I am a home health nurse in North Carolina in the United States, and am currently going back to school at East Carolina University School of Nursing to get my bachelor's degree.
I'm really sorry to bother you guys, but I have a class project due on Friday that involves getting information about Australia's nursing, and healthcare priorities, concerns, etc. I have researched this information on the web, but I am also to correspond with people who actually live in Australia for more information. Who better to talk to than nurses?!
Would anyone be willing to help?
I am interested in the different educational levels of the nurses there. For example, in the US we have LPN's (licensed practical nurses), which is a 1-1/2 year course of study. Then there is the ADN (Associate Degree Nurse), which is a 2-year registered nurse, and then BSN (Bachelor's degree in the Science of Nursing) which is a 4-year RN, and then you can go on to get your Master's Degree, and then your Doctorate degree.
We also have advanced practice nurses, such as Nurse Practitioners and Nurse Anaesthecists.
The LPN's have limited clinical duties, and a lot of healthcare facilities choose to hire only RN's.
In your posts, I have seen some different abbreviations for the levels of nurses. Can someone explain it to me?
Just wanted you to know that WE got a 99.2 on OUR paper, and I am again so thankful to you for your help! It is my understanding that the instructor got a bit frustrated with a few of the class members who claimed they were unable to contact someone in another country (I think they might have waited until the last minute...) and I am so glad I wasn't one of them! I got a lot of positive feedback for your input. It really is nice to climb out of your box and see how others do things...gives you more perspective. You're a doll!
I was going to answer a few of your questionsLeAnne, but Gwenith had already done so. I am sure everyone agrees that Gwenith is a sweety :) Godd luck with your future assignments and maybe we will see you in Australia some time :)
Specializes in Med/Surg/Ortho/HH/Radiology-Now Retired.
PS: Sorry Gwenith, don't mean to "steal your thunder", there is also Independent practising midwives,again, in South Australia. And,I have a friend in Sydney, who is an independent womens health nurse practitioner.
Correction.... the first independent nurse practitioner was authorised in December 2002,( not in 2003, as I posted earlier. Apologies for that mistake), when S.A. became the second state in Australia to authorise nurse practitioners.
Obviously, the S.A. nurse isn't the VERY first practitioner afterall! Again, my mistake. Hope I've clarified it now! LOL
Come on Down Le Anne; Gwenith shows us how Qld recruits staff with her icon but in Victoria we are much more subtle. Your President said this week he heard Australia was like Texas; It's much better than that. Pay us a visit and we'll make you a citizen.
I thank you so much for responding to me. A couple of us are trying to get together to make it much easier for you. I really appreciate your time, patience, and knowledge. Leslie
Just FYI.... We DO have independent nurse practitioners here in Australia. Well, one at present! lol
The very first one is in South Australia. She was
registered this year. There is a nurse from New Zealand also who has recently been registerd to practise independently.
As Gwenith stated, Australia is a HUGE country, you'd definately need MORE than two weeks to really explore it! :-)
Sending you best wishes for your future endeavours.
Cheers,
Grace
I am a emergency nurse in Florida who is currently thinking about moving to Australia.
Any insight on how I could go about this and I am pursing my Nurse Practioner education are there any positions there? Not much on city life, like more of the country setting. Thanks Janet
LeAnne from US
10 Posts
Hey Gwenith,
Just wanted you to know that WE got a 99.2 on OUR paper, and I am again so thankful to you for your help! It is my understanding that the instructor got a bit frustrated with a few of the class members who claimed they were unable to contact someone in another country (I think they might have waited until the last minute...) and I am so glad I wasn't one of them! I got a lot of positive feedback for your input. It really is nice to climb out of your box and see how others do things...gives you more perspective. You're a doll!
With much gratitude,
LeAnne Avery