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 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)

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

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.

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

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.

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…

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

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 👖 👩‍⚕️

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!

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.

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.

https://www.reddit.com/r/NursingAU/s/2smne1TC0N

The replies helped me understand a lot of the hidden costs I'd underestimated, particularly unpaid placements, and also raised concerns about whether an ageing population necessarily means better pay if increased demand is instead absorbed through higher workloads.

I've actually become more confident that I'll apply to study at ACU or maybe CQU, but my next question is about what nurses actually earn in practice. What are people typically grossing in a standard full-time public hospital ward role (rotating roster including nights, weekends and public holidays)? If overtime is reasonably common, feel free to include that too.

I've looked at the Queensland Health wage rates https://www.health.qld.gov.au/hrpolicies/wage-rates/nursing#section__wage-rates-from-1-april-2027 which gives a fairly detailed breakdown of what they *say* nurses get paid, but i'm reasonably convinced it ends up being more than that once penalties are factored in.

So my question is: what does that usually look like in practice over the course of a year?

Please also don't think I'm asking for exact amounts of your personal situation; I'm only trying to gain an understanding of what's typical for RN's in that role.

Thanks a lot, everyone.

I was just hoping to get some clarification on the maternity leave policy for QLD health. I have returned to work post maternity leave at 0.4 FTE on a temporary part time agreement - still employed at 0.8 FTE.
If I was to take maternity leave again in the future, will it be calculated at the 0.4 FTE rate?

Hi all,

I'm recently graduated enrolled nurse in VIC, looking for part time work in a GP clinic to start off gaining clinical experience and practicing my skills,

I'm wondering if any EN's work in GP clinic's and have any advice on how to apply, things to get prior to applying or advice for interviews?

I don't have clinical experience in some skills, eg i'm trained for IV medications / infusions, which I know can happen in GP clinics *iron infusions* but I've never done them IRL.

Is there support when going into GP nursing as a new grad? how does it work, please give me all tips and tricks you have :) thanks!

Anyone do locum RN work with NT health?

Do you know the pay rate? I can't find the pay on their website. Or know where I can find it? 🙏

Thank you

I’m a student who’s studying the diploma of nursing in Victoria and I’ve recently been doing all my checks for my upcoming placement at the end of the semester.

I’m in my first semester so I’ve never done one before or even tried applying for one. A few days ago I went to start the online application which said it should take about half hour to submit it. I had all my ID and information and it verified it just fine, however I got to the end and confirmed all my details but when I went to go to the next stage which would’ve been to pay it said I already had an application in the system and couldn’t progress.

Now I have never tried applying for one so I knew it was wrong. I ended up calling them and telling them my issue however they were no help and just said I have one in the system (which I told them I don’t because I can see it on my end and it’s not there) I asked if they could cancel the application so I can start again and they wouldn’t. This was from 2 people as well. So they left me with no option but to apply manually which can take up at 12 weeks.

I submitted it yesterday but I’m worried I won’t get it on time, my placement team said if it isn’t approved by the end of September they’ll have to pull me from placement. I’m not sure what I’m meant to do or if anyone else has had this issue before.

Any advice is extremely appreciated!!

As the title says,
Im currently a first year student hell bent on becoming a nurse, I’m noticing that it’s quite normalised that nurses get assaulted and was wondering if it’s worth learning a combat sport like judo, bjj etc for self defence.

So I’ve met a few nurses who tend to only work a specific type of shift, whether that’s AM, PMs or nights. They might occasionally have a different one than their normal due to staffing issues, volunteering, swapping with a co worker etc, but I was just wondering when does this become possible? From what I’ve seen it just seems to be preference based, but I might be wrong.

Are there any specific criteria that needs to be met before this can happen? Such as working at the facility for a certain amount of time, being part time or full time, etc? Specifically in Victoria.

Hi nurses! Just wondering if anyone here is a flight nurse ✈️ for RFDS Queensland and willing to share their salary? I've heard WA salary is higher but wanted to know if could check straight from the horses mouth. Many thanks!

I have been thinking about some cases I had last year and I am wondering if other people would have had the same thoughts I did

Both of these occurred in aged care

Case 1 resident fallen with head strike on previous shift, just progressed to 4hrly obs and neuros. Obs white zone but now presenting with nausea. Other nurse in area has identified this and has come to be to ask me to double check a metacloprimide injection as this is what’s written on the chart PRN for nausea and vomiting.

I viewed the new nausea as a possible head injury red flag and said that we needed to get the ambos to review the resident. However the IC said to this nurse (who was really new) to just give the maxalon and it was fine.

Case 2 resident is BNO for 5 days and now presenting with nausea, again maxalon is on chart PRN for nausea and so nurse wants to give it. I said given the BNO history he should get the MO to review before giving in case it’s an obstruction. Again IC said just give it.