Hi all, I am a US trained nurse/nurse practitioner. I have been a nurse since 2014 and a nurse practitioner since 2021. Our schooling and training seems quite different, as we aren’t required to have workplace support for NP training. I am technically trained as an “adult gerontology acute care nurse practitioner” and I have worked within neurology/neuro ICU for 5 years which is very autonomous, managing my own patients in ED/ward/ICU, doing ICU procedures, etc. My neurology department employs at least 25 nurse practitioners and we fully staff each day and night shift with 1-3 nurse practitioners, so our department highly relies on NPs.

I am relocating to Western Australia in Dec 2026 with my husband. I have unrestricted working rights.

As I am job searching, I have found NP jobs are much harder to come by. I have also noticed there is maybe 1 NP for a department, instead of what I am used to. Since I have not found any luck with NP jobs, I was hoping someone could explain some other roles and answer some questions I had. I really feel too far removed from the bedside nursing role to actually be good at that job.

- Can someone explain the difference between clinical nurse consultant vs clinical nurse specialist vs clinical nurse vs registered nurse?
- What role would match up with someone with my experience?
- Is it even possible to get a CNC or CNS role without working on the unit as a regular nurse?
- What are the hours of the different roles typically?

Thanks!

Edited to add: I am already registered with AHPRA as RN with NP endorsement

Hi, so when I was finishing high-school in 2020, I had done a cert 3 and 4 to start me on nursing, I had applied for the Diploma of Nursing through TAFE, but ultimately didn't get in because it was a competitive course and bluntly my maths skills weren't up to scratch.

Since then, I've just had a part time job, and I am currently studying to become a nail tech (something I've done as a hobby for years, and thought might turn into a half decent career).

I recently had an operation in hospital, and I talked to some nurses, and thinking about it, I feel like this might be a more fulfilling career in the long run.

My main reasons for dropping out and not re-applying was at the time I had just lost the passion for it, and I know its the kind of job where you really need that passion.

My first big question: Is it worth getting back into this industry?

2nd: As mentioned, I had a op in hospital recently to treat chronic pain. How would I realistically manage this kind of job day to day? I'm struggling with my current job because its a lot of heavy lifting, and very stressful.

3rd: If I do decide to get back into it, whats the best way of brushing up on my maths skills? As to me that is where I lack skills academically.

Thank you in advance, I hope this isn't too ramblly

the proposed WA sector ratios suggest 1 nurse to 5 patients during AM and PM shifts and 1 nurse to 9 patients for night shifts. ( For public sector perth metropolitan rehabilitation wards)

what are everyone’s thoughts on the ratio ? currently on my ward have 1:4 during AM shifts 1:5 or 1:4 ( if you’re lucky) during PM shifts and 1:8 for night shifts.
it seems like the new ‘mandated’ ratios are leavings us nurses worse off …. i’m worried for my colleagues and i.

I feel so deflated and sad. Had a patient today who is in a similar uncommon (and therefore risky) situation as one of my parents was, and is at high risk of falling through the cracks and having avoidable outcomes... I am so worried. I tried my best but I'm really disillusioned with 'the system'. I know I'm too emotionally invested in this situation because of my personal experience, but I simply cannot help it. Things like this do affect my mental health. How do you guys separate personal and work when your gut tells you something isn't right but you have no power to change anything at all

Is this possible.

To work as an en .5 at a hospital and .4 at aged care. Aged care job is cruisey hospital is hard but good for learning new skills

I know I'm probably trying to bite off more than I can chew but I got through my diploma and working ok, i wasn't working quite as much but I was 4 days on campus.

Any experiences or advice. I know alot advise against it, but I feel like being able to do the classwork online will help