Tweed Heads Nursing Life :: A Day in the Life of Sinead O'Flanagan

Sinead OSinead O'Flanagan
Emergency Department
The Tweed Hospital
Place of Origin: Dublin, Ireland

I came from Dublin two years ago with my boyfriend who is from this area. We thought we'd see how it went for two years, but I love it here, and we have just bought our first house, so I guess I'm staying for a fair while at least.

I miss my family and friends, but it's easy to stay in touch all the time, we email and text and speak on the phone. And when I think about Ireland now - it's October- and back home it will be cold and dark and rainy, and here the weather is great, so warm and fresh and bright.

I work in the Emergency Department at The Tweed Hospital, and I really enjoy the work. The staff are really supportive and will always help out with swapping shifts and helping each other out. It never feels like there's any kind of class system at the hospital. Everyone has a great camaraderie -nurses, doctors, wardsmen, cleaners; we're all a team together. People are very laid back and good humoured.

The patient ratio here is much better than I was used to in Dublin 1:3 or 1:4, and also there is huge scope for nursing here. The Tweed Hospital has policies which allow nurses to initiate a wide range of treatments such as pain control and ordering pathology tests-this means that we can give patients early access to treatments that will help them.

There is also very good education and support.

When I'm not at work I love taking long walks on the beach, reading ,and going out for a drink with close friends. We are busy renovating our new house too.

I really enjoy my work, the people I work with are great fun, and when I leave work at the end of the day the weather is fantastic and the beach is so beautiful - it's a lovely lifestyle.

I would recommend it to anyone. I'm trying to get my friends in Ireland  to come out too because the work is great, it's such a great place to live, and Aussie men are lovely. They won't want to go home.

It's a great opportunity.