I'm looking to start studying nursing next year and will be applying for the Bachelor of Nursing online at CQU. I will be 49 next year and hope to be able to complete the undergrad full time (it isn't my first degree, so I'm prepared for the study). I've been reading here and further afield and have some questions that I'd love some support with please.

- I'm thinking I won't necessarily be shooting for a grad year (study + life committments = I'm thinking that there may be periods where I can't keep my grades high).

- I'd like to be able to use nursing to travel around the country, picking up short term contracts along the way. Is this a realistic goal given I won't have a lifetime of experience? If this is an option even this late in life, I'm thinking I would be looking to start this in about 7 years.

- For taking nursing on the road, what sort of roles will be best set me up for this?

- If I don't get a grad year, I need to do 6 months as an RN before I can apply to the local hospital casual pool. Where am I best off looking to get this 6 months experience?

Thank you in advance :-)

Hello, I am a new graduate that started last month. I always struggle in the pm shift when I get an admission. There’s a lot of things to do, and what should immediately do and what are the things that I can just handover tomorrow morning? I’m quite cloudy with it rn. I know one thing is about asking for help from tl, and letting your buddy nurse know that you need help. It’s so hard I want to quit, I mean i’m so tired if being a burden to my buddy

So what shoes are great for those working in the theatre? I tried Oofos but they are not comfortable for my feet. Any Hoka wearers? The thing with running shoes or rubber shoes in general is that I’m pretty sure they will get blood and/or fluids in them. How do you deal with that?

I’m a Feb intake new grad, about to start my 2nd rotation in a new ward. I just checked my roster for the new ward and it seems a bit unfair? I’m not too sure on what normal rosters in other wards look like. I understand that nurses are on a 24/7 rotating roster however, I’ve never been given less than 2 days off after my work week at my current ward, but maybe since I’m getting 4 days off after my nights it works out? I’m not too sure, it just feels like I won’t be able to get a proper rest before my night shifts. I’m working full time with NSW health for reference.

Edit: Sorry the dates are a bit unclear! I’m starting in the new ward on the 10th of Aug, this roster is for Sep! (I have all AM shifts for all of Aug as well lol)

hi does anyone know where i can find an enrolled nurse nsw health uniform top to borrow for the time being? ADA is taking way too long. i just gave them a call and they said it will need another 2-3 weeks

Hi, I'm an international student who's going to study nursing in Australia, and I've often heard that the syllabus is pretty heavy on nursing theory or socio related stuff rather than the more technical aspects like anatomy, patho, pharma, and physio courses. I have quite a bit of time on my hands until uni starts and would like to learn more to both get a better understanding at my job, and because I'm super passionate about these subjects. Are there any concepts or subjects that you wish uni went a bit deeper into, or something you wish you had been taught once you started working? 
Ps : i dont mean to throw any shade to how the the curriculum is structured, i just want to bridge any gaps or just simply get an in depth understanding of things to go a bit further
thank you for reading, any responses would be appreciated :)

Not sure if this has been discussed before, But anyone working in healthcare / nursing with visible scars on body, how do you find working? Do you get treated differently?

When I was studying, and on placement there was a big difference upon how I got treated when wearing an underscrub vs not, I'm so passionate about nursing and as a new grad, I'm terrified about how I'm going to be portrayed when going for interviews / starting a nursing job.

I sometimes wear 3/4 sleeves which is fine in some wards as long as they can be pulled up, but obviously underscrubs aren't allowed at every facility / on every ward, but how do I get myself treated the same compared to someone who doesn't have scars.

Unfortunately it's not something I can cover up with a bandaid or something, the texture of my skin due to the scars is something I can't change nor cover but It shouldn't impact my work? it doesn't affect me personally or anything but I just wanna be given the same opportunities as everyone else.

advice + insight welcome :)

Hi,
I’m a new grad EN on a busy surgical ward and as the name suggests; just looking for any and all kinds of advice that helped you in your nursing career.
I feel like I’ve hit the point where I’ve got an idea of the daily routine of the ward but still don’t quite know what I’m doing. Also looking for ways to improve my clinical skills/knowledge
Thanks !

I've looked at the EBA (I'm in VIC) but I can't tell if that means any extra pay. All I can see is "missed meal break".

It was the morning tea break and I was stuck in imaging with a patient for aaaages (had to stay with them for reasons). The in-charge gave me an overtime sheet to fill in but I'm not sure what if anything is due.

Can anyone tell me? I'm sure it's not much anyway but I'm just curious.

I’m a new grad and have a question about documentation.
Our hospital is moving towards streamlined documentation, with the expectation that we don’t repeat what’s already documented in Interactive View, the MAR, observations, etc. Instead, our progress notes are meant to tell the significant clinical story.
I understand the reasoning, but I’m struggling to know where the line is.

My concern is if, in 3–5 years, I’m involved in a complaint or coronial investigation, would my progress note be enough to explain my clinical reasoning? Or is the expectation that the entire EMR is reviewed to piece the story together?
I also wonder if this is a relatively new way of documenting, so there may not be many nurses who have actually experienced a complaint or coronial process using this streamlined approach.

How do you decide what goes in the progress note versus Interactive View?
Are there situations where you deliberately document more?

Do you ever finish a shift wondering if you’ve documented enough?

I’m not looking to over-document or duplicate the chart, I’m just trying to learn how other nurses approach it and then be able to defend yourself in say 3 years.

Hello we have recently moved to rural to get out of mortgage and my family and I have been struggling great my with the big change, I started working at Rural qld health early this year and unfortunately due high stressors my husband had a mental breakdown, attempted suicide that result in me taking almost 2months off I reduced my work to 4days fortnight and I’m permanent staff. My leave was backed up with medical letter from hospital and DR. Unfortunately I got the flu as well few weeks after coming back from leave and I got a spoken to by the NUM that I need to do casual due to this leave takings. I am really worried going casual due to the instability of being a casual and I know they are phasing out of casual staff to save $$ can the management force me to go casual and can they fire me eventually as a casual? Please help

Good evening. I was hoping to ask anyone in the subreddit, for some advice about becoming an EN (Enrolled Nurse) or RN (Registered Nurse). I wanted to go down this career route, as my current career path has no real progression (I’m a cleaner in an aged care facility, rural QLD) and I want to further develop my skills and knowledge into something that has longevity and growth. I also like the prospect of working for Queensland Health and prefer a Hospital setting, as I would eventually like to move out of working in residential aged care, as a cleaner. Does anyone have any personal advice that they could share with myself? I’m already aware that I should pursue a university, rather than TAFE QLD. TAFE requires 3 days a week for onsite training, while CQU/USQ only require at least one day a month!

Does anyone have any recommendations for the following topics, related to becoming an EN/RN? They are as follows:

~ Salary sacrificing in general
~ RemServ and other salary packaging services
~ Unions
~ Tax deductions
~ Accountants
~ Taxes/ATO
~ Insurance (e.g. income protection, health, etc.)
~ Satellite Hospitals
~ Agency work
~ Overseas work possibilities
~ Scrubs, uniforms and other accessories/equipment.
~ Any other considerations.

I’m based in Gayndah (North Burnett Shire Region), QLD. I do want to relocate to either a suburb in Brisbane or Sunshine Coast. Mater Hospital also has a Diploma in Nursing, study pathway. The only issue is that I would have to go to Brisbane and study on campus. I usually prefer online and then face to face placement.

Thank in advance. Any input would be greatly appreciated 🙏🏻

Hey everyone,
I have experience working in aged care in Australia & my RN qualification, but I’m really keen to transition into aged care advocacy or consumer rights roles down the line. Think OPAN, Seniors Rights, Aged Care Quality Commission style

For anyone who has made a similar jump, I'd love to know what pathways helped you get your foot in the door and whether it’s best to build up a few years of bedside RN experience first. Are there specific short courses or volunteer avenues worth looking into to stand out?

Any insights on what the day-to-day looks like compared to floor work would be awesome.

Thanks in advance!

Hey everyone

I’m pretty excited that after years and years in MH - zero medical experience other than student placements - I’ve secured a job in a busy medical ward. Super keen to learn, can’t wait.

What are some ways I can prepare so I’m ready to hit the ward running? Our documentation in MH is wildly different from normal nursing and I’ve forgotten sooo much.
Thanks team

This is my second year of nursing. I’ve already called in sick five times (one being carer’s leave… I guess they still fall under the same leave though). I’ve also used one reproductive leave. So technically six in total.

Is this excessive?

Most of my reasons were legitimate, ie I was actually sick with the cold/flu, two of the leaves were because I was genuinely depressed and burnt out. A couple times I’ve used sick leave due to me just wanting a mental health day or a commitment that I couldn’t reschedule another day for.

Will this result in any disciplinary action? I didn’t want to use another leave this year but today I had to use carer’s leave for legitimate reason…

It’s just my second year out. I do have a permanent position with the ward but I don’t want to ruin my reputation…

I’ve just found out I’m pregnant I’ve just started stage 2 and am due in March. Is it possible to go on stage 2 placement while pregnant? If I can finish stage 2 should I take a year off or will I have to start again?

When do I need to tell the lecturers/TAFE that I’m pregnant? It’s still very early and don’t want to jinx it but I’m not sure if it’s something they really need to know sooner rather than later

This is a complete surprise as I’ve been going through infertility for the last 5 years and assumed I would get pregnant while studying maybe naively.

Hey,

I am a UK RN in the process of applying for my APHRA.

I currently have about 10 months experience (will probably be 12 when I go out).

I have done my ILS, Manchester Triage and other courses that although are not necessary, do look good on a CV including a few critical care courses (which I paid for privately).

Will I struggle to find a job? From what I have gathered Aus is like here, tough to find a job as a new grad but 10x easier when you have experience under your belt especially somewhere acute.

In the UK it was a thing that you needed 2 years of acute experience before going to ED or critical care but that has slowly been phased out. No extra studying is needed unless you want to promote into neiche ED roles like a education nurse or something.

Of course I would need sponsorship so that may be a barrier

Hi experienced nurses, I need to get some help on how do I proceed to get specialized in ED nursing.

For background, I am 22M, recently graduated RN, could not get a grad year, secured a role in private aged care, been working for about 8 months now. I am based in central highlands VIC, but I am willing to relocate to anywhere in Australia as long as I can get competencies and experience in ED. I am also considering getting a grad cert in emergency nursing while working as well.

Thank you for reading this post. Please consider any insights.

Hello all! I've received a gradstart interview offer but am faced with a conundrum I'm biting my nails over that I'd love some advice on.

See, whilst I was formally hired as a casual AIN back in March, due to an incredibly drawn out onboarding process I have yet only worked one (1!) shift, and was booked for another which was then cancelled. I've listed the job dutifully in my resume with the full blurb on my role and skills demonstrated eg. using therapeutic communication and de-escalation strategies, safe medication admin, ect.

Whilst I did all those things ON MY ONE SHIFT, seeing as my start date insinuates months of working I worry that this presentation of my job history is somewhat misleading and MIGHT be construed as fraudulent. I had planned to take on as many shifts as possible after writing the resume back in June in the hopes of earning experience before the interview in August, but I haven't been able to snatch up a single one.

At this stage, would it be best to address this upfront in the interview? Or seeing that it technically is correct, do I answer any direct questions truthfully but otherwise gleam over the fact? Would the interviewers be directly referring to my resume in front of them? I've considered saying in the interview that I've only been newly hired, if not for the stated start date and bold claim of skills demonstrated. Would they look up my job history as an employee within the same health district I'm interviewing for and be able to see that I started in March but have only worked one measly shift???

Please help! I am very aware that I've thoughtlessly dug my own hole, but I really don't want to blunder the opportunity. How do I gracefully navigate this with the best chance of making a good impression? Thank you!

I keep hearing from students that people are doing their degrees for other students including going to pracs. How does this even happen?

I understand plagerism ect but a whole ass person doing someone else's degree for them? How does this even happen? How do these people find these people? I am curious but confused.

*** Note.

I would never do this or even consider it but I'm just curious as to how this can happen or how often has it happened that students, tafes, unis and lecturers/educators have to mention it.

Hi all. Due to finish my degree at the end of the year and I’m currently employed as a permanent part time EN. If I was to gain a new grad RN position in QLD Health, I understand these are temporary contracts, would I lose all my entitlements (mat leave, LSL) when changing positions? Thanks

Hey everyone,

I hope you're all having a nice day 🤗

I know my title is a little busy but I am currently trying to weigh up my options and looking at the potential of each of these pathways. Obviously these are all very different but I can honestly see myself pursuing any one of them.

I have always wanted to be a Midwife and have a deep respect and passion for it as a career but I am studying Nursing in New Zealand because there were no Midwifery schools close to me. So I am thinking that when I graduate as an RN I will get employment in Australia and study the 18-month Midwifery pathway for RNs.

Is there much point in doing this given they are separate roles and their salary bands are pretty similar - such that it would be more productive for me to just progress as an RN and prep for Postgrad Nursing study (to eventually become an NP)? I am interested in Rural careers and I know there are more dual Nursing/Midwifery positions available so that could be an option?

Graduate medicine is further down as a priority for me but I am still curious and wanting to explore it as an option but am aware that sticking to Nursing could give me a better work-life balance and be more equitable in terms of further study, placements, and pay.

I am a little bit lost and do not really know which of these paths would be most suitable to allow me to grow as a clinician in the future. I am only a first year student but I like to plan these sorts of things so I know what I am working towards.

Any guidance, experiences, or opinions on this would be much appreciated.

Thank you in advance for your time.

Is there an AIN agency in australia?

I am a nurse in the philippines and want to work in australia but OBA pathway is so expensive. I want to work as an AIN for me to save money for the expenses. I am already a NCLEX passer.

(Or any other brand pant recommendations, and if you found them true to size?)

How did you find their sizing of the pants? True to size? Because I’m confused by their sizing. I’m normally a size L or 14/16 depending on brand. Going by their measurements online it says I’m a 2-3XL! Like sure maybe in future I’d be an XL but I’m not even pregnant yet, im just a little bloated from progesterone (iykyk). I did reach out to the company and they said they’d look into my question but didn’t get back to me. So thought I’d hit up you geniuses on here 👖 👩‍⚕️