Transition to specialty practice courses.

ceridwyn · Jul 10, 2011

Transition programs are designed for those who have recently finished their graduate nurse programs. It is a second year to the first grad year.

They were designed to give nurses new to the profession supportive Practise into a specialty.

And hopefully they stay and do go on to become extremely proficient and better still do post grad in this area.

So in answer to your question, the hospital is hoping for the nurse to stay on.

They are very popular so coming from overseas you would be competing with locals.

Also you would need 1 year experience at least.

I am guessing you are from the us of. A, hope you have your bachelor's if you have no experience. Have heard from an American nurse who tried lately with adn and no experience was made Enrolled nurse.

Sun*shine · Jul 11, 2011

Thank you for your reply :) Right I didn't realise they were designed for people finishing their graduate programs. It makes sense that they'd be very popular courses and only offered to people willing to stay on.

I'm from the UK, I've graduated with my BSc Adult Nursing and have 18 months post-grad experience in surgical and acute stroke nursing. I wouldn't mind using this experience to find a similar job in Oz, but I'm very determined to go into a nicu/icu career and I'd soooo ready for a change in terms of job area and location. But then from what I've read up on the nursing opportunities and work standards in Oz are greater in Oz than here, so either way I'd be a winner =]

Graduate Nurse programs and transition programs just don't exist here, wish I'd trained in Oz!

talaxandra · Jul 12, 2011

If you were looking for a mid-term move to Australia (say a couple of years) you might be in luck; otherwise it's just not worth the hospital's while to train you up only for you to move on.

I know our ICU has a high turnover, in part because it's so big but also because (as I'm sure you already know) not everyone's cut out for the reality of ICU, so though there are lots of early career nurses interested there's also a steady demand.

There's also a lot of support - several of my colleagues from the ward have moved to ICU, where they get a preceptor, education support, and regular feedback meetings. However there's also a high expectation of doing a post-grad specialty course, while continuing to work.

Or are they happy to let people work there for the 4-6 months or so that the programs are offered for and then go elsewhere to find employment.

Where were you thinking of going - back to the UK, or elsewhere in Australia?

Mcadamia · Jul 14, 2011

Answer - Queensland (OK so I am a Queensland nut - that is why I chose Mcadamia as a name)

But not to put the other states down but Queensland has a whole swathe of "transition to practice" programs designed to take the new beginner in a speciality area through to competence. The transition programs are free to Qld health employees and are worth half a graduate certificate (which is a saving of around $2000)

Sun*shine · Jul 15, 2011

Actually Queensland is top of my list!! But anywhere where the rugby is good will do :) I love how Oz seems to welcome international nurses with open arms. If I'm going all that way then then I'd be willing to stay for a few years, particulary when the opportunities there are greater than here. It's surprising that they'd take internationals with no experience into that area. I've done placements in icu so I know it's where I belong, but like I say I've got no post-graduate experience there. What hospital do you work in Talaxandra, and do you have internationals who work in your unit? I'm still working the uk at the moment.

talaxandra · Jul 15, 2011

I'm in Melbourne - I don't work in ICU but several friends and former colleagues do (sorry, that was a little unclear in my post). I'd be surprised if the department wasn't as multicultural as the rest of the place but I'll ask a couple of ICU-ites if thay have any su