2016 US RN to Australia

World International

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Hi All,

I know this has been a topic of multiple threads before but it seems they've died off so I wanted to start a new one for those who are currently undertaking this process. What have your difficulties been? How did you solve them? What type of visa are you applying for? How did your AHPRA process go? Thanks!

Specializes in Pediatric ED.

Are there ratios? I'm from Cali and in the ED it was 4:1.

Cerner wasn't my favorite but I'd take it over a paper chart any day! I'm ok with the pay here but will definitely be taking a huge cut from Northern California. I'm definitely ok with the tea breaks! We only got one break at my last hospital.

Any particular company that you like for ?

About how much does Medicaid cost you and does it come straight out of your pay?

Did you have to get the Oz equivalent BLS/ACLS/PALS before you got hired or is that something they provide you?

Sorry to pepper you with questions but you're so responsive on this thread and are actually practicing here! Thanks!

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Are there ratios? I'm from Cali and in the ED it was 4:1.

Cerner wasn't my favorite but I'd take it over a paper chart any day! I'm ok with the pay here but will definitely be taking a huge cut from Northern California. I'm definitely ok with the tea breaks! We only got one break at my last hospital.

Any particular company that you like for malpractice insurance?

About how much does Medicaid cost you and does it come straight out of your pay?

Did you have to get the Oz equivalent BLS/ACLS/PALS before you got hired or is that something they provide you?

Sorry to pepper you with questions but you're so responsive on this thread and are actually practicing here! Thanks!

There is quite a difference with legislation from state to state. I am unsure about Queensland. Victoria has ratios for the public system.

The money in Australia is in regional, rural, and remote areas. Yes, in the cities, people may be taking a pay cut depending on where they are coming from in America. Overall, on average, US nurses are the second best paid nurses in the world following Luxemburg. Nurses in America are also among the most respected by the public.

I have Medicare, which every permanent resident and citizen has. I'm not sure if they have Medicaid. I also have some additional private insurance that is paid for out of pocket.

I do not have ACLS or PALS. I think I may be able to contact an American ICU nurse here in Oz to find out.

Feel free to contact me at [email protected]

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Is becoming a nurse practitioner possible over there? If so, is the practice worthwhile?

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yes you can become a nurse practitioner, I'm not sure what the work prospects are like

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Does Australia have a labor and statistics government website? (

I asked this originally without doing any of my own searching... sorry) they do. Australian Bureau of Statistics, Australian Government

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Hey guys. I don't know if anyone still checks this post since it was posted last year..but I am going through the registration process with the AHPRA right now and wanted some feedback. I initially followed the application closely, submitted everything that was asked for and certified the documents the application mentioned to certify, such as identity documents and transcripts...now they are asking me for submit additional letters from all schools I've attended stating that my education was in English...also course outlines for every single unit of nursing school?? Has that happen to anyone before? Also they want my school to submit a letter that it is accredited and also get one from the agency that accredits my school...i really had to research that one...i just feel like I clear one thing and they turn around and ask for 10 more...just wondering if anyone had a similar experience and when did the board eventually give registration or how long did it take after?

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The letter from the nursing school and board saying you went to an accredited program, etc. Was one of the early steps. Technically should have been in before you sent in your application.

Yes. Typically you need to price your schools were taught in the English language. I was not able to get those from my primary and secondary schools but, I wrote a separate statutory declaration that was strong en might to get through. I did not send in detailed, 3 column outlines for all my classes. I did a detailed one for pharm. The test was just the list of class names and breif description. I had the vice dean of my nursing school put it together. You'll need those specific details for pharm... pharmicodynamics, etc. Also, number of clinical hours. I only had minor issues that were easily fixable.

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Those are the pains I've been reading about during my research. Are you setup with a job or recruiter? I have one I could refer you too, she is with Healthcare Australia. She is looking for at 1-yr experience and for ICU consideration roughly 2-yr.

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Thanks guys for all of your input! Good to know that I'm not the only one being asked to submit all this extra stuff...i think i mostly found it odd to have to prove that my education was in English when I'm coming from United States of America lol...what else could it be in??! But I'm just going with it, and submitting what they ask...just a lot of certifying, and a few of my documents got kicked back because it didn't have their exact wording on it "I have sighted.."

Another area I'm slightly unsure of is my actual degree and what they will accept. I hold an ADN, not a BSN...however, when I compared the classes required for Australian bachelor's from the University of Brisbane (where I'm planning to move to), to the courses I've completed for my ADN, they were identical, even amount of units...basically it looks like what Australian nursing bachelor's gets in 3yrs part time class work, I completed in 2 in California...and the board's requirements state must have a degree equivalent to Australian bachelor's and complete a 2yr nursing program...so I'm wondering if someone had a direct experience with an ADN degree and going though registration and what was the outcome...or has everyone on here had a BSN at that time?

Fresnovet, thank you for the referral suggestion...i haven't started looking at jobs yet, as I want to obtain registration first and then work on a residency professional visa...as I think finding sponsorship would be rather difficult as they have their own ppl to fill positions without needing to be sponsored ...unless you had a different experience with the visa, then id love to hear any advice you have there ...i am currently working as an ICU nurse, but I don't have a year experience yet...however, by the time I'm finished with this process, I just might be...how does the agency work out there?

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Specializes in ICU/CCU BSN, RN, CCRN.
Thanks guys for all of your input! Good to know that I'm not the only one being asked to submit all this extra stuff...i think i mostly found it odd to have to prove that my education was in English when I'm coming from United States of America lol...what else could it be in??! But I'm just going with it, and submitting what they ask...just a lot of certifying, and a few of my documents got kicked back because it didn't have their exact wording on it "I have sighted.."

Another area I'm slightly unsure of is my actual degree and what they will accept. I hold an ADN, not a BSN...however, when I compared the classes required for Australian bachelor's from the University of Brisbane (where I'm planning to move to), to the courses I've completed for my ADN, they were identical, even amount of units...basically it looks like what Australian nursing bachelor's gets in 3yrs part time class work, I completed in 2 in California...and the board's requirements state must have a degree equivalent to Australian bachelor's and complete a 2yr nursing program...so I'm wondering if someone had a direct experience with an ADN degree and going though registration and what was the outcome...or has everyone on here had a BSN at that time?

Fresnovet, thank you for the referral suggestion...i haven't started looking at jobs yet, as I want to obtain registration first and then work on a residency professional visa...as I think finding sponsorship would be rather difficult as they have their own ppl to fill positions without needing to be sponsored ...unless you had a different experience with the visa, then id love to hear any advice you have there ...i am currently working as an ICU nurse, but I don't have a year experience yet...however, by the time I'm finished with this process, I just might be...how does the agency work out there?

Hi Brookeee,

It doesn't seem as if you've been on Allnurses in a while. However, I wanted to reach out because I am about to send in my application to the AHPRA for nursing licensure. It has taken quite a while for me to gather all the required documentation for the application. I have been back and forth on this thread, but it is not always up to date and sometimes it hard to get information from other nurse friends. But I saw that you have recently sent in your application as well an would love to chat! Send me a msg when you can! Good Luck!

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Hello! I'm still going through the process ...they just recently made me take an IELTS test because I had a break between high school and college and most of my college was completed on a part time basis over the course of my education, and that was a problem...so that was the latest thing I had to do, to prove English proficiency...but it's just been a super long process for me so far, as I submit 5 things, they ask for 10 more...i had to recertify some documents as it didn't have specific wording on it, that really only would be used in Australia...i had to gather multiple letters from colleges attended and my nursing program, and tons of other stuff...so I'm hoping I get a positive answer soon lol...when I started the process, I was following the application guideline closely, but then the board would request additional information that wasn't listed on the application form, but is in their guidelines if you dig for it...so it's just been an interesting process, which I'm hoping will end on a positive note and they grant me licensure.

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Hi Brookeee,

I will be interested to know when you are successful with the Aussie registration. Feel free to keep us updated. I am working in Oz right now. I am interested in hearing of your success because, there seems to be a common misconception from American nurses that a BSN would be required for Aussie registration. This simply is not true. American BSN and Aussie bachelor degree are much different. As long as an international nurse meets the Aussie requirements, they're good. It doesn't matter what their degree is called elsewhere. Unfortunately, the misinterpretation deters a lot of ADNs from going for it.

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