fymk, hey thanks for your comments. 
I do sometimes feel that it will be futile to even attempt to write
to Forum because I do suspect that they will not publish it. Also,
nurses are not united here - instead of agreeing with your points
and standing behind you so we can all present a united front and
fight for better terms and working conditions for ourselves, the
likelier scenario will be nurses trying to do the one-up on each
other. For instance, if you say we could do with less bullying in
the workplace, there'll definitely be a handful who'll grab the
opportunity to curry favour, lick boots and retort with smart aleck
comments like 'Oh, you are so negative! There's no bullying, you're
too sensitive! People are just trying to correct you and teach you
and it's for your own good' or something along that thread. Instead
of saying, 'Yes, it's time things change for the better', they'll
say, 'Oh, you're the one at fault. I don't have such problems' thus
implying that they're the model employee. 
With short-sighted,
nasty folks like that for colleagues, who needs enemies, really?
hahaha! 
I am considering Australia, specifically Perth. I've got a best
friend who migrated to Sydney with her husband, both non-nurses,
and she keeps complaining about the high cost of living there. She
studied in Perth for almost 8 years and loves it deeply and she
keeps recommending Perth to me. I heard that it's a pretty
laid-back place and I'm not so sure that I can get used to the less
vibrant shopping and makan scene there but the scenic photos of
Perth just wow me totally! Besides, the
salary there isn't that much lower compared to Sydney but the cost
of living is much lower! Sounds like a better deal to me. I'm
eyeing this hospital there that has a Neuroscience Ward with a High
Dependancy Unit as well as an ICU. It's also a teaching hospital
for Post-graduate Diploma (what we call the Advanced Dip in
Singapore) so it ties in with my goals.
I haven't read anything about Victoria yet but shall do so now that
you recommend the place. Thanks!
I'll be attending a talk held by a US Nursing Recruitment company
soon. I actually had the privilege of attending a clinical
attachment in a US hospital and it was a real eye-opener and till
today, I regret having boarded the flight back. 
Anyways, like the Chinese say, 'good horses never eat grass from
the pastures they left behind'. (hao mah bu chi hui tou cao)
Someday, I might be back in the US working and studying for my
Masters. 
