y1008733

Hi all, I've just been offered a contract in Saudi Arabia at the King Faisal Hospital. All the other nursing threads on this topic that I can find are almost 10 years old. Just looking for any advice/tips/stories from any one that is currently there or just left, or touch base with any other aussie or kiwi nurses going over soon. Also if anyone who has been there knows what the rule with tattoos are - some say it's okay, others say its not - I can cover the ones I have but was considering something on my lower arm before I go - Don't really wait to get it then get turned around as soon as the hospital staff see it Also I'll point out that I'm a bloke so most of the extreme rules won't apply

A good chance???? A simple google search will show you how many AUSTRALIAN trained new grads miss out each year - it's sometimes as high as 30 - 40% depending on what state you look at. I know that in QLD during 2012/13 they had over 2000 applicants for maybe 250 positions, and when you factor in health cuts its not a sure bet at all.

Hey. I too missed out on a New Grad programme after finishing in 2010. Was pretty close to giving up after 6 months and then took a mate to a medical centre for a check up and turns out they were looking for a nurse - had a interview the next day and started work about 3 days later. Worked there for 6 months before getting a job in a hospital.

Hi there. it is possible but very difficult. Hospitals over there have to take Aus trained New Grads before they even consider NZ trained New Grads, and a high number of those Australian new grads will not get a placement and end up leaving nursing. I went over to Aus in 2010 after missing out in NZ - getting APHRA Registration is easy - but finding a job isn't, I applied for 6 New Grad programmes and never got a reply, ended up broke and sleeping on couches before getting a job 5 months later as a practice nurse in Brisbane. Nearly all the states are cutting nursing staff at the moment so there wont be a lot of jobs available. My advice would be to stay in NZ - apply for New Grad placements everywhere - try even rural. It's only for a year and once you get that first year done you can go anywhere. Hopefully this helps.