Dear Australia,

I don’t like being told ‘no’.  My ego just doesn’t handle it.  I’m used to hearing ‘yes’.  I’ve had an easy life and I’ve kind of gotten used to things going the way I want- especially when it comes to my career.  I’ve worked hard in a variety of units, hospitals, and locations.  I show up and work hard and keep a positive attitude.  Okay, my chicago attitude still comes out sometimes.  But, I’ve never had problems getting a positive reference after I finished a job contract.  And I almost always get the job contract I want.  I’ve had the freedom to work wherever and whenever I want. 

So when you, Australia, declined to give me my nursing license, my ego was beyond miffed. First, I wanted somebody to blame.  That part was easy.  I blamed Loyola University Chicago and your Australian requirements.  You rejected my nursing license because I only had 764 hours of clinical training during nursing school. You require 800.  Did I seriously pay for this 4-year BSN private school education and then Australia told me it wasn’t good enough?

I actually wrote a letter to Loyola too.  I was calm and straight forward. I told them that I was denied my nursing license because I was three 12-hr training shifts short of getting my license.  I thought they might like to know that.  In four years of nursing school, they could probably squeeze in a few extra shifts so future graduates don’t have to face the same rejection as me.  I received no response.

And Australia, I applaud your desire to have only highly qualified nurses come to work in your country, but I think I’ve proven that over the past six years that I have served as a nurse.  I spent months at my first job being trained to work in the emergency room.  I spent months being trained for the intensive care unit.  And now I can’t have a nursing license because I didn’t train for three additional shifts during nursing school?

I completed all the items on your long list of requirements, Australia.  And I didn’t complain (too much).  I took an English exam to prove that, yes, indeed, I do speak English.  I got a letter from every employer I’ve ever had.  And since I am an agency nurse, that took a lot of phone calls.  I put so much time, money, and effort into obtaining my license in Australia, just to be told no? And to be told ‘no’ over something that I had zero control?

The funny thing is, I wasn’t even sure I wanted to go to visit you anymore, Australia.  But the second I couldn’t have you, I wanted you so badly.  You got under my skin, I felt your rejection in every cell of my body.  I moped around my parent’s house for a couple days.  My heart felt heavy with grief.  I anguished over the loss of a dream I didn’t even realize I wanted.  I couldn’t think clearly. And I couldn’t find a way to make this work.

My friends and family thought you were being unfair too, and they encouraged me to appeal your decision.  You had given me thirty days.  I had just returned from Central America the day before, and I was preparing to start a contract in Hawaii the following week.  Amidst all of this, I began calling every employer I ever had asking for proof of how many hours they had trained and oriented me.  A couple of hospitals were able to easily assist me because of their record keeping system was efficient.  The rest of the hospitals bounced me around to different departments and personnel.  The deadline was getting close, and you wanted me to submit my appeal by snail mail.

I sent you what I had which wasn’t much.  I asked you if you thought any of this would help, and you told me, “It is unlikely that the board will consider this.  We are aware that many applicants with qualifications from the United States are not able to meet the criterion.  Unfortunately at the moment there is no flexibility for this criterion.” The dagger in my heart got shoved deeper and twisted around.  I knew you didn’t want me.  I knew nothing would ever change your mind.

So imagine my surprise, when I heard from you yesterday.  You said you reconsidered, and if I wanted to work as a nurse for you, I could.  You sure know how to make a girl’s head spin.  I’m in the middle of a work contract, and my Australian working-holiday visa expires in 15 days.  I had just set my heart on staying in Hawaii for a year, and now you want me?   I agonized for hours over what I should do.  Should I stay? Should I go? Could I even get all the required paperwork together within the next fifteen days?

Finally, your visa services office opened up.  You told me I coudln’t extend this visa.  But I can reapply for a working-holiday visa after it expires!   In the end, you’ve made me one happy girl.  I can have Hawaii, and I can have you.  Plan on me arriving next August. Can’t wait to see you!

Xoxo,

Laura