Dude1

I took Chemistry at a California community college and it was in no way "dumbed down". I learned an incredible amount, and my instructor was the best I have had at any school (I have 2 bachelor degrees). No shame in going to a CC!!!

Sure, first name is Mark. In ER it depends where you are working for number of patients, In RESUS you would typically have 2 beds, in acute 4, in an area where low acuity patients are being observed usually 6. On med /surg wards 6 patients is the norm. I did do an agency shift once at a private hospital and once had 14!!! A Nurse had called in sick and they didn't replace them. There are Nurse Practitioners here, but the Doctors here are fighting like crazy to discredit them and eliminate any potential competition, but numbers are slowly growing. I am beginning a Nurse Practitioner's course in September. there are no PA's although the military here is trying to get them introduced as they have a doctor shortage. Happy to answer any more questions you may have!!

I hold a Bachelor's of Nursing Science. This is the requirement for registration. The degree stream is slightly different in that in the USA where one does the core subject plus electives from other areas of study. In Australia you do just subjects for the relevant discipline. (I have also previously attended college in the USA holding a liberal arts degree) The Course is 3 years long then you do a 1 year "post grad" clinical. Nursing itself is pretty much the same, however there are no techs, PA's etc. There are Enrolled Nurses also who are LVN equivs. Any ongoing education is generally at your own cost. There are Continuing education requirements for Registration, but this was only introduced last year. To be considered for a management position, you need a Masters. Patient load can be higher than most US hospitals. Public hospitals usually give you better nurse-patient ratios and pay better than private hospitals. On average, working full time you'll make 70-100K a year, but the cost of living is a bit higher than in the US.I have been a Nurse for 11 years. I work in Emergency, which is usually full on with the same problems as the USA, such as non urgent patients waiting hours and hours, the ER getting full because there are no beds on wards to move them out to, patients using the ER as a doctors office. Australia has national health care, and public hospitals offer free care, but your local Doctor is not free and charges through the nose, so ER's get many patients who are there because they can't afford to go to the Doctor. There are some cultural considerations. Pretty much the same as in the US. However, Australia is NOT very multi cultural, something like 90% of the population is Caucasian of European decent. The biggest cultural difference is with the indigenous aborignal population. They live in some appalling poverty, worse than anything Ive seen in the USA, and have numerous chronic conditions form a very young age, along with malnourishment and often substance abuse issues. This group would present the biggest challenge. If you need any more elaboration, please ask!

I'm in Australia, what do you want to ask?

If your agency is messing you around with pay..sign up with another. There are plenty out there to chose from. I found my agency was paying me wrong, so I switched..easy!