akatsos

Definintely take the peds job. I have been a peds traveler for 4 years. I work with a few agencies, and they all know that they are not my only recruiter. I get along with all of them, but I have to take the opportunity that is best for me. There was one recruiter I had that I really liked, but the jobs that she submitted me for never panned out. I was just really open and honest with her and we kept in communication and 2 years later she got me a great job. I work with small agencies also that aren't salespeople. They are equally candid with me, once a recruiter told me to get submitted through my other agency because he knew that they would be able to serve me better. They all get full disclosure and treated with respect. They all tell me that many nurses they work with are rude or have high expectations or make ridiculous demands. Seeming flighty is the least of their concerns. They get it, most of their nurses are flighty. But ultimately they want to keep you around as they make commision of each assignment you make. In 3 months there will be other jobs around and you can always get submitted to other ones then.

ahh hello all, So happy that you started this new thread. Backround: I am an pediatric (or paediatric as they spell it in Australia) in the US with 5-6 years experience. I have my BSN and I have been traveling for the past 4 years. I have obtained my AHPRA registration in principle, I have obtained my work holiday visa subclass 462. I am ready to apply for jobs but I am having a really tough time! Luckily, both the AHPRA and immigration gave me 1 year to get to the country. I do not want to buy a plane ticket until I know that I have a job. Signing up for agencies and hoping for work is too large of a gamble, especially as the cities are saturated with peds nurses. I have spoken with a couple of agencies, one that I did not like. It had a website with pretty beaches and spoke of the great oppertunity and when I spoke with them they just said when you get here we'll try and get you shifts. I have been working with Geneva agency, and my recruiter kept in great contact and then all of a sudden communication has been dead for the past few weeks. Hasn't answered a single email or called my references. Now I just don't know what to do. I contacted first choice agency, and they want you to have 1000 hours of experience in Australia! I tried applying directly to hospitals. I sent in two applications for queensland health, one was an expression of interest application, and the other was to Lady Cilento, after I girl I randomly met in a bar was a current employee. I haven't heard anything back. I am kind of unsure what to do at this point. I looked into rural nursing, which houses you and some even pay for your food. It might be tough to get around without a car, but of the two people I spoke with who did it, they both had positive experiences and would recommend it. Geneva was supposed to help me out with that, but Im concerned by the lack of response? Anybody else in a similar boat? Or anybody else have trouble with the application? I ended up having to submit extra documents a few times. I have licenses in 11 states, adn they all had to send certificates of good standing. And all 5 employers had to write me letters. And every single one of them did not follow the guide I gave them for what was needed. My assigned AHPRA officer kept in EXCELLENT email commication, and was super helpful during the process. Alex

Funny, I had the same issues that you guys did.. all in Texas. I moved to Texas from Boston for 2 years to get my expirience before traveling. I worked all around the hospital (adults/peds/nicu) and ran into most issues with adults. Even at nightime the chaplain had come around and would have everybody hold hands and pray in the hallway. We had regular excorsisms performed on the floors too. I guess being an atheist myself, if you want to pray, do your thing, it doesn't bother me. But don't try and make me feel guilty for not joining your circle. A lot of patients seemed to be having crisis of faith, which isn't a situation I know how to handle, but luckily there are plenty of people who know how to help!