I am a UK trained nurse. I worked in the UK for four months, then my boyfriend and I moved to New Zealand. I found it hard getting a job here because i only had four months experience, but I got one Eventually. One of the hopsitals would not employ me because I only had four months experience not a year. My boyfriend and I are looking to move to adelaide and I do not want to make the same mistakes.
Does anyone know if you have to have worked for a whole year before you can get a job in adelaide?
Also Ive tried ringing and emailing the big hospitals and they say there are no jobs at the moment but if i send my CV and fill out an application form then they will put me on a computer list! Is this normal? Because any other jobs i have worked in they advertise on the hospital web page?
Does anyone know if its hard to get a job in adelaide? Also are there no jobs because of the time of the year? Anyway I would be grateful if someone could help me!!!
Yes I'm from Adelaide, I work in theatres and we're always looking for theatre staff, especially those with previous theatre experience.
The biggest problem we face in theatres is an aging workforce and more and more staff are retiring.
My advice is you want to get into theatres is to call the major hospitals and ask to speak with the Operating Room Manager to see if they are interested. I'll have a word with them next and ask whether there are positions available.
Cheers for that, scrubby,. As soon as I'm registered with ANMC I'll get the wheels in motion, I figure it'd make it easier for everyone, I haven't got a house to worry about, we can pretty much up stick and get on with it, providing we can sort out a quick visa. I've spent my time trying to get as much experience and courses under my belt and not actually looking for a job, so it became a bit of a daunting prospect :)
I tried for a GNP in Adelaide and it is hopeless. They will only take SA nurses (they have to fill these places first via the government), then outside nurses. There were something like 2000 or 4000 nurses finishing every year, and about 400 places for GNPs (can't remember exact numbers). I knew people who were great nurses, had brilliant grades, good references, and still didn't get GNPs.
If you haven't done a years nursing, it will be very hard to get taken by the agencies/hospitals. You can go through NASA or try Hays but they will tell you the same thing. NASA takes people all year for GNPs but I hated that agency: one senior call staff member was extremely rude, the GNP progam was lame to say the least, and they were not flexible at all. You can try them, but they expect you to drop everything and run off to a shift (I refused as I was studying & had other commitments), they don't leave you enough time to get to the other side of town, and then complain when you are late. I complained about them to a senior recruiter and never got anywhere. All agencies are not the same. You could try Mediserve, I have gone through them and they seem very good, and Hays are quite flexible (they can get you contract work for mabye 3-6 months or more, not always casual). All other agencies there expect you to be on call virtually 24/7, something I refuse to do, as you end up not having a life and having to cancel engagements / appointments all the time (& some appointments I cancelled, I still had to pay for).
Anyway ring Mediserve on, area code: (08) 8212 2595, the recruiters are friendly & they supply public, private & other health institutions. Make sure you have a current police check, working visa/citizenship and ID details - you need photo ID as well.
I found Adelaide hopeless so moved to Perth and have gained nursing work here - casual so far - but there are other types of nursing jobs rather than just hospital based and agency work, so it has been good overall.
Ok guys well I tried. I honestly thought that there were positions.
We are short staffed but according to the government we're overstaffed. I can't understand this given we have on average 12 agency nurses a day. But we have a hiring freeze. It's just a load of crap.
:), thanks Scrubby. They'll come to their senses sooner or later :) I'm in no hurry. If they really want to pay me a fortune as agency for a while, who am I to complain?
Carol, thank you for the info, I'll bear that in mind. Really appreciated. I'm no new grad, but it's good to know how some agencies treat their nurses. X
Zana2, any other info you need email me (haven't figured out yet how email etc works on here, still new to navigating this site!), but if you post a message my email is notified. I am always happy to help :)
Most agencies just want to make money out of you, they are not interested in your commitments (even when you tell them up front). I found many of the managers/senior managers (especially in WA) very highly strung, extremely rude and obnoxious. I would say most needed counselling as one said: 'I'm really, really busy, I don't have time for ________________(fill in blank with whatever query you have)'. I felt like saying DUUH! YOU THINK I AM NOT ALSO BUSY??!! What a completely moronic thing to say. I told one senior manager exactly what I thought of her and I felt so much better afterwards! Of course she told me she couldn't help me with work anymore, but I felt so great and was very relieved I would not have to speak to her again. Who needs people like that in their life?
I have found if you demand to be treated better, they will either not give you shifts (which is absolutely pathetic), or will start to change their way of doing things.
And unless we as nurses collectively demand that hospitals, agencies and governments treat us better (I know nurses do strike and complain to make the point), not much will change.
And no I don't have a partner bringing in another income, but I still stand up for my rights and it usually works out OK, and to be honest, I don't mind a good argument with someone - keeps me on my toes!
Specializes in Medical and general practice now LTC.
Zana2, any other info you need email me (haven't figured out yet how email etc works on here, still new to navigating this site!), but if you post a message my email is notified. I am always happy to help :)
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You must have 15 or more posts to be able to send a pm or email (just for info)
If a member is set up to accept emails you will usually see a small envelope icon under their name and if you hover your mouse over the envelope it should say send email to ******
You must have 15 or more posts to be able to send a pm or email (just for info)
Update: My hospital is still going through a hiring freeze, which the hospital is now denying. I've heard it from my managers own lips that we're not employing anyone until well into the new financial year. Here's an interesting article about the Royal Adelaide Hospital:
Scrubby
1,313 Posts
Yes I'm from Adelaide, I work in theatres and we're always looking for theatre staff, especially those with previous theatre experience.
The biggest problem we face in theatres is an aging workforce and more and more staff are retiring.
My advice is you want to get into theatres is to call the major hospitals and ask to speak with the Operating Room Manager to see if they are interested. I'll have a word with them next and ask whether there are positions available.