nd1960

Thank you for your replies. It certainly looks like the cost of living and house prices are inexpensive and there is a variety of leisure activities. I am interested in the comments regarding the violence in the city, so perhaps people could let me know the better areas to live in and I can look them up on a map. Also, could you please let me know the working conditions, staff ratios, etc of the facilities mentioned. Thanks again, Neil

Hi there, Thanks for taking the time to reply. I look forward to receiving more information from you, classes permitting thanks Neil

G'daye, I am an australian trained nurse currently working in the community in the area of psychiatry. I intend moving to Canada and obtaining work a in the winnipeg area. I understand that there are a couple of Psychiatric facilities in Winnipeg. Could somebody who works at these facilities tell me about them. Also any information on the winnipeg and surrounding area would be helpful. Leisure activities, house prices cost of living etc. I have had 18 years working in psychiatry so hope a position would not be too hard to find cheers fron Downunder Neil

Hi emmapirate I work in Australia so this may not be true but it is what I have heard and if its wrong I am sure someone will correct me. I think CANADA has two separate lists so you can either become a Registered Psychiatric Nurse or a Registered General Nurse, the same as in aussie. Now if you were to gain Canadian registration as a Psych Nurse I think that you can work in about 14 states in the USA. So you could back door the system or so I think. And if this info is wrong then there are plenty of jobs in Aussie Cheers Neil

Thanks to everyone who took the time to reply to my questions.

Hi all, I am new to this forum and am hoping you can help. I am a psychiatric nurse in Australia and currently work in the community as a case manager. I am thinking of relocating to the USA and have some questions. Are most psychiatric nurses employed on an inpatient basis or are they community based? In Australia the focus is on community care rather than inpatient and I was wondering if it was the same in the states. What about salary and benefits? Are nurses happy with level of benefits and do they feel that facilities are adequately staffed and that there are enough workers on the ground? Are there enough beds for clients to be admitted or are they often kept at home because of bed shortages? I have worked in psychiatric nursing for 18 years. And initially I trained 3 years in a psychiatric facility working full time and going to classes at the school of nursing on the same campus and later attended University to do my general, or say physical nursing. How are psychiatric nurses trained in the USA? I am also interested in jobs and roles of a psychiatric nurse, I know this a very broad question, but say typical roles on an inpatient ward or a community psychiatric nurse. Do you have CAT teams, these are crisis assesment teams that work with community agencies, including police and do community based assesments of those who are in crisis and require immediate assistance. Thanks for taking the time to read this post. I am after a real picture of Psychiatric nursing by those that work in it, rather than the glorified, often distorted, view of nursing recruiters.

Thankyou cowgirl for taking the time to respond. I shall use the information you gave me.

Hi Cowgirl, I was interested in what you wrote about pay rates in Arkansas. I am in Australia and have worked in psych for 18 years and currently work in community mental heath as a case manager. I am interested in knowing , if i did relocate to Arkansas then what facilities are available to work in either inpatient or community based and the expected rates of pay. I currently work as a senior staff member so I would envisage pay would not be that of a beginning practioner.