Welcome to the Forum - General Aussie Chat

Hi all - I know I'm a few days late on this, but :angryfire - bloody Howard!

Like gwenith said - on the money as always! - nurses are prepared to take action when it will improve patient care, but are less willing to do so when it's about us. And I get how hard it is - most of us are in nursing at least partly for humanitarian reasons. Knowing that industrial action will cause patients, and our colleagues, hardship is a strong disincentive. Taking action for our patient's benefit is one thing, standing up for our own interests seems to many to fly in the face of the whole raison d'etre of nursing.

I can make more money more easily doing something other than nursing - I'm still here because I enjoy it and I feel as though I make a difference. But I'm not prepared to do so at the cost of my way of life. Penalties make up an enormous part of my salary, as I remember whenever I take LSL. Take those away, and the extra leave, and the other conditions we've all fought so hard for, and I'm gone.

I'm conflicted on how affected nurses will be, at least in the short term. Long term, there's no doubt in my mind that we'll lose penalties and other entitlements.

I predict, though, that there won't be any significant changes until after the next election - the Libs'll turn around and say "See? We told you the ALP were making a mountain out of a mole hill," get re-elected again! Then screw us over.

Hurray for the voice of reason. I too am extremely concerned about the IR. I have just completed my degree and am about to commence my grad program in January 2006. Until we see ourselves as professionals with the right to pay conditions which reflect the knowledge and responsibilities we take on in our patient care then where will we all end up.

I love nursing but we all have to live and pay our bills. Who wants to do the hard yakka, night shift, weekends, public holidays, without the compensation of the penalties. Sure if they want to cap our wages, then increase our baseline $10,000 to compensate. We are the frontline and advocates of patient care. It is our responsibility to pick up the medication errors Doctors make..... why aren't we being paid accordingly, we save the government money by preventing lawsuits with our knowledge..... Drug reps get paid $50k - $60K and whose lives are they caring for.... why aren't we worth as much..... let me know what you think....

I'm soooo angry :angryfire !!!! my friend is waiting for her registration with QNC and they can't tell her anything. When she sent the application, she was told that it takes 10 working days, but this was 3 weeks ago :uhoh21: , today she was told that it will take at least another 10 days. She has an application with DIMIA for her working visa and they are waiting for the registration to give her the visa. She has a job offer and they are also waiting for the registration , she can't work as a RN if she's only eligible for registration (like other professionals can) she needs that piece of paper. Now her visitor visa expires and she has to go back to Europe and wait there (few days) to get the registration and working visa and then retun to Australia, and this is very expensive .

HI Simona, any update on how long it took your friend to get her QNC registration? I am playing the waiting game too, they keep asking for more information? Anyone else have any info on this? *I am a Canadian who is looking for a sponsored employer job, but first has to have registration, then the job then the visa...........long process for sure, when you are over 45 yrs.* thanks for listening! Joanne

hello first of i'd like to say that i'm a nursing student and will be graduating in october of this year i live in texas (usa) and i am planning/thinking of relocating to australia to work. i will be graduating with an lvn/lpn how are the prospects for me, how lucrative are lpn jobs in australia?

Greetings and welcome to the Aussie Forum.

As an LPN in the USA, your equivalent here in Australia is to work as an Enrolled Nurse. You will find that most Enrolled nurses probably do not perform the same duties you would in the US as an LPN. My understanding is that US LPN's actually perform more/different duties and are higher qualified than the Australian EN. That being said however, you would still only qualify to work here as an EN.

Hope this helps in your decision making.

Good luck!

Are you sure an EN does not mean CNA ? Do you know thje salary or wages for an EN ? An LVN/LPN is a 1 year program with a starting wage of 15.00-17.00 USD

Hi, I just wanted to say I think this thread is an excellent idea.

Glad you are feeling better Grace Oz.

Hello, I would like to introduce myself, I am 24, an Enrolled Nurse, I work full time nights in palliative care and also 7 months pregnant! I find palliative care nursiong very challenging at times, but work with lovely women who feel the same way too.

Hi FlyLady - welcome to allnurses in general, and the Aussie area in particular :)

HI Simona, any update on how long it took your friend to get her QNC registration?

It took 2.5 months but she got it!