2016 US RN to Australia

US RN in Oz · Nov 15, 2016

Cottntale32,

It's old school. Paper based charting, even in the newest hospitals. This can feel terribly inefficient than what we are use to in the states. The scope of practice feels a bit restrictive. Although capable, nurses are regularly asked to not place IVs, caths, NGs, etc so young docs can do them. Typically no aids or respiratory therapists so, you have no one to help or delegate jobs to. The handover reports are typically hopeless. RNs do not do as much physical assessment here. No such thing as 12 hour shifts. Expect to work less hours per day and more days per week. They pretty much insist you take breaks... typically 2 short tea breaks and one meal break.

Cottntale32 · Nov 15, 2016

Thank you! That is the first answer that I have received so far.

Interesting! We did learn the paper charting way in nursing school, but once we start working, its completely electronic. I guess I'm going to have to brush up on my paper charting technique.

Ok, no IVs, Caths, or NGT. This is sort of a bummer, because practicing those consistently helps with upgrading my skills. What about Foleys? or maintaining Chest tubes?

So no 12 hr shifts. I'm going to assume 8 hr and are you able to pick up extra shifts? on the same day?

I can't be mad at breaks! I'm on the east cost so breaks are few and far in between in some areas.

Lark101 · Nov 16, 2016

I am a Filipino RN who is currently working in a US territory and not in the mainland. Did APHRA asked the states that you are currently registered for them to verify. Because in my case i have two states that are expired (which i did not use for practice) and 2 active licenses. Thanks.

Cottntale32 · Nov 16, 2016

I am a Filipino RN who is currently working in a US territory and not in the mainland. Did APHRA asked the states that you are currently registered for them to verify. Because in my case i have two states that are expired (which i did not use for practice) and 2 active licenses. Thanks.

Hi Lark101,

I have actually emailed the APHRA about this because I too am practicing in the USA and have licenses in other states that I have not worked in. The APHRA would like you to verify in each state that you are currently registered in or have been registered in the past to work in. The only difference is that the verification letter from the state that your registration has expired will note that in the verification letter. Hope this helps! Good luck and keep in touch!

sparticus2008 · Dec 1, 2016

If you are an ADN RN from the US then you would need to do a bridging course to register as an RN ( APHRA changed start of 2015 and no longer recognises anything less than a Bachelor's, even with experience)

You may be able to register as an enrolled nurse, rather than a RN with an ADN, however you would need to check with APHRA.

If you have a BSN you should be fine.

If you did an accelerated course it may be a bit more fiddly to get your coursework recognised, however you shouldn't have to bridge

Make sure that you have a copy of your academic transcript, including the theory content covered and the number of clinical hours

Cottntale32 · Mar 2, 2017

If you are an ADN RN from the US then you would need to do a bridging course to register as an RN ( APHRA changed start of 2015 and no longer recognises anything less than a Bachelor's, even with experience)
You may be able to register as an enrolled nurse, rather than a RN with an ADN, however you would need to check with APHRA.
If you have a BSN you should be fine.
If you did an accelerated course it may be a bit more fiddly to get your coursework recognised, however you shouldn't have to bridge
Make sure that you have a copy of your academic transcript, including the theory content covered and the number of clinical hours

I'm going to throw this question out there since no one has posted to this thread in a couple of months...I am beginning to finally gather my required documents for this application... (I'm in the middle of another overseas application to a different country as well.. :eek: ). I was an ADN nurse who then went on to receive my BSN in an accelerated program. Thus I do not believe that I have 800 "clinical hours" that the AHPRA is requesting in the application. Is this a complete deal changer? Also, I have been working as a registered nurse for over 2 years.

I will email one of the AHPRA representatives to ask the same question and will post the answer once I hear something. I'm sure I cannot be the only person ever to run into this issue...

US RN in Oz · Mar 3, 2017

AHPRA representatives will not tell applicants the following...

Although the official criteria states 800 hours, they will likely grant you registration if you are within 10% (720 hours or more) if you have additional experience. It's the tribunal's job to recognize qualified nurses. They are not out to disqualify applicants for minor technicalities. It does not hurt to provide additional documentation and statements. Contact me if you need help with that.

If a qualified nurse is denied, it is almost alway due to lack of documentation, miscommunication, and/or the applicant not creating solutions.

Cottntale32 · Mar 3, 2017

Thank You US RN in OZ! I will PM you.

nephron19 · Mar 5, 2017

I realise the original post was from back in November, but just wondering how you went? Hopefully you are here in Australia now!

I am an American nurse and have been in Australia for a few years now. Back when I was doing my AHPRA registration I remember it was mostly a matter of getting all my ducks in a row. My dean of my nursing school was extremely helpful and luckily my uni had archives of all the syllabi online so I could easily document my clinical hours of each course. My only hiccup was with notarising documents as the process is different for certifying copies for Australia. All my documents were rejected the first time round because they didn't each have "I have sighted the original document and certify this is a true copy of the original" on each page. Very frustrating.

it was a stressful period and I hated having things up in the air but it's happy days now and I'm here working in Sydney. As another poster mentioned agency Work is easy to come by, at least here in Sydney. Happy to answer any questions you may have

Cottntale32 · Mar 5, 2017

I realise the original post was from back in November, but just wondering how you went? Hopefully you are here in Australia now!
I am an American nurse and have been in Australia for a few years now. Back when I was doing my AHPRA registration I remember it was mostly a matter of getting all my ducks in a row. My dean of my nursing school was extremely helpful and luckily my uni had archives of all the syllabi online so I could easily document my clinical hours of each course. My only hiccup was with notarising documents as the process is different for certifying copies for Australia. All my documents were rejected the first time round because they didn't each have "I have sighted the original document and certify this is a true copy of the original" on each page. Very frustrating.
it was a stressful period and I hated having things up in the air but it's happy days now and I'm here working in Sydney. As another poster mentioned agency Work is easy to come by, at least here in Sydney. Happy to answer any questions you may have

Hi! The original post was started back in November, but I am still in the process of gathering my materials to send to the AHPRA. Thank you for the advise about each page having the "This is a true copy...". Did you "handwrite" this on every page of material that you photocopied?

Im also am wondering if they will even accept me because I don't have the "800 clinical hours" that the AHPRA is requesting. I was an ADN nurse who then did my BSN in an accelerated program... so, I'm going to send it in anyway and just pray that they will give me some leeway.

How do you like working in Sydney? How is it different than the U.S.? I did hear that the pay is pretty much the same. I am also applying to the U.K. and heard that the U.K. pay rate is so bad... :unsure: I wonder how people get by over there...

Anywho, thank you again for sharing some of your experience! I would definitely like to hear from you again!

Purple_KicksRN · Jul 6, 2017

I've gotten my registration through AHPRA as an RN without being required to do a bridging program. If anyone has questions, PM me!

I'm in Oz now on and have lodged my 189 Skilled Independent visa, awaiting a result.

I'd really love to work at Sunshine Coast University Hospital, ideally in the Peds ED, general ED would be fine too.

How else is nursing different aside from the paper charting (ugh), no RTs, 8hr shifts?

I'm glad people have kept this thread up!

US RN in Oz · Jul 6, 2017

No RTs, no typically no aides. Different lingo, terminology, spelling, and so on. Slow paced. Thru pretty much force you to take a tea break every two hours. There shift handovers on medsurg are hopeless. ED's or more likely to use electronic charting. I'm actually starting to pick up MS shifts at a place that has finally rolled out Cerner Powerchart.... Eastern Health around Melbourne. The pay typically is not as good unless you go remote rural. Then again on average American nurses are the second best paid behind Luxemburg .