Trained in Scotland - Work as Mental Health nurse in Ireland advice?

keeks11

Hi all,
I've trained as a Mental Health nurse in Scotland and am currently working in my first post in Scotland. However, I'm hoping to go home in the future to settle so just looking for some advice as I'm not too clued up about the whole system so looking for some advice.
1. Once I register with an bord altranais, what do I do next - is it a case of job hunting?
2. I've seen the HSE are offering skype interviews sometimes but how does the panel system work? (Over here it's very straight forward - you go for an interview and you either get the specific job you were interviewed for, or you don't!)
3. Is it a long waiting process to get a permanent position? (My first post is permanent but I've heard of nurses at home on temporary contracts).
4. Do you interview for generic posts or is it a case that you could get placed in any setting? As i said before, over here you apply for a position you want e.g acute in hospital X or care of the elderly in hospital B and only get offered what you applied for if successful at the interview.
5. Finally, pay. Is it really as bad as everyone says? I'm currently on £22,218 newly qualified and take home around £1800 per month. Is this in and around the same?
Thanks a mill in advance!

TrixIrl

Hi Keeks,

Delighted to hear you're thinking about coming home- there's quite a lot of negative press at the moment about staff shortages etc but.... that's only gonna be sorted with more nurses! Also, the shortage means quicker routes to permanency and promotion than have been available in the last c.10 years.

My only caveat would be to be wise about where you settle - with a standard rate of pay, your salary will go a lot further outside of Dublin or the main cities... but likewise there wont be the same social scene in the more rural areas. Where were you thinking?

* Registering with ABA can take quite a long time, so start this asap.
* HSE jobs are advertised at http://www.hse.ie/eng/staff/Jobs/Job_Search/Nursing/?pageNumber=2 and there are a few RPN posts up at present; both specific posts and NRS03655 Staff Nurse Mental Health Rolling which is the ongoing MH campaign. Even if you are successful in your first ever interview you are looking at approx 6 months before you are in post between ABA registration and the long, drawn-out National Recruitment placement paperwork.
*Interviews are generally done in batches and you are then placed on a panel. Each position goes out as an "expression of interest" to the panel and whoever comes back with the highest panel ranking will be entitled to the job. There is no issue with ignoring an expression of interest if location/speciality doesnt suit; you will not lose your place on the panel.
*In the meantime, I would absolutely recommend joining a nursing agency to work; the rates are the same as the HSE pay but you can pick/choose location and hours. As well as this if you end up doing agency in the same place regularly, the ADON there may well be happy to give you a reference which is worth its weight in gold as an "irish" ref... if you know what I mean! If you let me know what area you are thinking of settling in, I can tell you which agency currently hold the contract for HSE in same.
* If you have a years experience, you will be placed on point 2 of the salary scale which is approx €30,000 + location allowance (if working in acute MH or dementia) + shift allowances.

keeks11

Hey TrixIrl,
Thanks a million for taking the time to reply with so much info.. much appreciated! I'm from a rural area as it is around the midlands so will more than likely end up there. Don't fancy the standard of living in Dublin at the minute. 
It certainly sounds like nursing isn't as bad as it's made out. And by the sounds of things, my salary will be better off at home than it is. The grass seems to be greener! 
I'm hoping to start looking around after I have at least a years post-reg experience here, as it might stand for me a little better, as opposed to a few months.
Thanks again for all your help, you certainly answered lots for me!

TrixIrl

I know st Lomans Mullingar (Acute psych and some psych of old age as far as I know) are always looking for staff so that might be a good place to do agency while you're awaiting a permanent role. St Fintans portlaoise and the Acute psych unit in Kk are busy too. Nurse on Call currently have the contract for agency around there as far as I remember.

Don't get me wrong- there are serious staff shortages here so a lot of pressure on the wards but I would honestly say I feel nurses who take the opportunity to get in now when there's big demand will see the benefits down the road should another embargo happen.

If I can help with anything else, just let me know

TrixIrl

P.S. don't feel under pressure to wait to have you're year done over there- they will be more than happy to take you as soon as you decide to move! And I would really recommend getting started on ABA and agency registration asap as they can take weeks/months.

keeks11

Ye I know lomans but it's good to know portlaoise etc. It's difficult to know where all the services are at home when you train elsewhere! That's brilliant news to hear that about no having to stick to the year here.. I was under the impression of being tied down here till then when I've itchy feet to get home! Thanks a mill.. you're a star!!