neeke816

Thank you very much for your reply. If I can talk for myself little more ABout the label - I told the pt's nurse that the antibiotic is done, and I put NS flush in the burrett, and take off the med label whenever the flush is done, since there are some meds in the burrett, and I don't want someone put some another IV meds in that burrett before the flush is done, and that's how I learned at the school. Asprin- It was wrong that I forgot to put "pt refused", but she didn't have any fever at that time, and I don't think it doesn't deserve a shout infront of people calling me lazy. Anyway thank you for your opinion, have a good day.

It was a night shift with one Chinese senior nurse, me, and a casual nurse from another unit. The Chinese seinor nurse has been working for our unit about 5 yrs and famous for her dominant personality. She was picking up every thing I've done during the night shift. For example, 1) she was calling me why I didn't organized pt 28's chart,and I'm not doing my job,so I told her because she is not my pt, and I've never had that pt. She never apologized at all. 2) she picked up my handwriting and telling me that my "mg" doesn't look like "mg", and it could be a big deal. I agree with her that it could be a big deal, but "mg" was the only measuring unit on that chart, so you can't be confused with "mcg" or "g" , and I don't think my "mg" wasn't too bad comparing to some other nurses' or doctors' writing. 3) A casual nurse's pt's antibiotic was done, I heared the IV was beeping, but it needed to be flushed with NS, so I put 100 ml of NS, but didn't take the medcine lable off from the burette. I just told the casual nurse that pt's antibiotic was done, and I put 100ml of NS to flush, so she could take off the label after the flush, and she said thank you. However later on, the senior nurse was shouting at me why I didn't take the label off, and it made her confused. I told her that I already talked to the pt's nurse about it, but she looked quite angry at me that I didn't tell the charge nurse about it. 4) It was napping time, and I asked the senior nurse whether she will take her break and use blanket, and she said no. So I told her that I will dump everything in the linen bag after I use it, and I did. Later on, she was shouting at me that I dumped the only blanket that we had our unit, and because of that she can't take her break. She looked really angry, so I just went to another ward and get her blanket, and she said she is too busy to take her break. 5) After I took my break, I came back to our unit, and I just sat about 3 mins, then the senior nurse was talking to me why I don't check my pts immediately when I got back to the unit. She was telling me that about one yr ago, a nurse didn't check the pt for 5hrs, and the pt got a cardiac arrest and died. I checked everyone's vital sign before I took my break, and I do check my pt at least every 1-2 hrs, so I told her so, but she was telling me that that's not good enough for her. 6) I put my feet on the chair. It was just me and her, and my legs were killing me, and she told me not to do it infront of her because it's unprofessional. I even saw other nurses taking a nap, cutting their nails, and watching movies. 7) I asked her whether she needs any help. I just tried to be nice to her, but she was "Stop asking me!! If I need help then I will tell you!!!" Besides she never answered other pt's call but hers only, and the other nurse was new and unexperienced plus hard of hearing with her hearing aid, and she couldn't give meds by herself. So, I was running everytime whenever pts call or IV beeps. I didn't say anything, and did my best to be polite, but I couldn't hold it anymore when this happened. 8) The other casual nurse's pt was confused lady and I tried to give her scheduled aspirin but she spitted it out several times. It was 0600 and my other pts were calling me, so I asked the nurse about the pt's temp, and it was fine. So I meant to put "pt refused" on the chart, but I got busy, and she wasn't my pt, so I forgot. About 30 mins later, pt got 38.0 fever, and the casual nurse told the senior nurse, and she was shouting at me why I don't do my job. And that was it, I couldn't hold anymore. I gave pt's aspirin and went to a bathroom and cried, but AM staff and my manager saw me and asked me what happened. I was emotionally and physically wiped out, so I rambled little bit, but couldn't explain it quite logically. I just told my manager that I don't mind working with that nurse and I don't have any problem with her. I feel like I should go to my manager and explain it better. I talked to the casual nurse and she told me that she will back up me, just in case my senior nurse talk something against the truth. Am I harrassed at work??? I just feel so terrible and incompetent, since she was shouting at me that I'm not doing my job right whenever she had a chance.

Hello fellow nurse sisters I feel so embarrased to share this story, but I can't stop thinking. I was helping a young male patient to take a shower. He was washing himself, and I was just helping his back, but suddenly he grabbed the towel, covered the area, and told me that he has something. I didn't see or realize anything until he told me so. I just told him that it's okay and will bring a male nurse to help. I left the shower and brought the male nurse to finish the job. I took care of him until the end of my shift. I know that it was out of his control, and he was apologetic, but I feel like I got harrased somehow and can't stop thinking about my behavior. I try to be nice and sweet to my patients, but I don't do anything special to male patients. I'm not sure and kinda feel down... Any thoughts or sharing???

Thank you very much again, Ceridwyn. Luckily I can apply to 175 independent working visa by myself, so no need for sponsorship in hurry. I might get a job from agency. I think I would be more comfortable with agency nursing after getting more experience, but if I have to choose between nursing home and agency, I think agency would be better to get a med/surg job in the future. Sorry for my mistakes about the public and private hospitals, I was bit confused after sending so many resumes to hospitals. I did sent some more to rural area hospitals, I hope I can get any med/surg nursing job. Anyway, thank you very much for your advise again.

Thank you very much for your reply Cerdwyn. I did apply to all those private hospitals like St. Vincent, Alfred, and etc, but most of them even didn't send me a reply other than auto alert mail, and I got no interviews at all. I got some agencies, but most of agencies said their clients would not hire any foreign nurses who doesn't have at least 3 years experience. I am just so scard of not getting a job at all. I just got a couple of agencies that they might find me a job in rural area in Australia, but that's it other than this nursing home interview. I am still googling jobs at careerone.com and other job search engines and send my resume, but no replies at all. I got my working holiday visa and told them I am eligible to apply to 175 by myself, but most of agencies and hospitals just turnned away from me because I don't have 3 years experience as I said. Am I doing something wrong?? Is it better if I move to Australia and do my job search face to face???

Hello. I am a USA RN who is real trying hard to move to Australia and get a job. I have sent at least 100 of resumes and got very few positive answers. Most of them asked me to get 1-2 more years experience in med/surg nursing(I have only one year of med/surg nursing career in the USA so far), and some of them said they prefer to hire local nurses. Finally I got my first interview with agency who is doing aged care which I assume a nursing home. A nursing home is good, I think it would be great experience, since I have to learn so much as a baby nurse, and it seems like they are able to sponsor me for my visa which is even greater. My fear is that I might not have any more chances to go back to a hospital and work as a med/surg nurse after working as a nursing home nurse (No offense for any nursing home nurses. I just love med/surg too much). Ever since I got in this field, med/surg has been my passion, and I really do want to go back to a hospital and work as a med/surg nurse. I am also afraid of nursing home nursing, since I don't have that much experience in geriatric nursing. My plan is working at the nursing home about 1 year and getting my permanent residency in Australia, then apply to a med/surg hospital job only if I can pass the interview and get the job. Please give me some advices for my decision, fellow Australian nurses!!! Also I would appreciate any nursing home interview tips!!!!

Thank you so much, bobby123!!! I do love to move to a big city, but I don't mind a small city as long as I can find a fulltime med/surg job and get a greencard. I really do appreciate your help and support!!!

K+MGS4/Ceridwyn- Thanks for your reply, but I already do have NZ RN license too. I think I will shoot for OZ first then, try NZ if I can't find any luck in OZ. Bobby 123- I have a 4year bachelor degree. I went to Johns Hopkins University in US. Do you know which region is better to find a job in Australia? I really don't mind any area in OZ. Thanks!!! Rachi 321- I didn't buy a ticket yet since I am waiting to get my working holiday visa. I don't know much about open ended ticket, sorry. My registraion process was fairly easy, only because I already got my NZ license before I applied to AHPRA, so I could get OZ license fairly easy under the transtazman treaty. My initial RN application to NZ was lots of papers, and I think it took about 3months. Let me know if there is anything I can help you!!

Hello, I'm a USA nurse with one year experience of general med/surg unit. I'm planning to move to Australia or New Zealand in this upcoming August. I already got my RN license from AHPRA. I hope I can get some tips to find a job in OZ and NZ. I do love to move to melbourne, but it really doesn't matter as long as I can find a job.

Hi, I have one little question here. What kind of nursing scrubs do you guys wear? I heard that most of Australian hospital let you wear their uniform, so you don't have to buy your own like I do in USA. And do you guys wear any skirt uniform??? Just curious!!!

Again, thank you very much for all your great responses!!! nursegirl 62- I got my BSN from USA and have lived in USA for 5 yrs, but I'm not an American, but a Korean, so I think I would not encounter such a racial misunderstanding. I might not be free from some racial problems, but at least people would not see me as an American with my Korean passport. I really appreciate your down to earth advices, I will keep them in my mind, though.

Thank you guys for such a great information!!! K+MgSO4- thank you very much for your info!!! I will contact the international recruiter!!! usatooaus- I'm so sorry, but I actually applied to New Zealand RN license first, so I applied under Trans Tasman treaty when I applied to Australia RN license with NZ RN license. I can tell you that it took about 2 months to be a RN in New Zealand with my USA RN license if this can help you. I did everything by myself without any company or agency. It is really eash, just files of papers to prepare. yes, AHPRA is the new Australian one united nursing board. I hope this can help you. Good luck with your adventure!!! talaxandra- Thank you sooooo much for your detailed information!! I was surprised that Australian hosptial doesn't have respiratory therapist or CNAs!!! I guess I would learn a lot when I move to Australia!!!

Hello fellow nurses!!! I'm a USA RN with 1 yr med/surg experience. I already got Australia RN license and passed ANMAC's skill assessment for immigration!!! I'm planning to move to a big city in Australia in this August, such as Melbourne, Adelaid, and Sydney. So far, Melbourne is my favorite choice, I heard Melbourne is really a jewel of Australia!!! I'm planning to get a working holiday visa first, then get 885 visa for a greencard. I need any advices to find a job in Melbourne!!! I would appreciate any kind of comments or help!!! I will be happy as a goose as long as I can find a full time job in any kind of med/surg unit!!! Also, it would be great if I can get any advices about the life in Melbourne, such as finding a flat to live!!! Thanks!!!!

I just appreciate all of you guys sweet and kind support!!! Yes, I had a hell night, and yes, I'm still blaming myself and little bit afraid of going back to work, but I guess this experience can make me a stronger nurse!!!!! I still like Med/surg, even though it could make your nights little miserable sometimes, I do like to communicate with my pts and help them... Anyway, god bless you all, you guys really helped me to get through this!!! ps. One small question about HIPPA, since my other nursing friend is frantic about this. I din't use any of real pt's name or any specific clues that you can guess pt's identity, so I think my thread is nothing against HIPPA, but my friend was worrying about it. I think I didn't violate any HIPPA, but just want to check...

To deftonez 188 & Mrs SnowstromRN I utterly appreciate your support and kind words. I'm still bit intimidated and disappointed by myself, but I guess time is the best remedy for everything. I will just work out hard, watch some good comedy movies, sleep good, and go back to work tomorrow!!! I definitely learnt a lot from this experience, and I hope I would be a stronger nurse!!!