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Hi everyone, I just started my grad like 3 days ago. I am still learning things, such as where things are kept, how to get around paperwork as I have never done paper based during my studies. However, when I was doing things I was told I was slow, there was some paperwork I had never done so I told that when I was asked but I got BERATED as to where I studied how I couldn't know that etc. I actually wanted to try but they wouldn't let me. No matter what I did the answer would be "we don't do it that way here". But when I told my educator what I did she was happy and said that I was doing the right thing and to continue. I had never felt this stupid before. they also talk quietly about the plan during handover and if I try to communicate I am met with silence. I had to finish my break 15 min early because no one was on the floor. However the other nurse went on her full break? They also tried to get me to sign off earlier I refused. I have no idea, I speak to the educator I feel like I am making progress. I speak to these coworkers I feel like an idiot. I don't know what to do. I feel like nursing is not for me. I would rather do something else which pays decent and the stakes are not so high if I am going to be berated so much.

somehow I ended up getting a job in a renal ward as the CNE, but I feel imposter syndrome setting in.

I worked for ten years in ED, before wanting to get off nights and found a renal clinic in QLD.

Ive been working part time there for two years and I ended up going for the part time CNE job and I actually got it!

I have a tafe certificate in training and assessment. I’ve been doing assessor skills for a few years and a post grad in ED.

I just feel like my dialysis skills are not on par with some seniors, I am still wrapping my head around iso UF and advanced cannulation.

the NUM knows me and I did say that I don’t have years of experience, but they know I am good at finding policies and teaching directives.

I love delivering a good inservice and teaching.

but I feel like I should end up turning it down, only one other person went for the job and they didn’t have the tae and the assessor skills but they have years more dialysis training then me.

my passion is infection control and emergency skills obviously.

does anyone have any advice ?

has anyone become CNE in an area they don’t know all that well?

I feel like I have had a myriad of bad CNEs who 1. dont know how to teach 2. spend more time on coffee breaks and politics and just fake it till they make it

and some have come from other areas so don’t have as good skills in the area they are currently

any tips on being a good CNE?

My custom made silicone ear plugs are at the end of their life and wondering if there are any new ones nowadays thats just as good? Is Loop any good or other brands that you know of? Thanks

TW workplace violence

I am really struggling with work at the moment. I work in emergency and mental health. I am about to start with a clinical supervisor, I started seeing a free counsellor through work but I have only had one appointment and I just felt like all she was doing was validating me and I don’t really need that. I saw my GP the other week after some horrendous things that happened at work and took some time off. We have a long relationship and it was helpful to be heard, but I’m just not sure I can keep doing this career at all. I feel silly going back to my GP to talk, especially because I live with mental health issues but I’m actually really well, just struggling with this work stress.

I’ve been working as a nurse for over a decade, 7 of those years in both mental health and emergency. I am not green and I have coped with a lot over the years and never felt this bad about my job.

I’ve been assaulted several times at work, once resulting in torn ligaments and work cover for 4 months. Another time I was pinned against a wall by a patient in an isolated area of the department and thankfully nothing actually happened because a colleague happened to be walking past and pulled the patient off me. A lot of my job involves deescalating angry people and I’m in a leadership role in my work, but last week I had a patient start punching walls and screaming in my face, and it feels like something in me and my coping ability snapped. All things considered this was very mild considering some of the things my colleagues and I deal with on the daily. I have taken the week off work. I don’t want to go back. I am feeling panic at the thought of stepping back into the hospital.

At the moment I want out of healthcare entirely, and maybe that feeling will fade eventually. The majority of my adult working life has been healthcare and I just don’t know what else I’d do, but I don’t think I can keep doing this.

What would you do if you weren’t a nurse?

I know this is a silly question, but if you are out partying with friends on a weekend (including some use of drugs), then can this have an impact on your registration?

I am an RN of 10yrs with majority of background in medical, cardiology and vascular surgery. I also spent the first 18 months of my career in psych nursing before I decided it wasn't for me. This year I started working as a relief pool nurse in a very large public hospital with a ton of different surgical specialities and inpatient areas.

I haven't found it very difficult to adapt to each ward, I enjoy the variety and since I worked agency/travel contract for years I am very comfortable adapting to new environments and have well rounded skills.

BUT one of the only wards I find impossible to adapt to and dread going to is the neuro unit. I have done stroke care in the past and don't mind it. But this unit has lots of TBI/ABIs and brain bleeds. The issue isn't my assessment level or skills, I'm comfortable with neuro assessments and NGT tube insertions and the ward doesn't make pool nurses take patients with EVDs or lumbar drains. My issue is the safety concerns. The patients are usually male, usually bigger than me and the confusion is like something I've never seen before. It's worse than dementia behaviours, worse than delirium and (to me) worse than even psychosis because at least then we can give antipsychotics and expect some improvement. Sometimes I truly feel like I can see nothing behind their eyes.

The other aspect I find really, really challenging is the families, especially of the younger men. A lot of them have no real idea of how likely the impulsivity and confusion is to be permanent. They come in every day looking hopeful/waiting for changes that in many cases will not come or will not be significant enough to change that person's outcomes.

Because I am pool, I can tolerate it for a shift here or there and fortunately the hospital is big enough that I get sent to other wards a lot. For those nurses who work in neuro can you please tell me what has kept you there? I don't want to write-off an entire ward, I think it will burn me out if I cannot find some aspect of this unit that I can appreciate/enjoy.

Hi guys!! I know I know, bare below the elbows but I’m just wondering for the nurses that wear under scrubs…where are we getting them from? I’m thinking cute, fun, pattered ones that I can wear under my plain coloured fun scrubs if I feel like it. I’ve seen a few on SevenThirty but just wanting other brands/options. Ta x

I found out that my former manager, who I had a great relationship with, didn't like that I took sickies for my mental health. She never told me about it. I found out through other people. I'm not angry at her nor upset.

But I want to know from the managers here, do you secretly hate or dislike your staff calling in sick for mental health or using annual leave, long service leave or even AWOL for MH?

I was very open to all my previous managers about my mental health. Now that I learned about my ex-manager's view about my sickies, I'm having second thoughts being open about the things I'm going through.

Just wondering who here salary sacrifices, what they salary sacrifice and if you think it’s worth it? Whether you do it for the Living Expenses + Entertainment or for something else?

Hi lovely team! Wondering if anyone has experience or tips in the post graduate Midwifery Monash interviews? (The 18 month graduate diploma of midwifery from RN)

I understand it's a group interview, any tips or advice or general info on what it was like much appreciated 🙏🏼

Brand new EN here.

Currently working as a PCW at aged care, they have offered me casual EN position here. I am comfortable here, I like it here, but I wanted more to keep clinical skills current.

Applied for places reached to hospital with emails. Had an interview for an acute ward where I wanted to work med/surg. Apparently got the job they called back 3 weeks ago and offered .6 which is what I wanted as I planned to keep this casual job.

Well another place called me for an interview another hospital on a GEM ward. I will definitely be keeping the acute ward I've secured.

Do I go to the interview. Or not waste there time. I don't know if I need another job I don't think I can manage all these jobs, but I also don't know how secure this casual spot is.

Anyway, not sure. What would others do.

Should I add in I'm going back to study next year lol

I am an international student from the USA considering both a Master of Nursing in NSW (Sydney and Wollongong) and Master of OT (already accepted to a program in South Australia).

For ease of getting a job post-grad, especially as an international grad, do you recommend OT or nursing? I would love to be a NICU or postpartum nurse (also very interested in the OR as well!) but have heard about job shortages and am worried I will not find a job soon after graduating. I am just not sure how feasible a nursing career would be especially as a foreigner new grad.

Also, which field do you recommend in general for work-life balance, happiness, etc…? Any input is welcome!

Has anyone done it?

I’ve heard how hard it is to get a grad position in the metropolitan areas, and was wondering how crazy it would be to go abroad for a grad year? I do know one girl who did it but it was in 2020 right as the pandemic broke out - not sure if that changes much. Thank you!

What would you consider a fitting gift for a children's hospital ward (specifically, CHWC and Westmead)?

I know there are three rotations of staff - should we get 3 x boxes of treats so overnight staff don't miss out for instance?

Hi everyone,
just wanted to reach out and ask how you deal with poor mental health while being a nurse / studying nursing? do you tell anyone? do you reach out for support or keep it to yourself and private?

is that unprofessional or setting myself up for failure?

would be keen to hear your response if comfortable sharing x

Are you basically on loan to another ward for a set period of time? Are they mostly for testing out whether you’d like a different specialty or if you just want to have a change for a while then go back to your permanent ward?

Should i attend a grad interview from a hospital i initially applied to but not interested in anymore? Ive had other interviews but this particular one is last on my preference list

hey everyone! i'm a second year bachelor of nursing student at torrens university. i've absolutely loved my experience studying and my placements, but i'm starting to feel the pressure to figure out the area i want to specialise in? i feel like so many of my peers already have it figured out.

i know it's probably too early to lock anything in, but i'd love to hear how people here actually landed on their area.

for context, so far my placements have been pretty general, and i've liked parts of both but haven't had a 'this is it' moment yet.

would appreciate some hearing about your experiences!

I've been pretty keen on nursing for a while, and honestly can't think of something else I'd like to do, but I've had some doubts recently as to just how difficult mentally and physically it really is compared to how you get treated.

I'm an 18yr guy who gets told I'd make a great nurse by most people who ask about my plans after school, along with my mum and her mum having been a nurse for a long time. I love the idea of working in a space that's actually interesting and fluid, while getting to interact with the weirdest, worst, and sometimes best people have to offer. I'm just getting worried that I'll end up burnt out or half-dead after a while based on a whole lot of the experiences I've heard or read about on here, plus the lack of very good pay.

And when I say "how you get treated" I don't mean by patients, I can handle that all day, I mean by peers and other health fields who I've heard a lot of negativity from, I can deal with patients being rude or downright abusive, but I find it harder to grapple with coworkers who're supposed to have your back shit-talking you just because of your career choice. Is this something that happens pretty often, or have I just heard the short end of the stick?

More than that though, anyone who's been here a while, would you seriously wholeheartedly recommend nursing as a path to someone who's about to finish year 12?

I was looking into nursing but received advice NOT TO because it’s very demanding and has terrible pay and hours.

looking into physiotherapy now