Melburrrrnnnn

Hi again

Looking for a Psych Nurse role here in Melbourne, and although there appear to be plenty of jobs around, I'm struggling to make sense of the grading system [not to mention wage levels etc.]. Even Google isn't coming up with the goods!

So, can anyone please explain the grade system to me?

I'm a Registered Mental Nurse [UK- 3 year Diploma rather than degree] with nearly 3 years post-reg. experience.

I have my NBV registration in Division 1, but I'm not sure which jobs I should apply for. As there are so many jobs out there and I'm selling myself as best I can by making my CV/cover letter specific to each particular job advertised, I don't want to waste my time applying for stuff I'm not qualified for!

I know I'm over-qualified for Div 2 jobs, according to the info I have found.

BUT...

There seems to be little consistency in how jobs are advertised. For instance,
I've found jobs that say such things as:
1. "Division 1, grade 2" [or "3" or "4"] ;
2. "RN / RPN Gr. 2 ; and
3. "RPN4 (NP 45-49)" [which I assume is some sort of pay point level]

I think I'm right in assuming that all the grade/gr. and number stuff indicates the grade within the Division, but can't find out how the actual grade system works... is it by experience or qualification? And are these criteria set in stone?

Do I qualify as simply Grade 1 as I have no post-grad qualifications, or would it be worthwhile applying for those jobs marked "Grade2" [or 3 or 4] anyway?

Additionally, some say "Division 3" but not "Division 1", which I understand is an older psych. qualification. Do some jobs only apply for old-school applicants or would they be open to Div 1 people like me?

Thanks in anticipation that someone will be able to decipher the code...

Ian

Melburrrrnnnn

...and here's yet another one:

Grade 3B

Can anyone help?

Ian

eljustino

Hi Ian

From what I can fathom out, you will be division 1 as you are a qualified nurse RMN. Don't entertain division 2 as this roughly equates to NA's or the old enrolled nurses that we used to have over here.

In terms of pay grade. I will try and dig out a link which will explain it better, will have to do that when I get home tommrrow as I have the link on my pc at home. I am currently on nights at work. I am also an RMN.

Basically you have

1.1 (year one nurse)
1.2 (year two nurse)
1.3 (year three nurse)
all the way through to 1.9 (which is year 9 nurse in terms of years of service)

It then moves on to 2.1, 2.3, 2.4 which is senior nurse postion then onto very senior management who have an all together nursing band. Since you have 3 years experience you could argue over there that you should start on 1.3 or 1.4 banding and I will dig out that link for you mate.

Hope this helps.

Justin

eljustino

Public Sector Rates of PayRegistered Nurses, Registered Midwives and Enrolled Nurses
All levels – from 2nd May 2004
Weekly
EMHN
Pay Point 1 $641.81
Pay Point 2 $655.46
Pay Point 3 $669.11
Pay Point 4 $682.75
Pay Point 5 $696.19
Pay Point 6 $707.37
EN (30/11/2004)
Pay Point 1 $668.00
Pay Point 2 $680.00
Pay Point 3 $692.00
Pay Point 4 $720.10
ASEN $768.00
RN
Level 1.1 $737.56
Level 1.2 $771.47
Level 1.3 $805.69
Level 1.4 $839.60
Level 1.5 $873.74
Level 1.6 $907.75
Level 1.7 $941.66
Level 1.8 $958.53
Level 1.9 $974.65
Level 2.1 $1,008.77
Level 2.2 $1,031.31
Level 2.3 $1,054.07
Level 2.4 $1,076.80
SRN 1 $1,217.10
SRN 2 $1,255.86
SRN 3 $1,294.66
SRN 4 $1,337.73
SRN 5 $1,380.83
SRN 6 $1,466.99
SRN 7 $1,563.93
SRN 8 $1,660.85
SRN 9 $1,757.79
SRN 10 $1,854.71
ANF Australian Nursing Federation
WA Branch
260 Pier St Perth WA 6000
Tel 9218 9444 Fax 9218 9455
Toll Free 1800 199 145
Email: Information Bulletin
Authorised by Mark Olson ANF WA State Secretary

Now i can cut and paste, there is no stopping me!!!!!


I too can cut and paste, taken from Margeret2 thread lower down the posts in this forum. Ian ignore the first bit yours is the RN bit, not the EMHN (enrolled mental health nurse) you start at 1.3 in theory.

Hope this helps

Justin :scared:

Melburrrrnnnn

Hi Justin [and/or anyone else who may be able to answer!]

Thanks for your reply - very helpful, and much appreciated.

I now get it in terms of pay scale, but am still uncertain as to the whole "grade" business as shown in the ads. Maybe this is related to the actual pay level rather than post-qualification period? And so the pay scales shown are therefore the minimum wage level after qualification?

What I hope it doesn't mean, is that I would I be only a grade 2 after 10 years experience!
[i.e. when I get on to payscale that begins with a 2... That is 2.1 and above]

The only jobs I've seen that I'd actually like to do are described as RPN 2 or RPN 3, which I think refers to the actual pay award [and is effectively the same as grade 2 and grade 3].

In fact, as the only jobs I can even find are RPN [or grade] 2, 3 or 4, so surely it must relate to the actual pay award rather than prohibition from applying for "too senior" a position.

Basically, is there anything to stop me from applying for any job that I think I can do? Or are these dependent on my actual grade/post-qualification period?

Hope you can see why I'm confused and not sure which jobs I can apply for!

I'm think I'm going to lie down now...

Cheers

Ian

Mrs JFW

Hi Justin,

so do the years relate to how long you have been qualified or to how long you have the type of experience in the job you are applying for?

cheers jackie

annqldau

In QLD if you are an ordinary RGN with 3 years experience you would be N1/3 as in Grade 1 3rd year.

I'm UK equivilant to Sister and am N2/2 with yearly pay rise each year which in Aus is Clinical Nurse not Sister.

See also attached if they attach re pay scales.

Mrs JFW

Thanks Ann,

the info is really helpful.

debbiemc

dont know what you folks think to this right, i'm emplyed as and e grade rn at the mo with 4 years post reg. we have been banded 7's , i'm the only one on the unit who will have the big payrise and backpay eventually!!!!! as all the rest have been there for donkeys years!

our manager is also a 7! which she's p***** off about, but of course her job description is different and she is at a top level. so, when i apply for work in bris and they ask about position and grading how do you think i should reply, should it be as an equiv sister do you think, we all work as f grades and apparently at the last change were graded wrongly!

ta deb

eljustino

From what I can fathom and from what i have come to understand from reading around, 1.1-1.9 is based on years of service and can loosely be linked to grade d/e nurse banding. F/G grades can try to apply for the 2.1-2.4 payscales. In fact anyone who feels that are competent and safe to practice at this higher level will often be involved more in terms of leadership and direction of more junior staff. However this is my interpretation of the facts I could be wrong but this seems to be the general picture so if anyone is already out there and I am wrong please correct me and inform us all.

Deb, technically you are both being paid the same but she is more senior with I pressume more responsibility? lucky you You could in theory apply in Brisban and just tell them (which would be the truth) you are paid band 7 and then descirbe your current roles and resposbilities and apply for the senior nurse postions.

J

eljustino

Sorry Jackie forgot to reply to your post, years of experience relate i.e. year 1 - 1.1 year 2 - 1.2 pay scale etc. Experience i.e. as a sister or ward manager or CBT specialist for example or whatever, use this experience to apply for more senior postions i.e. 2.1 payscale and then each year of service you get over there would increase you 2.1 etc. Due to the experience you have, if you are loaded with skills, experince and competencies apply for more senior positions.

Hope this makes sense as i am writing this at silly o'clock in the middle of the night on a psychiward. Its a fulll moon and they are all a bit nuts tonight :scared: :scared:

hehe

Justin

annqldau

Level 3 is equiv of nurse manager over here but lot less clinical more paper shuffler in QLD I got 2/2 after proving UK experience and letter from past employer. Will jump to 2/3 this July same as you used to in uk pre agenda for change.

Mrs JFW

Cheers Justin,

I often have night shifts like that, and I dont work on a pschi ward! lol.

debbiemc

thank you justin and ann for the info, much appreciated

eljustino

Another night on the ward, sods wont go to sleep wish this full moon would end they are all nuts.....but you will all at least be able to sleep tight knowing that you are all safe. All my patients are forensic with some interesting history :scared: :scared:

Justin