Tuesday, July 12, 2011

Working in the United Arab Emirates

‘Ahlan Wa Sahlan’ is Arabic for "Welcome to the Heart", and is a greeting that visitors to the United Arab Emirates soon discover is true to its word. The UAE is a friendly and fascinating place, with a rich history and a bright future.
One of the most attractive aspects of working in the Middle East is the tax free salary. In addition to the base salary, add such benefits as free accommodation, travel allowance, medical cover and bonus schemes on completion of contracts. For many who have worked in the Gulf States, they have had the experience of a lifetime, made life long friends, travelled the world and returned home financially secure.
With the professional language being English, a multi-national workforce and the working methods often mirroring those of European countries, you should find settling into your work easier than you might expect.

Working in Saudi Arabia

The lifestyle in Saudi Arabia is generally quieter than other Middle Eastern countries. This is due to the fact that they have a strict legal system based on the Holy Islamic Koran under Sharia Law. Women are not allowed to drive in Saudi Arabia and when traveling outside of the hospital and the compounds you would be expected to wear a light black Abayya or cloak from your shoulders to your ankles, over your normal clothes as well as a scarf to cover your hair. You do not need to cover your face. For men, long pants are required in public places. Collared t-shirts are acceptable, but not singlets. Sandals and thongs are the standard foot wear in this hot climate. Whilst these rules can seem strict to some, every country has their own laws and customs and learning to abide by them is all a part of the adventure. There is still an active social life in Saudi Arabia within the compounds and you are still able to dine out with friends and lead an active life. Also, keep in mind that you are just a flight away from a weekend in Abu Dhabi and Dubai!
Employees of our clients are offered very attractive employment packages. Listed below are some of the benefits that you can expect to receive:
  • Tax free salary
  • Free Accommodation
  • Free flights at beginning & end of your contract
  • Free mid-year flight home
  • Free Insurance
  • Free medical care
  • 6 weeks annual leave per year
  • 2 weeks public holidays per year

Living in Qatar

Qatar, which is also known as the ‘State of Qatar’ is located on the north eastly coast of the peninsula. It borders the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and is surrounded by the Persian Gulf. Qatar was discovered around the 6th century BC. It is an oil and gas rich nation and has the world’s third largest gas resources. The capital is Doha which is located on the East Coast. The area of Qatar is 11,437 square kilometres and the population is approximately 1,409,1000. Most of Qatar is barren as it is low and covered in sand. Sand dunes surround the inlet to the Persian Gulf. The climate here is warm all year round with the minimum temperature in winter being 13 degrees Celsius and in summer (July – August) it can get up to 41 degrees. It is humid in Qatar and rainfall is minimal.
Things to do in Qatar – Go blokarting over the beach, enjoy camel racing and ride a camel yourself, go dune and wadi bashing, explore the capital city, try sandboarding/skiing, go shopping in the modern malls or enjoy the traditional markets, go fishing or scuba diving, learn to fly, and play golf.
Qatar is a small peninsula nation situation to the North of the United Arab Emir-ates and to the East of Saudi Arabia in the Persian Gulf. While Qatar has a rela-tively small land mass compared to its neighbours it has large deposits of natural resources making it a wealthy nation. Qatar is on the boom a the moment and many exciting opportunities are opening up there for senior management and sen-ior clinical health workers.
Doha is an emeging and modern city, billed to be the next Dubai the Qatari government is working to make it a global hub of excellent for business, fi-nance, health and sports events.

Living in Australia

Australia is a vast country with lifestyle choices to suit all tastes. Whether you are interested in moving to Australia to gain professional experience, improve your quality of life, or just have a fun-filled working holiday, we are sure to have the ideal option for you.
Most of the population choose to live along the extensive coastlines - and with Australia boasting over 7,000 beaches you can see why. It is the sixth largest country in the world and is made up of six states: Queensland, New South Wales, Victoria, Western Australia and Tasmania and two territories; Australian Capital Territory and Northern Territory.
Australia is a diverse, modern, sophisticated, yet affordable country. The multicultural population has provided a huge choice of affordable restaurants specialising in a variety of international cuisines. And, as eating out in Australia fairly inexpensive, you can afford to treat your tastebuds regularly!
With lively music scenes, pubs, hotels, movie and arts industries, there is a range of entertainment for all tastes. Being a nation of sports fanatics, there is a plentiful supply of quality sporting venues - offering the choice of participation or spectating.
With climates ranging from tropical to temperate, there is sure to be an ideal location for you, whether that involves surfing at one of Australia's many beautiful beaches or snowboarding down a ski slope!
For nature lovers, Australia offers vast areas of national parks, filled with uniquely Australian native plants and fauna. And, with a population density a fraction of most countries, it's very easy to find a quiet spot when you want to escape the city life.

Thursday, July 7, 2011

The Highest Paid Nurses

    • Nurses play an important role in the healthcare industry.
      The nursing industry is projected for a 22 percent growth between 2008-2018 according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, earning it an excellent rating in the job outlook department. Not only is there considerable job security in nursing, but there are also plenty of opportunities for financial success as well. Although the median salary for registered nurses is around $62,450, the highest-paid nurses earn incomes approaching and occasionally surpassing six figures.

    Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetist

    • Working directly with surgeons, anesthesiologists and dentists, a certified registered nurse anesthetist administers anesthesia medications to patients. As the top paid nurses according to Monster with a median salary of roughly $135,000 as of late 2010, these nurses must hold a Bachelor of Science in Nursing degree, a Registered Nurse license and have one year of experience working as a critical care nurse. They must also successfully complete a Certified Registered Nurse Assistant program, which typically takes anywhere from two to three years.

    Nurse Researcher

    • Usually employed by private companies, nurse researchers compile, analyze and publish data on various medical products and practices. A BSN degree is required to qualify for the position, while a Master of Science in Nursing or even a doctorate degree is needed for more advanced research careers. These nurses make an average of $95,000 a year, but an experienced researcher easily surpasses $100,000.

    Psychiatric Nurse Practitioner

    • Psychiatric nurse practitioners specialize in working with patients afflicted by a mental or psychological disorder. These nurses act as psychiatrists, providing both counseling as well as prescription medication when applicable. They also provide ongoing assessments and written evaluations of a patient's progress, effectively managing the medical history of each client treated. An MSN is the most common degree held by nurses in this field. The median annual income is $95,000.

    Certified Nurse Midwife

    • A Certified nurse midwife oversees virtually the entire pregnancy process, including family planning advice, prenatal and neonatal care and assistance in the delivery process. Because their profession involves childbirth, hours are very inconsistent and can take place in a variety of locations, ranging from private homes to public clinics to hospitals. Certified nurse midwives must complete all the requirements of a registered nurse and usually have two to four years of experience in obstetrics. Those who meet these extensive qualifications can expect to earn an average of $84,000 annually.

    Pediatric Endocrinology Nurse

    • Specializing in working with children who suffer from diseases or disorders in the endocrine system, pediatric endocrinology nurses earn an average of $81,000 a year. The duties of these nurses include both providing care and having in-depth discussions with parents regarding the difficulties these disorders will cause in the child's development. Due to the difficult nature of these discussions, strong communication skills are a must in addition to the regular RN requirements.

How to Become a Nurse in South Africa

Nursing is one of the world's most important professions. In South Africa, there are many types of nurses, including nurse auxiliaries, midwives and even psychiatric nurses. As such, there are different types of nursing degrees. Regardless of what sort of nurse one wants to become, all South African nurses must first be educated at a nursing school, which can be a part of a training hospital or a university. After completing their studies, new nurses must first complete a year of community service before entering the work force.

Difficulty:
Moderate

Instructions

    • 1
      Determine the type of program you wish to take, as there are various nursing programs. Some offer undergraduate degrees called Baccalaureus Curationis or the BCur degree, while others allow students to gain a post-graduate nursing degree. An undergraduate degree can be completed within four to five years. Nurses with an undergraduate degree in nursing sciences can gain a Masters degree in psychiatric nursing, general nursing and midwifery. Some can also obtain a Ph.D in Nursing or the Doctor Curationis degree, which is also known as DCur.
    • 2
      Apply to the nurse training program of your choice. The chosen program will likely depend on where the nursing school is located, what courses are offered and whether an undergraduate or post-graduate nursing degree is sought. To obtain an application form, contact your preferred school via email or in person to collect a form. Some schools provide application forms on line.
    • 3
      Nursing is regulated by the South African Nursing Council.
      Register with the South African Nursing Council (SANC or Council) and complete the selected courses of study. Once accepted into the program, all nursing students must register with the SANC, attend classes and finish the nursing program. After graduation, the nursing school will send a Certificate of Completion to the SANC. The certificate formally informs the Council that a registered student completed the training course. Foreign students, however, will not be registered with the Council. They must instead return to their country of origin or official residence and register as nurses there. If the foreign student would like to work in South Africa, they must first register in their home country and then follow immigration protocols to obtain a work visa to return to South Africa.
    • 4
      Take the SANC-administered nursing exam that fits with the specific qualification you seek. There are exams for nursing auxiliary applicants, midwives and psychiatric nurses. To view the exam schedule, visit the SANC's website.
    • 5
      Complete one year of community service as required by South African law. After graduation, all new nurses must apply for placement during the mandatory community service year. During the service year, the nurse will gain necessary hands-on training at clinics and hospitals. The application is available for download at the South African Nursing Council's website.

Wednesday, July 6, 2011

BACHELOR OF NURSING PROGRAMME IN AUSTRALIA

Australia is an exciting, vibrant, warm and welcoming environment in which to live and study. The standard of living is high, cost of living is lower, plus tuition fees and personal safety are more than comparable with other international study destinations. This makes Australia an ideal place to pursue further professional development.
Australian universities offer overseas nursing students a variety of different study options, and opportunities not available anywhere else in the world. Qualifications from Australian universities are recognised worldwide, and respected for their academic excellence. An additional benefit of studying in Australia is the opportunity to combine professional study and development with recreational activities associated with the Australian climate, outdoor lifestyle and multicultural environment.
Historically, nursing in Australia began its transition to the university education sector 25 years ago. Subsequently, all states of Australia implemented nursing education courses in tertiary institutions. Since then, it has become a country at the cutting edge of professional nursing education and scholarship. Nursing education at all levels in Australia is acknowledged worldwide as being comprehensive, challenging, dynamic and of high academic standard.
All Schools of Nursing in Australia have developed curricula, from undergraduate preregistration programs through to postgraduate and doctoral studies. Integrated within these study programs is the opportunity to complete study abroad units and certified continuing education packages that target specific areas of professional practice.
Numerous postgraduate study courses are available throughout Australia, designed to meet the changing health-care environment, and the greater complexity of the registered nurse's role in the provision of health care. The courses aim to develop advanced practitioners in nursing specialities; areas of focus include management, education, health promotion, research and a variety of clinical specialities. Students are provided with opportunities to expand their knowledge base, to increase their understanding of international health, and to gain expertise and experience allowing them to practise as advanced health professionals on a worldwide basis. As postgraduate courses also include research design, preparation and thesis writing, students are also well placed to pursue further studies at Master and Doctoral levels. Health management and administration courses include: strategic planning, quality improvement, nursing management, human resource management, financial management, and patient classification systems. This content facilitates the development of expertise in health management principles and practices that can be utilised across any health care environment.
Masters and doctoral studies provide opportunity for students to research in greater depth specific health administration and management concepts relevant to their own specific areas. Postgraduate courses in nursing education include generic educational units, such as staff development, reflective practice, curriculum design, and effective teaching and learning. Health education and promotion provides avenues for students to pursue courses specifically targeted at health counselling, behavioural health science, substance abuse management, mental health, and women's and men's health. Clinical speciality areas offer opportunities to those nurses wishing to advance their competencies and knowledge in clinically-based practice areas. Universities in Australia have developed postgraduate courses in clinical areas such as midwifery, neonates, paediatrics, critical care, nephrology, mental health, emergency, neurosciences, orthopaedics, oncology, spinal injuries, operating room, respiratory and cardiothoracic nursing.
Many universities have structured their courses on a collaborative teaching model with major public and private hospitals, enabling them to offer dynamic postgraduate courses in clinical nursing. With the strong involvement of the clinical areas, the courses are academically rigorous, relevant and practical to the reality of the changing health care environments in which we work all today. English study programs can be undertaken prior to commencing full-time postgraduate study, if needed to meet entry requirements. Additional English language study can then be incorporated into your program to support the progress of your study.
You will find Australians come from many different ethnic and cultural backgrounds, and this assists international students to integrate into the cultural environment of all cities and universities. Many universities in Australia have high numbers of international students, and therefore have resources and facilities on campus designed to ensure that all students have the opportunity to fulfil learning needs and maximise learning opportunities.
Australia has a great deal to offer international nursing students. Whether you choose to study in Australia because of its academic rigor, or as an opportunity to travel to a new and exciting country, you will not be disappointed by the diverse courses which are offered, and the range of experience these study opportunities will provide.
Author
Department of Health Sciences
Curtin University