Comments on: Nursing shortages in Australia

By: Susan

Susan — Tue, 07 Feb 2012 13:03:35 +0000

I am in the same boat as Michele. I let my registration lapse and after 15 years would like to return to Nursing only to find that they don’t offer any re-entry courses in Qld! I have four children and simply cannot leave them to go to Sydney to complete a $10 000 course for 3 – 6 months! I think it is just disgusting that Qld Health does not offer anything in Queensland to those who want to return to nursing after a lengthy absence. I am sure there are plenty of us in the same situation…

By: Narelle

Narelle — Tue, 03 Jan 2012 04:18:51 +0000

I graduated in December 2010 as an endorsed enrolled nurse and entered into uni to do my RN’s. I have found it so difficult to gain a position without 12 months plus experience. Is there anyone out there who is willing to employ newly graduated nurses and give them a go aswell? They dont mind taking all that money is costs for education and teaching facilities tell students there is so much work out there to suck us in when there is a shortage of places who will give new nurses jobs. I have applied in all fields of nursing, including agencies and aged care and they all ask for 12 mths plus experience. How do we get that? Do we work for nothing? No one will do that either so something has to change out there. I know when I have completed my uni degree in 12mths time that I will have the same problem unless I am lucky enough to get into a grad program, and thats not easy.

By: Sharon

Sharon — Mon, 02 Jan 2012 07:33:59 +0000

I have been EEN for 10 years and have work casual basis within Q-Health. Now they only accept contract work on a short term basis which that is stupid. In some hosptial, If you are not good enough, they will not extent your employment if you are happy where you are .No wonder they cannot get long term staff. Now I am working in NSW thru agency nursing because I cannot get a permanent part time position unless I sign their contract again. Qld health is getting beyond the joke when it is comming to staffing employment. I am thinking twice now should I completed and finish my third year study in Bachelor of Nursing.

By: Michele

Michele — Wed, 28 Dec 2011 02:44:12 +0000

Nursing shortage in Australia?? Why then have they made it so hard then for us to return to the profession? Having left work 11 years ago to have and raise my children, I was devastated to find out that to return to my job I had to fully retrain. In short 4 years back at Uni to regain my nursing/midwifery registration. Even had I been 5-10 years out it would still mean relocating to one of the southern states ( I am a Queenslander) for 3-6 months and paying up to $10000 up front to do a re entry course. So I put the question out there How serious are they about providing our hospital system with adequate and well trained nursing staff? A shortage yes, but not because we aren’t out there to return….

By: Reina

Reina — Fri, 11 Nov 2011 10:17:54 +0000

Agencies should be sued heaps for their advertisements. So many shifts that cannot be filled?? Liars. Only dreaming of misconception. More nurses, more shifts to send employees to, more profit. Advertisements are lies to put profits into their pockets. They have no consideration of us as humans. Seeing the ads, I simply quit my good job status. Liars. Agencies should be sued. Give me back my life.

By: damien christian

damien christian — Wed, 09 Nov 2011 18:11:46 +0000

How about hiring some RN new grads? I’ve 6 years experience as an EEN and currently work 2 x casual jobs. I have completed my Ba Nursing and have no new grad program and no one will hire me. My partner (who works as a clinical facilitator for QLD Health) told me not to take the 2 NSW rural grad programs I was offered as I’d get a job with QLD Health etc. Well I didn’t. It looks like I’m an EEN for at least another 10-12 months. At least I have a job as most grads have nothing or work as AIN’s. What a joke, wards are always short staffed and this is how the future of the health care industry is treated! I can’t even get a job overseas due to lack of experience. All I have to say from this point forth is explicit so I will not bother…….

By: Huhana Rare

Huhana Rare — Fri, 12 Aug 2011 03:22:05 +0000

Hi I have found that trying to tranfer internally in the public hospital system is an absolute nightmare
I will hopefully get a placement after 4mths. Someone needs to address this situation as it can ruin
ones self esteem and bank balance