Versatility of an Australian Degree: PR, working abroad, accelerated degree, etc

[straight4]

Hi, I have been thinking very seriously about studying nursing in Australia, but I still have a few concerns that I cannot find solid answers to, and I would like to ask for as much advice from everyone as possible, in order to make a sound investment decision.

I might be asking seemingly unrelated questions, so I apologize if I confused you. I hope to gather (from different people) the answers to all of them eventually!

My situation:

I have a non-Nursing B.A. from the US, although I'm neither an American nor a citizen of the "highly-impacted" Asian states. I am thinking of studying nursing in Australia, but I am not sure if I should do the 3-year Bachelor degree, or the 2-year Graduate Entry program.

I believe both degrees will make me eligible to apply for Permanent Residency upon graduation.

1) But should I be worried about the Australian government changing the requirements for PR by the time I graduate? For example, I believe they changed the length of the academic program from 1 year to 2 years, for international students to be eligible.

I also have concerns about the versatility of a degree from Australia (in terms of working abroad). Suzanne4 has kindly answered my PM about this enquiry, and she mentioned that most countries require a 4-year degree for immigration purposes.

2) May I know which countries would accept nurses with the 3-year degree from Australia? Because in my impression, there are many Australian nurses who work in different countries. Please note that I am not talking about the courses I would have to make up in order to be able to work abroad, such as in Paeds and Obstetrics; I have read elsewhere in this forum that foreign governments go by the length of the program, and I would like to know where I could work with a 3-year degree, provided I do the required make-up courses.

3) Alternatively, if I did the 2-year Graduate Entry program, does that make me ineligible to work in other countries (due to immigration issues)? Being a (US) green card holder; would I be able to work as an RN back in the US if I did the make-up courses?

4) Also, if I did the 2-year Graduate Entry program, and did a third year (Honours course), would that Honours year be counted towards the 3-year-program requirement set by many foreign governments (for immigration purposes)?

5) Since I haven't yet figured out my particular area of specialization, if I did an Honours year, what would you recommend (at this point) that I study, so that I would be able to lessen the number of make-up courses later on (when I want to work overseas)?

6) Would employers view us differently if we did an Honours year? If so, may I know how?

(I have also read on a university's website that only those who did an Honours year would be eligible to apply for some Masters course that would educate us to become a Nurse Specialist (in some field). So I am even more confused about the significance/purpose of the Honours year option.)

I thank you in advance for your inputs, and for reading my post!

[suzanne4, RN]

Europe is about the only place that will accept the three year degree in normal times, but the EU is under a hiring freeze and unless you hold significant work experience in an area where they have an actual shortage, then you will not be able to get a visa for any of the EU countries at this time.

Preference goes first to citizens from that country, then to passport holders from other EU countries, and then finally to those with significant work experience in an area that is needed. Such as PICU or NICU and they usually want five years of experience with these areas.

[straight4]

Thank you Suzanne, for your response. I really appreciate it.

I have read about Australian nurses working in the Middle East (and especially the discussion about how there is pay discrimination according to where the nurse is from), Canada, and the US. So would it be correct to assume Australia-educated nurses are able to work in these countries as well?

Also, if other people could answer any of my other questions above, it would be very much appreciated!

Thank you.

[ghillbert, MSN, NP]

1) I don't imagine that anyone on here has any idea what the government will end up doing, do you?

2) Suzanne sees the negative side of things, when plans go wrong, so I find her somewhat negative about certain things. I have a 3 year BN degree from Australia and have worked in Australia, UK and now the US. I have several friends working in Canada right now with a 3yr degree. Provided you are an RN, and you make up required courses for places like the US (if required, I had no extras required), then you should be able to work anywhere.

3) I don't know anything about the 2yr grad-entry programs, but I can't see how you'd possibly cover enough theory and clinical to be eligible for immigration. I mean, the 3 yr BN eliminates "general" classes and is pure nursing, but it just scrape through the US requirements.

4) + 5) I doubt it - honours year is generally research-based. That is not nursing theory or clinical. You choose an area to research, but not a specialty per se.

6) Nursing employers as a rule won't care if you have honours. The reason to do honours is if you want to get research experience before undertaking further research at grad school. Eg. if you know you want to get a research Masters/PhD, you'd do an honours year.

[straight4]

I have a 3 year BN degree from Australia and have worked in Australia, UK and now the US. I have several friends working in Canada right now with a 3yr degree. Provided you are an RN, and you make up required courses for places like the US (if required, I had no extras required), then you should be able to work anywhere.

Hi Ghillbert,

Thank you very much for your input.

(i) May I know how it was that you didn't have to take make-up courses when you applied to work in other countries? Is there a good way for me to do the same?

(ii) Also, having worked in so many different places, have you noticed a difference in the way employers/patients/co-workers treat you, based on the fact that you were trained in Australia instead of, say, the US?

[i am drawn to the prospect of spending time in a beautiful country like Australia, but I was wondering about the practicality of/wisdom in doing so; I wonder if I would be better off (realistically) if I did my training elsewhere and then come back to work in Australia.]

As for Q4-6, someone else's reply to my post on the "Australian Nurses" Forum coincided with yours.:)

[suzanne4, RN]

I am just honest about what is happening. Canada is now requiring the four year BSN for almost all provinces, by the time that you are done with your training this is going to be required by all.

The UK is now longer providing visas for those that do not have significant experience in an area where they have a shortage, they have a hiring freeze in place if you do any reading on the UK forum concerning this. Same as with the rest of the countries under the EU. Jobs first must go to citizens of that country, next to passport holders from the EU, then to others if they have the specific need for someone with that training.

What one has done in the past is not necessarily what is happening now and that is what I am basing things on. To attend a program with the idea of doing something that may not be possible later on by the time that you are done requires that one research it before starting.

[ghillbert, MSN, NP]

(i) May I know how it was that you didn't have to take make-up courses when you applied to work in other countries? Is there a good way for me to do the same?

(ii) Also, having worked in so many different places, have you noticed a difference in the way employers/patients/co-workers treat you, based on the fact that you were trained in Australia instead of, say, the US?

[i am drawn to the prospect of spending time in a beautiful country like Australia, but I was wondering about the practicality of/wisdom in doing so; I wonder if I would be better off (realistically) if I did my training elsewhere and then come back to work in Australia.]

1. I guess it was just the makeup/timing of my degree. They are all structured differently and cover slightly different clinical/theory hours (and may or may not cover all the areas required by the US such as maternity/pediatrics).

2. No - I work in a very specialized area, and there are not many others that do, so my skills are in demand. Also, as soon as I got to the US I did my CCRN certification so that colleagues/employer knew that my training/experience was at least equivalent to theirs and sufficient for certification. There is a general lack of knowledge, esp in the US, about the nurse training in other countries - so I have found people tend to take you on your individual skills.

OVerall, as an FYI, after seeing the hoops you have to jump through if you're foreign trained, I would not consider it if you just want a few years' experience in Australia. It would be much easier, if you plan to spend most of your working life in the US, if you just did a BSN in the US and either spend a semester abroad or get licensed and then go work there. Nurses are in demand in Australia, and with some experience you would have very little trouble getting a job there. You'd then be able to enjoy the time as a working professional, rather than scraping by as a student.