UK to Australia

[eider]

i've scanned through a few 'threads' but none is really as helpful as i hope it'd be :imbar (or maybe i just missed some of it)...i'm presently working in the UK, and I have some queries bout Australia:

> is Australian nursing more British or American based?

> which part of Australia has a cooler weather?

> which city would have a neurological center or what hospital would you recommend for a neuro nurse?

> what's the 'pay' like? how bout the cost of living? :uhoh21:

> is it better to work for a private, or a public institution?

my apologies if ever these questions have been posted already..

thank you in advance for helping me out...

eider

[gwenith, BSN, RN]

> is Australian nursing more British or American based?

We use American texts but it the legal system and the sense of humour and the culture still tends more toward British than American.

> which part of Australia has a cooler weather?

Southern part:p

No really try for Tasmania or Melbourne.

> which city would have a neurological center or what hospital would you recommend for a neuro nurse?

All the state capital cities would have neuro centres and we would welcome a neuro trained nurse.

> what's the 'pay' like? how bout the cost of living? :uhoh21:

Not too scruffy - you can live on it quite well. Actual numbers don't mean a lot it is quality of lifestyle that you want and well when it comes to quality you just can't get better than Australia:D

> is it better to work for a private, or a public institution?

Public has better resources and usually staffed better but private hospitals have a "nicer" group of patients (sorta, kinda - well you won't get homeless junkies in private hospitals but you will get some that think nurse = personal slave)

my apologies if ever these questions have been posted already..

thank you in advance for helping me out...

eider

No probs Mate!!

[Mister Chris, MSN, NP]

Yes to all the above - money actually could be better, but the lifestyle in Australia beats anywhere else that I know of. Felt at home fairly quickly, I'm sure you will too.

Let us know what you think, if and when you get here.

Looking forward to another sensational summer! (PS. I love the heat and so I have stayed in Queensland.)

Mister Chris

[talaxandra]

As always, Gwenith's right on the money!

Re: weather - Tassie's generally cooler, and has some truly beautiful countryside. On the down side, as it's an island, seeng any of the rest of Australia entails a ferry or plane ride; Melbourne's climate is a little more variable and there's a larger range of tertiary-level hospitals to chose from. I must confess to being a little biased :)

One other thing - if you do settle in Victoria, one advantage of the public system is ratios. In a tertiary hospital that means 1:4 on AM and PM shifts (plus in charge), and a maximum of 1:8 overnight. For example, my ward (which incorporates neurology but also has a couple of other specialty medical units) has those ratios, but the neurosurg ward has more staff, and includes a step-down unit.

Good luck!