confuzzlement

Hello! Thank you for replying! I will dive right into some specific questions lol. First of all, what is your typical patient to nurse ratio? Are you pretty independent as a nurse would you say or do you tend to rely more on the physician's orders? Your hospital sounds a lot like my hospital! Inner city, super busy, level one trauma, teaching hospital. I guess my biggest concern is just how nurses are treated. I have some friends in other countries and apparently nursing really isn't that great of a career path everywhere. thank you for your insight!

So, I've considered immigrating to New Zealand for quite a long time now. I did an exchange trip to the Hamilton area back in high school and would love to return. I can't lie though, I am super nervous about working in another country. I work at an AMAZING hospital in the US right now. We don't necessarily have all the techno gadgets that one might find at other hospitals but we are a pretty darn good hospital, magnet, etc. I came from a TERRIBLE hospital prior to this one so I am very scared to leave, especially to go to a place where I have limited experience with the healthcare system. So I am wondering if anyone has experience or insight on how the New Zealand healthcare system compares to the US? I mean in terms of how nurses are treated, nurse to patient ratio, etc. If anyone has ever had experience at Waikato Hospital that would be amazing, as the website makes it sound like an awesome place to work but I can't find any other reviews on it. A bit about me, I have 2 years ICU background, but am currently working in an inner city ED, and plan on staying ED. Thanks guys! Keep doing the awesome stuff we do!

Flight nursing is my dream! I love ER, ICU, and CCU because it's fast-paced, independent, and I get to spend time with my patients (at least at the hospital where I'll be working). I know it's different in other areas of the country than where I live, but the hospitals here have many new grad positions listed in specialty departments. I believe it's because higher acuity areas have a higher rate of burnout, so nurses tend to start out in a specialty area but then go to med/surg or a similar area. I'll be graduating in May and have accepted a float pool position at the only Level One trauma center in our region. I was shocked to be offered the position because my cousin is a nurse out west and she told me that new grads NEVER get float positions. However, I think the hospital is treating the position as more of an internship than an actual float position, because the way they describe it I will be orienting in all the units and then placed in a home unit. I'm hoping for Neuro Trauma ICU. I think hiring tendencies really differ depending on which area of the country you live in. I've been reading some of the horror stories of new grads trying to get jobs, and that really sucks and I feel for those of you experiencing that, but it is not like that at all where I live. Hospitals are still wining and dining us here in the ol' Midwest, and most of my classmates already have jobs lined up for after graduation.