U.S. Pre-Nursing Student moving to Australia. Advice please!

Published

Hi,

I'm new to this site and am looking for advice on transitioning from the US to Australia when it comes to nursing. This is because I hope to join my partner who lives in Adelaide, Australia. **I'm sorry if this isn't the right place to post. I tried searching through other threads but couldn't find the answers I was looking for.** 

I’m currently a pre-nursing student. I have a Bachelor’s in Psychology, but have returned to school to do nursing prerequisites. I hope to apply to nursing programs by 2022 at the very latest. I am open to any programs that will help me become a Registered Nurse (I prefer getting my associates degree to become an RN purely because of money saved, but I am open to BSN, ABSN, etc.)

Basically, I was wondering if anybody could point me in the right direction to becoming a nurse in Australia. I have a million and one questions, but here are a few:

  • Would it be better to finish my degree here, or would it be better to get a degree in Australia?
  • If I finish my degree here, will I be able to find a job in Australia?
  • Do I need to do a bridging program to work in Australia or no? (some websites said yes and some said no)

I’ve heard mixed advice on everything, so I would really appreciate any help or insight you can offer. And again, I apologize if this is in the wrong thread, or if this topic has already been resolved. I've looked at AHPRA but it was a lot to take in a lot of their links aren't working. I’m so confused so I would appreciate any advice, numbers to call, emails to contact, websites to visit, etc.

THANK YOU!!

 

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Medical and general practice now LTC.

Personally I would complete training in the US as a few Australian nurses have posted issues getting registered in the US as not meeting all requirements like missing obstetrics 

1
Up Vote Up Vote ×

@Silverdragon102 thank you! I appreciate the advice ?

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in CTICU.

Depends where you plan to work. If you will ever want to work in the US in the future, do your study in the US.

2
Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Emergency Nursing.

Hi!

There are many different pathways of being a nurse in Australia. We have registered nurses, endorsed enrolled nurses, and enrolled nurses. If you choose to study nursing in Australia,  depending on your university it is a combination of online learning/ self directed learning/ placements in health facilities (depending on which year level you are on). Whilst studying, most students are also able to work as assistant in nursing or AIN providing  bedside cares. 

If you decide to finish your BSN/RN in the US, there is are different streams for internationally qualified nurses and midwives to gain initial registration in Australia. You will be asked to do a self check/ assessment to determine in which  stream you are classified on: A or B  or C . 

Stream A will let you proceed immediately with the initial registration after paying the fees. Stream B will require you to sit for an Outcome Based Assessment (OBA) which includes a multiple choice examination (MCQ) and Objective Structured Clinical Examination (OSCE) before getting your initial registration. Stream C will require you to enroll in a qualification leading to registration through approved study programs.

Best of luck!

 

Up Vote Up Vote ×

@ghillbert Thank you, it sounds like us nurse study might be the best way to go then. Keep my options open and my opportunities more plentiful ?

Up Vote Up Vote ×

@Goobleypums wow! thank you so so much! that was incredibly helpful. Thank you for taking the time to type all that out. I really appreciate it! ? wish you all the best as well

Up Vote Up Vote ×
+ Join the Discussion