Overseas Registered Nurse Wants Advice/Friends

[don don]

Nursing is not an easy job but it is gaining its recognition. A friend whose baby was hospitalised for some 8months told me it's the nurses that makes the difference... haha... sure hope the doctors dont get offended when they hear this. But it's true that locals are less keen to join this industry. My friend in the recruitment line told me most of the enquiries are from foreign nurses wishing to pursue a career here in Singapore. It's tough especially now. Anyway, any registered nurse out there interested in pursuing a honours degree in nursing can contact me, i might be able to help

[ronablush]

Dear W

You sound just as enthusiastic as I was when I arrived here a year ago.
But just because you are a qualified experienced nursing professional goes for nothing here.

Sorry to be so negative but searching for a Nursing post here in Singapore is a lost cause. By all means try but I have had no luck and have completely exhausted all possibilities. I was offered a couple of jobs but at the risk of sounding ungrateful, the pay was terrible.

I was also offered a job at the beginning of the year. It took me 3 months to get registered with the Singapore Nursing Board (even although I started the process in 2006). The SNB lost my original documents. Then after being rejected by the MOM for an EP and a subsequent S Pass application the company decided they couldn't afford to employ me anymore.

So as a result of this and other factors we are now returning home - back to the real world! I can't wait!

The fact that you are married will help as you can get a letter of consent to work (based on your dependents pass).

Please bear in mind the following:

a) registration with SNB is exhausting and takes a very long time. Don't expect them to help you at all. If a large hospital employs you then you will have a better experience with them.

b) there are limited jobs available working with expat community if you don't wish to work in a hospital.

c) even although you are prepared to take a paycut to work and live here you will be shocked at what is offered. Admin, secretarial and service staff are paid more than nurses, believe me it's true!

d) and importantly Nursing is not seen as a respected profession in this country. It is considered a "dirty job".

hope this helps, it's better you know the reality now.

Hi JAWS,

I am currently a nursing student in Singapore and your comments really discourage me big time!

[usbrit9]

My wife and I are looking into relocating to SG, I'M a BSN (hons) with 14 years A&E- ICU experience and a bunch of post grad qualifications, I've just sent my resume off to all the hospitals (well a week ago) no replies so far.

[morenangpinay]

philippine nurses got the jobs from recruitment agencies back in the Philippines. thats why they got the license. as for the walk ins in singapore i heard its tough for nurses even though the turnover is quite high.

[sepodelic]

After working in the States and Australia (ugh!) I too looked with much interest in working as an RN in Singapore. I was ready to pull out all the stops because the counrty ( SG) and people were so appealing. I just couldn't take the cut in pay. At best I would make a third of what I make here in the States and thats before the currency conversion. Oh well, we all can't work in IT or the Financial Division. I'll just have to settle for my Hawaiin RN license and $35 an hour. Sure do miss those slender Mandarin girls. The pay for skilled nursing in SG is all wrong. Good luck

[catherine1989]

Hello all, I wonder if this thread is still active, as the last post was in July 2012.

I have been working in Singapore as a registered nurse for 4 years now. I am pursuing my Bachelor in Nursing this year after which I'm keen to leave Singapore and work in NZ on a short term basis.

Any advices on how to make the switch?

If possible, drop me an email at [email protected].

Many thanks to all the contributions!

[taxico]

Hello all, I wonder if this thread is still active, as the last post was in July 2012.

I have been working in Singapore as a registered nurse for 4 years now. I am pursuing my Bachelor in Nursing this year after which I'm keen to leave Singapore and work in NZ on a short term basis.

Any advices on how to make the switch?

If possible, drop me an email at [email protected].

Many thanks to all the contributions!

see if you qualify for a skilled migrant visa at immigration.govt.nz - if you do, fill it up, pay for the app, and wait for 6-12 months.

if you get it, you can enter the country and get interviewed and registered.

good luck!

life's awesome there. slow, dark and wet during winter (except... north shores?) and earth quakey, but awesome.

[catherine1989]

Thank you Taxico, for the reply.

Do you work as a nurse in New Zealand too?

[taxico]

i am a physician. i am also no longer in NZ. depending on what sort of nursing and where you work, you may or may not find work challenging.

life there eventually became too slow for me - i had the break i needed to recover from injuries sustained in the sandbox and left after few years.

you need less than 2 years to become a PR. i never bothered applying for it but it's practically a shoo-in for healthcare/allied-health professions.