital by that consultant. I could ramble on about this for ages but I must get ready for work. It's a beautiful sunny day and I really don't feel like going. :) - need to pay the bills somehow!

I think it's funny how some people call it pseudoscience - most NZ or Uk people call it complimentary therapy!!

Come and visit NZ - you will fall in love with this place; it's a fantastic place to live and work. The pace of life is slow and relaxed, and the people are very friendly. I have never felt stressed at work. Each hospital is very different; both islands are very different. If you love walking, the outdoors, skiing, beaches, and lakes, come here. On the other hand - if you have a close family and lots of friends, think very seriously. New Zealand is very expensive to leave once you are here, it is an island, and you can't drive anywhere! I am saying this because I come from the UK; NZ was my dream; I did my nursing diploma purely to get me here, we've lived here for five years, and I really really miss my family. My Dad had cancer last year, and I couldn't afford to fly home to be with him (luckily, he's OK now). All my friends I grew up with and have a history with are all still going out together, celebrating birthdays, and getting together with their kids - and although having Skype and cellphone helps, some days it would just be good to go and meet up with my Mum for a coffee in town! I have had the best experiences of my life here, and when I talk to nursing friends back home, they are so very stressed out with work. Work isn't everything, it is a huge part of your day, but for me, I need support and family. You have to weigh everything up. Come and visit, don't just sell up and move out like I did. I have had a fantastic time here; I've traveled the whole country, my two boys are born here, and I love working here; we've got some good friends, but for me, my family is my everything, and now I am planning on leaving. But also the flights to the USA aren't as far as the UK. (I guess it depends on where you're from) Good luck with your plans. I hope I haven't made you feel down - as my Dad always says, 'the grass isn't always greener!' For me, it was for a while!

Wow, you've asked a lot of deep questions here - I guess it's going to be people's own personal opinions. There are quite a few nurses in NZ and Oz that have lived and worked overseas which gives a greater understanding of 'world' nursing opinions. I am from the UK, did my training there, but then only worked for one year as a newly qualified nurse. I then came to NZ and found things very different here. I don't really know anything about Australia. My Mum is and ANNP in UK and she fills me in about the NHS, their new grading system for nursing pay, government 'target times' etc. She just did a prescribing course too. As far as I know there are only a few ANP s in NZ working in the big teaching hospitals. I know that some independent midwives can prescribe too. For your question number 1 - I personally think that having a central or national healthcare system gives people 'peace of mind', they know that in an accident or illness they don't have to worry about insurance, bills and they will get the same treatment as the next patient. As a nurse you're not having to 'suck up' and be nice to Patient A because they have health insurance and are paying a lot of money. My brother lives in Indiana and has lost his job, also his health insurance, he has Von Willebrands disease, fell over cut himself and couldn't afford to go to ER. I think that really sad. When I lived in CO my friend broke her wrist and before we could even speak to anyone the receptionist was checking out the insurance details, and my poor friend was in lots of pain - they made us wait until the company called back and said yes she could be seen. Some people abuse the national system though and then because of that, there isn't enough funding and resources for all the treatments we'd like to give. They call ambulances when it's really not an emergency and people use the ER like a family doctor clinic, etc etc. Like most 'businesses' people want to make money, cut corners, reduce spending and have huge profits - it must be tricky being at the top and juggling the numbers - I guess that's why I nurse and not work in HR. The few American doctors I have ever worked with say they love the fact in NZ people aren't looking at how they can sue you, they say the patients appreciate the care you give them - they don't 'expect it', as I think paying a high insurance cost I'd expect a certain level of care and attention. People that have been brought up knowing that there is 'free' healthcare are always shocked to hear how much operations and treatments really cost the hospital or 'tax payer'. I like the National Healthcare system personally I think it keeps things 'fair'. In England the government have set target times and dates which puts a lot of pressure on nurses and managers but is supposed to have better outcome for the patients, like less waiting time in ER and shorter time to be seen and assessed for cancer treatments. With NZ being a small country we have a national database for the patients records - which is good in an ER situation for assessing drug seekers or child abuse cases. You could look up peoples information from different towns. I personally don't like this system, it could be open to breeches in confidentiality. But then when you stop a child being hit or wounded again it's worth it. Sorry if I rambled on. Good luck with your research.

Hello. Yes, I worked in a small chemotherapy unit and one of my patients was having Iridology. He said it relieved some of his cancer symptoms. It never cured his cancer though. He felt he was doing something to 'help himself' by following advice they gave, and I am sure by him feeling more positive this helped his outcome and mood. I'm sure if I had cancer I would be trying everything out there (that I could afford!!!).

Hello, Have you ever worked in palliative areas? You could volunteer for a short time first. I had a grand idea I wanted to be an orthopedic nurse - throughout my training I got to like bones less and less! I worked in Chemotherapy for a short time and loved it - cancer nursing is where my heart is. Strange because now I am back in A&E! For me, having a dream and goal keeps me going. Good luck with your studies. :)

Hi, It's kind of complicated - I have a brother in Indiana, he married American girl, they have two kids, I lived in Colorado before for three winters as me and my husband are really keen snowboarders - we came to NZ to snowboard, did for 3 years then had kids. I feel differently now, I want my kids to grow up nearer family, for Christmases etc. We're hoping to move to Vermont, my brother is thinking of moving there too, and it's only one flight from UK not 4! I am not a materialistic person, how much money I make doesn't matter, but I just want money to buy flights if I need to see family - sadly my Dad had rectal cancer last year and I couldn't afford to fly back to see him - he's fine now, but it made me realise that life is too short to sit and moan about missing family - I've got to do something about it. The UK is very over populated, no mountains and a very fast pace, plus the weather is often grey. We really love all things outdoors. I am sure we'll get to Vermont and for me I still won't see family enough - my poor husband just wants to settle but I've always got itchy feet! New Zealand is a beautiful place, but just not quite right for me at this time.

I suppose like most people I want to pass so badly. I am very homesick at the moment - not for the UK but for my family - I am so poor in NZ and can't afford the things I came here to do, also flights out are very. very expensive and very long. I want to be nearer for my family to come and visit. I have made my mind up to leave, my husband is so upset he loves NZ, but doesn't get on with his family, so not such a big deal. I feel there's a lot of pressure to pass - and I have to fly to Australia to take the exam too - so there's cost involved. I guess just study, study and study is the key. Like you both said, experience doesn't really help - I've had to go right back to basics and start with Microbiology - makes me wonder how I passed in the UK!!!! Well, suppose I should hit the books now while my kids are napping! Thanks for the advice.:)

Thank you both for the replies - I have been reading some of the NCLEX forums - a lot of people failing up to 3 times! I can't get that out of my head. Where I live is a small place and no good book shops - when I was training I'd go into book shops and flick through the books to see the layout and which ones had 'good flow'. Yes Silverdragon, I know about the retrogression, I am not in any position to leave just yet, I just want to be ready when it is lifted - I've got a house to sell, dogs to quarantine and kids to prepare!!! Oh and a husband!! I'll have a look at amazon today and order something. Thanks.

I forgot to say I trained in England and did one year in an A&E dept in UK before moving to NZ.

Hello, I am originally from UK, but have been nursing in NZ for the last 5 years. I am now wanting to move to the States and need to study and take NCLEX exam. Is there anyone else studying or has taken the exam I can message with? I just don't know where to begin.. calculations, drug names, etc, etc. What books or online courses should I try? My local library is useless, and at the moment I don't know whether to spend the money on Kaplan course. Please help. Thanks:)

Hello All, I am so happy to be reading this blog... I am a nurse from the UK and moved to NZ nearly 6 yrs ago, i have two boys aged 1yr and 2.5 yrs. I am so very homesick for my family, but don't want to move back to the UK, but live nearer to my family (takes about 30hrs flight time in total to see my parents) so my husband has finally agreed to move to Vermont. We know nothing about this state, just small bits of info from Google (we lived for 3 ski seasons in Colorado before I started nursing), so I know some stuff about USA - but it's great to read how beautiful it is and about the weather. (oh and one of my brothers lives in IN with his wife and two kids) I was wondering if anyone had time to communicate with me about hospitals and services in Vermont, what kind of specialities it has, being a winter sport state does it have a lot of Orthopedic hospitals/ facilities? I am currently working in a small ER in the north island of NZ - but I don't think I want to do ER forever. My heart is with cancer patients. Is schooling good in Vermont? Are the people friendly? Is housing expensive? Wish me luck for the NCLEX. H.

what everyone is trying to say is... yes, it's the same difficulty! the exam you will have to take is the same for every state you apply for. it's the license you apply for that is different, once you have passed the exam. Are you going with an agency? what did they recommend?

Hello, I am in the very early stages of trying to get to the USA. I have been living and working for the last 5 years in NZ, i came here with an agency, they do all the leg work for you and negotiate a good contract, help with visas etc. I was trying to go it alone but it's too hard for the USA, it gets too confusing. The form I used for the theory hours is from the nursing agency (Avant), I don't think there is an official form, I found out today they didn't fill in my clinical hours, but I have those on the back of the placement booklets. Just keep a diary of your placements. If you have a plan or dream, just go for it, it will be worth the frustrations and paperwork - it was a mission to get to NZ, I really did feel like giving up, there seemed to be too many hurdles. Yesterday I did an online NCLEX mini test and sadly i only got 14/25 - I'll just have to do lots and lots of study - I will get there!!! Good luck. H.

Hello, I am not sure if you got your information eventually from the UCE... only just found this site, so this reply may not apply anymore - I have just sent a form off to the UCE as part of the requirement for entry to the USA too, they have filled it in and given breakdown of theory hours and types. I am going through a recruitment agency, I sent a letter along side it stating my student number and personal tutor ( - I trained 2000-2003), if you think it might help I could email you the form. Good Luck with it all. Heidi.