The cost of remote area nursing!

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Hi All,

some considerations to accepting a remote area nursing contract. The cost of living, food, internet, phone and alcohol is super expensive. Everything else is just very very expensive. Go remote and it will cost you. What I would recommend is to negotiate a seperate weekly living expense, have this paid into your bank account from your employer, $30 a day no less and certainly more $40-50 a day on top of your salarly. Have this paid directly into your account as a tax free componet seperate to your salary.

I hear you say our agency or employer does not do this! Well it is simple they do not do this because nurses do not demand it! If they do not play the game go else where, stay working in the city and forget the remote locations and just watch them start to offer the insentives. other professins would just laugh at the thought of going remote without adequate compensation.

Another tip to remote area nursing, only ever sign on for a short contract two weeks three at the most. You can almost always extend a contract if you really like it!

If you are taking a contract interstate, never pay for your nursing registration, if the hospital or health care facility needs a nurse from interstate to take a contrat it is up to that organsistion to pay for your registration not you, it is there cost not yours. If they are not prepared to pay. Don't go!

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Specializes in Community, Renal, OR.

While the nurses union have done significant things for nurses over the last 20 years, I have often thought that nurses sell themselves short.

I have no doubt that allowances paid to members of other unions are better - for example the conditions and allowances paid to the tradesmen who are building the desalination plant in Wonthaggi, Victoria

http://www.theage.com.au/national/fourday-pay-bonanza-20091223-ldg3.html

In my current job I am required to be registered in every state and territory, and the company pays for all my registrations, except my home state.

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Specializes in Aged care.

Thanks for that info, Braggy. I'm seriously considering rural nursing & hadn't thought of the things you mentioned. Thanks again!

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Specializes in Medical.

My knowledge of this area is scant, but a couple of years ago 2 friends worked a short term remote contract that covered all their expenses (including rent, utilities, internet, transport there and back), and paid generous penalties. I guess I had just assumed this was typical - thanks for the tip that this is not necessarily the case.

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Thanks for that info, Braggy. I'm seriously considering rural nursing & hadn't thought of the things you mentioned. Thanks again!

Thanks for the feed back. I have just gone online to look at the so called benefits package by the QLD government for nurses going remote. The financial benefits on offer are $3000 for the first year of service, $9000 for the second year and $6000 for the third year. A quick calculation at a tax rate at .38 cents per dollar will give you $2860, $5580, $3720 respectively after tax.

In each instance your out of pocket expenses of going remote will be far in excess of the benefits on offer by the QLD health department. There are other benefits on offer http:/www.health.qld.gov.au/nursing/rural_remote.asp I have not viewed the other states benefits package, but you can easily access this information on line and make the calculations and see if the benefits offset the costs of going remote?

While we are discussing remote area nursing. I guess I should touch on health, fruit and vegatables, are limited and expensive in most locations. Recreational activities are limited or non existent. Transport is an issue as well, most locations will not provide a vehicle for nurses to use on their days off, so you may find your self stuck and find yourself walking in the mid day sun!

Personal security. Most, but not all remote area nursing posts will not have security on staff!

I guess one way to think about remote area nursing and the real cost of health care in the country is to think that by going remote you will be subsidising the real cost of health care in the country. Look at it as a donation of your money and time to the community.

However, country placements do not have to be like this! There are somethings that can't be changed but equally there are others that can be changed. Certainly your remmuneration is one. Three words for you are, negotiate, negotiate and negotiate. People are being well paid for working in the country and you should be one of them.

Good luck, I hope this helps.

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Specializes in Surgical, quality,management.

I spent 3 months in rural NSW on an agency placement. I had a brand new furnished apartment supplied as part of my contract and use of one of the hospital vehicles if I wanted to go to "town". Admittedly food and alcohol was more expensive but remote allowances and in charge allowances more than made up for this and these were my only bills as internet phone and utilities were included. I was incorrectly taxed for my contract but didn't even notice it because my net wage was still excellent. And it meant a lovly treat at tax return time.......an 04 holden barina enough to insure it and a return flight to Ireland!

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This is a great post with some really valuable information. I'm registered nurse who's just completed my first year of post graduate nursing who would like to experience remote area nursing. I have travelled the country pretty extensively and am aware of the environment and living conditions in remote Australia.

I would really like to know if anyone has had any experience with nursing agencies or know of any that offer remote nursing area jobs.

I have researched NT medic and affinity nursing, does anyone know of others? Thanks

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Specializes in Surgical, quality,management.

I spoke with the agency that I was working for in Sydney. Any agency will be able to get a rural placement for you but if you really want to go bush just google it a friend of mine looked into an agency called kola nursing I think. Best of luck

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I have met nurses working for Kaola nursing agency based in QLD. There hourly rate was quiet a bit higher when compared to other agencies.

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Specializes in Surgical, quality,management.

I was paid by the area health service directly at the casual rate which had a 10% loading ontop of the basic wage but the agency I worked for was quite small compared to some of the national agiences so I think it was cheaper for the agency in the long run to do this

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