Lismore Nursing Life :: A Day in the Life of Ramona Neumann

Ramona Neuman
Orthapedic Ward
Lismore Base Hospital
Place of Origin: Germany

I came to Australia planning to spend a year here working as a Nanny, so that I could improve my English langauge skills. I thought I would go home to Germany after one year, but after about four months I knew that I wanted to stay in Australia for a few years at least.

I liked the way of life and the easy going nature of the people. I loved the climate, it's warm most of the year and you hardly ever need to wear big coats and heavy winter clothes. Although if you want to, you can go to the mountains and ski. I think many people overseas probably don't realise that there are snowfields in Australia.

So, I started investigating what I would have to do to register to nurse in New South Wales. The Registration Board has agreements with most Western European countries, which meant that I had to have my documents translated into English, and I had to sit an English test and that was all. The English test was not easy, but it wasn't too difficult either. I passed it after living here for only one and a half years.

Now I am nursing in the orthopaedic ward at the Lismore Base Hospital in Northern New South Wales. I love it here, the staff is really friendly. I really appreciate the patient and generous attitude of the staff to me when I search for a word in English. They never make me feel bad, they understand that I can't know everything.

Before I came to Australia I was nursing in Switzerland and I have noticed some differences here. I particularly appreciate that we have after hours management at this hospital, wardsmen to help us with our work, and also that medications are checked by two nurses. We have a 1-4 ratio of nurses to patients, whereas in Switzerland we had 1-6.

I have also been able to get great leave arrangements and I notice that the management is very good at listening to staff and helping to find the happiest work situation for them in the hospital.

I like working the evening shift which goes from 1.30 pm to 10.00 pm. I enjoy to have the mornings off so I can go to the fitness centre where I like to do gym work, aerobics and swimming. Living costs here are so low that you can afford to do things like dining out, going to the gym and saving to buy a house.

I love living here because it is such a lovely area, with lots of great restaurants, nightclubs, great beaches and good sporting facilities. I am planning to buy a house and settle here permanently