Nursing jobs in Singapore?!

[Barney_80]

Hey everyone

I'm a student nurse in Scotland looking to get a job abroad once i qualify. I am thoroughly enjoying my training in the UK but i have suffered from itchy feet ever since i came back fom my travels and would love to work abroad for a while. I spent some time in Singapore during my travels and would love to have the opportunity to work there, although i am not really sure of the correct channels to go through!?  Also, i am not sure of the required levels of experience needed before been considered for nursing posts in Singapore. Any replys and/or information would be greatly appreciated!  

Cheers!!

[Not a Great Plan]

Have you considered the US?

Huge nursing shortage (read high pay) and very welcoming immigration policies for nurses at present.

Salaries in most SEA are terrible for nurses.

[night nurse]

I think nursing salaries here won't be acceptable to you - I mean you can survive but it's gonna be really frustrating; at least if this is your primary income.  Maybe fine if it's a second income  etc.

I second moving to the US for a decent wage.

I have a friend who is a paediatric nurse in London and he wanted to come and live out here - but sadly the salaries just made it pretty much out of the question.  If money is really not a factor, I would have thought considering a developing or third world country to do something "worthwhile" and make a difference.  In S'pore you will be faced with luxury at every turn but no money to enjoy it.

[ethnic east]

 try st luke hospital if you can accept the cost of living here..

[This message has been edited by BoardManager (edited 12-01-2006).]

[Barney_80]

Really?! I didn't realise the wages were so poor over there. I had heard that they were about the same as in the UK and that the taxation was less!! Oops! Any ideas on what the wages actually are for a newly qualified nurse per year? And information on living costs would be good too, ie, basic accomodation for (rent etc.) What about any other places in asia i could possibly work and earn a decent wage? I am quite taken with asia and would relish the opportunity to work over there for a few years. As long as my wages in the country would enable me to live relatively comfortably i would be happy enough! Any suggestions/comments would be greatly appreciated! Cheers!

[The Deal]

Foreign nurses here that I have met are only from less developed (ie: poorer) countries than Singapore.  Like The Philippines.  They all seem to be female too, I've never seen or heard of a male nurse here.  I am not sure from your posts if you are male or female.

Also, Singapore does not have a corps of highly paid, professional nurses like the US, UK or other Western countries.  It's a fairly low end job here.  Part of the reasoning for this is to keep health care costs down.

If you could find a position (I do not know if that is possible or not) the pay would probably be less than SGD2000/mth.  My rent alone for a mid-range apartment is SGD2000/mth.  A beer in a bar costs SGD10.  A date for two at a nice restaurant would be at least SGD100.

In summary, you will be poor.  At best, you could do a flat share arrangement and live a student lifestyle.

In general, Asia sends nurses to the UK, not the other way around.  Realities of salary and employability reflect this fact.

[SingHealth website]

H    QUESTIONS ON NURSING CAREER / PROSPECTS

45.  What is the expected salary of a Nurse?

$1,500 (excluding allowances) for an entry-level Registered Nurse.

46.  What are the career prospects of a Registered Nurse?

Registered Nurses can progress in three tracks:

Registered nurses can be Nurse Clinicians equipped with specialised knowledge and skills to care for patients.

They can also become Nurse Educators in a hospital or Lecturers at the Nanyang Polytechnic.

Or, they can become Nurse Managers or Administrators responsible for directing and supervising care or managing the Nursing Department in an institution.

[for better pay]

try

Brunei Darussalam or

Dubai

[janabanana]

I am a registered nurse with a bachelor's degree from the US working with seven years experience in critical care and trauma.  Cannot find a job here in Singapore!!  I moved here with my husband and his job three months ago.  I agree, US nursing pays really well!  Look at ogradypeyton.com for moving to the US as a nurse from overseas.  Anyone have ideas for me??

[more of the same]

Just want to emphasize what others have said.

In Western countries, where health care is really expensive, nurses get paid a lot.  To be honest, probably more than is commensurate to their education.

Here, nursing is a low end job.  I know it's important work, and not easy, but that's the situation.

However, healthcare here is really inexpensive and the quality is good (enough).  The low healthcare salaries no doubt contribute to this affordability.

If you could get S$2000/mth you could barely afford to live like a student.  No, make that a nun.  You could cover flatshare and some occasional non-extravagant entertainment.  No savings.  Meanwhile, you would see fellow Westerners everywhere living it up, dropping your monthly rent payment in a night.  This is not a good place to be poor.

Unless, of course, you are young, skinny and hot.  In which case I would happily sport you about town on my coin!

[ENIGMA]

i am also interested in working in s'pore but after what i read here i have btter options already. but as of now there is a retro going on in the philippines and its gonna take a while before nurses can finally go to US

[disappointment]

hi,
my little advice for you..you will regret to work in Singapore, high cost living and little to enjoy, I'm a male nurse and have family and yet they have to suffer with me with low take home pay.
just calculate per hour they pay you $8-$12 and on top of that..work long hour though official off duty at 8 hours due to  unfinish back log documentation to complete. Only enjoyment day is your sleeping day. In fact, we intend to move to UK, guess will be more healthier for family.

[mmi]

I'm a Singaporean who went to school in US &  received my BSN. Yes US pay their nurses well. But from my personal experience it is extremely difficulty to get a work permit to work in US if you are holding a Singapore passport. Because of this I'm planning to to leave US & go home.