simon2cairns

Awaiting visa to work at Cairns Base Hospital, whats it like?

annqldau

Looked fine from the outside, haven't been inside.

Cairns would however be my second choice of a place to live in QLD, especially if you dive.

wanderingwombat

Big building by the sea, fringed with palm trees

WW

tiernan

Don't want to be negative but apart from the views it is same s@:t different hospital. I have been here since Feb and so far not that impressed, came out as a new grad and feel like i have been dumped in at the deep end, this is just one area of a large hospital though so can't comment on other departments. On the plus side, absolutely love living in cairns and would never go back to UK.

wannabauzzienurse

I came as a new grad last year and have no complaints, I like my job and the people I work with. Guess a lot depends on the area you end up working in.

annqldau

Can you transfer to another ward within the hospital?

It's like emigrating the first place doesn't suit everyone.

simon2cairns

to be honest have a stressful job here in the UK in the community so dont realy mind the pay cut will hurt a bit but looking forward to the change!!!! just waiting for the visa!!!

simon2cairns

so where should i avoid working???

wannabauzzienurse

Wherever tiernan is working by the sound of it!!! I work in theatres and like it, I know people in ICU, surgical ward, NICU, paediatric and they like it.....being in theatres we're a bit detached from the rest of the hospital so can't really comment on what it is like....I did meet someone who had started work in ED and seemed to be struggling a bit.
It's a public hospital and has all the challenges that public hospitals the world over suffer from but I think you will find, although the australian nurses will complain about staff numbers, that staff levels are better than in the NHS. Just come with an open mind and you'll be fine.

simon2cairns

to be honest just looking forward to not having to do stratigic bloody thinking all the time and writting policies!!! and having living in the sun! planning to work at the dolls house in the end or family planning

tiernan

Sorry I had a bad shift before my last post. I work on surgical, i do enjoy it and the nurses are great but i dont feel very supported, i was told there is a grad programme which doesn't actually exist, they dont take into account any gaps between UK and Oz nurse training. I didnt want to come across negative about the hospital but it does have its problems the same as any other. I do plan to move on after my grad year is up.

simon2cairns

thats fine good and bad days!!!!

annqldau

Community here a lot more chilled than the UK.

simon2cairns

Very woried about visa at present!!! main concern but is community based from cairns base???

simon2cairns

is community based from cairns base???