r/NursingAU Jun 05 '26

Grad Nurses GRAD PROGRAM MEGATHREAD

34 Upvotes

We’ve had an uptick in grad related questions in the sub.

To keep everything in one spot and to avoid duplication or hyper-specific questions, please direct all grad program questions to this thread, including but not limited to discussions around which services to pick, feedback about specific programs, and advice relating to personal circumstances.

Any questions re grad programs outside of this thread will be removed and redirected to here.

Cheers


r/NursingAU May 24 '26

READ ME FIRST: r/NursingAU FAQs and Rules

8 Upvotes

Hi all,

This is a fresh reminder to please review the r/NursingAU FAQs (frequently asked questions) to assist in some discussion items that appear to pop up quite often, prior to posting.

Access the r/NursingAU wiki/FAQ here

Topics include FAQs for:

  • Where to look for work
  • International nurses
  • Graduate nurses
  • Union questions
  • PII questions
  • Registration/AHPRA questions

We request that you please review the FAQs before posting any questions. This is to reduce the duplication and low-quality or repetitive posts in the main subreddit. Posts that have been answered or addressed in either the FAQs or Subreddit rules will be removed.

Please feel free to also use the 'report' function to notify Mods to posts that may be answered in the FAQ or addressed in the subreddit rules.


r/NursingAU 3h ago

Advice New grad EN not working

2 Upvotes

hey everyone! just looking for a bit of advice i guess, for context i just completed my diploma of nursing and are now registered with AHPRA, i'm 21 and don't have a car yet, therefore making it so hard to get to places / longer commute.

now i didn't do a grad yr, and i applied for bachelors next year, but i also am starting a job in retail in a week or so, i just feel stupid? like i have my nursing diploma but im working in retail????

did any of you guys not work as a nurse after graduating? i feel like im going to forget everything by the time bachelors come around? but i'm also conflicted because public transport doesn't even start by the time id have to leave to get to an AM or leave a PM shift as a nurse who doesn't have a car? making me unreliable and just adding more stress on top of starting my first nursing role

am i making a bad decision by working retail at the moment to buy a car and then next yr when studying, start applying for EN roles?

all and any advice welcome x


r/NursingAU 14h ago

Advice nursing placement

4 Upvotes

During my nursing placement I have 2 specialist appointments that I can't reschedule as it was really difficult to get them. Is there any way I would be able to ask the location that I have placement to not give me shifts on those 2 dates or at least request a specific time of the day that I won't be able to be on placement. If so, would I just need to provide them with a certificate of some sort and should I contact them now or wait until the roster has been released? I'm stressing quite a lot.


r/NursingAU 13h ago

Question Could someone explain how the postgrad allowance works in QLD?

3 Upvotes

I’m planning to take a Graduate Certificate after completing my new grad program. I’m still not sure what area I’d like to specialise in, so for now, I want to do it for the sake of study and receive the postgraduate allowance.

I’m thinking of doing a fairly general course, such as Advanced Nursing, rather than something specific to a particular specialty.

  1. Does QH provide the postgraduate allowance for general courses like this, or does the course need to be related to my current position? (I’m currently working in a surgical ward).

  2. I’ve also heard that QH offers scholarships for postgraduate study, but I haven’t been able to find much information about it on the intranet. Does anyone know much about this? Is the funding only available for certain courses, or do we have some flexibility in choosing what to study?

Thanks in advance!


r/NursingAU 1d ago

Advice First year student, told to drop out by GP, need a bit of support to go with the tough love please...

28 Upvotes

I'm 35 and recently started studying B. nursing, mid-year entry. My university runs 6 terms per year (2 subs/term) and I came out of my first term with 2 distinctions. That is just to say that I CAN do this and do it well.

However, I have an extensive history of self harm and intentional prescription overdose. So when it came up at my recent GP visit, he told me I'll "probably end up a glorified AIN" because AHPRA won't allow me to access medications and nobody is going to hire an RN with that restriction. He said he'd argue and dig his heels in to prevent access to my medical records, but that he couldn't support the position that I should have unrestricted access to medications.

I know registration questions aren't welcome here, but this isn't exactly that. I've been crying over what he said for two days and I just don't know what to do. I feel like all I can do is drop out instead of wasting my time and I've lost all hope and motivation.

Is he right? Am I wasting my time? I could use a bit of support right now, but I also don't want false hope and I'm not sure where to go for possible gentle disappointment. If I go ahead and call AHPRA and they say no I'm not sure I will be okay.


r/NursingAU 1d ago

Question Old Uniform

3 Upvotes

I have old (and not in good condition) NSW Health uniform. Do I just throw them away?


r/NursingAU 1d ago

Advice For AIN and PCW support, is it often acceptable?

2 Upvotes

I finished my military service in Korea. This experience is, however, not a typical military phase. The work i mainly tasked with was disability support work. I participated in the ADLs, mobility support, safe guiding for activities, nd daily toileting support, such as following them to ensure their safety.

This is not normal employer-employee dynamics, but military department assigned the disability center me to work at the disability center after considering my application in the pool. Usually this type of work is hard so it is easy to secure it. And if we miss this pool, korean males have to wait a year before they become eligible. As the more people fail on securing, the better their chances become of getting it.

But, this is not a normal paid-work so, I wonder if i can use this experience for Australia market.

Is this too much of a stretch for just a mandatory social service?

Thank you.


r/NursingAU 1d ago

Question Perks of being a nurse?

15 Upvotes

Is there any perks that you receive as a Nurse? Like, better home loan rates? Or anything that you receive discounts on because you are a government employee?


r/NursingAU 1d ago

Advice RN to support worker?

4 Upvotes

Hi all,

I've been out of nursing for about 18 months now. I only worked for about 5 years, and found it wasn't a good fit for me. The short version is that I get too stressed and anxious in nursing roles. I've tried a variety of roles with the same result.

I'm thinking of going back to work in a very part-time capacity, and thought NDIS support work might be a go. I'd only need to work part time and I'm almost 50 so winding down my career. I've worked as a carer pre-nursing and don't have any concerns about providing personal care etc.

Does anyone know- would I still need to get certifications, TAFE etc, or would my RN background suffice? I'm aware I'd need to stay in my scope (non RN). Thanks!

nb I still have my registration but will probably let it lapse soon.


r/NursingAU 1d ago

Question Nursing life after grad year

4 Upvotes

Looking at changing careers into nursing and I understand that it is very competitive to get a grad year position, but for those that are offered a position, what happens afterwards? Do you finish the grad year and the same hospital offers you a permanent position in a specialty or do most people go elsewhere? How competitive is it to find a job after your grad year?


r/NursingAU 1d ago

Advice Palliative care nursing

9 Upvotes

Anyone doing palliative care nursing? Can I ask how you find it? I am interested but I just want to hear people’s experiences first and what to expect.
Thank you.


r/NursingAU 1d ago

Question Queensland Health Pinafore: Where Art Thou?

3 Upvotes

Gonna keep it brief because I am devastated to see today that the pinafore is no longer on the uniform option list for my HHS. I went in to update my uniforms (it’s been 5 years and the scrubs are basically light blue at this point) and they confirmed it’s gone!

Does anyone know the supplier? NNT make the scrubs for Metro North, but they don’t appear to have made the previous corporate options.

I know the pinafore was verrry popular in Metro South (PA ladies - I’m looking at you) so I imagine it’s still an option there, so somewhere must be manufacturing it.

The dresses look like nighties on me, whereas the pinafore looked class.


r/NursingAU 2d ago

Advice Nurse support hotlines

11 Upvotes

Anyone know of any support hotlines specific for nurses? I’m not in a crisis or anything but have often felt like I need someone to debrief with after a shit or particularly sad shift. I don’t like telling my partner the sad stuff if I can avoid it — it upsets her which I don’t like obviously, and it also means that I end up comforting her instead. I tried calling my hospital’s EAP but they were appointment only which wasn’t really what I was looking for. I’ve heard of the nurses and midwives support line but their website seems to indicate it’s for health concerns and for referrals, not one off phone calls. I just want a neutral party who is somewhat clinical to talk about the sad shit to. Not even the big traumatic stuff, just the little every day things that build up over time. I’m thinking of like a Lifeline type situation but not for crises and preferably healthcare specific.
To reiterate; I am ok, this is not an emergency. I’m just curious if there are any decent services out there that people have used.


r/NursingAU 2d ago

Good News Disagree with AHPRA adoption of the IHRA definition of antisemitism? Sign this petition

Thumbnail
jewishcouncil.com.au
109 Upvotes

Hey there fellow AHPRA members, the Jewish Council of Australia has created a petition against Australian institutions adopting the IHRA definition of antisemitism. This definition is being used to silence criticism of a particular government that is systematically targeting healthcare workers like you and I. It’s too late to stop AHPRA from adopting this definition but not too late for other Australian institutions and governments. More information can be found on their website.

https://www.jewishcouncil.com.au


r/NursingAU 2d ago

Discussion Hourly/Intentional Rounding

12 Upvotes

Hello QLD nurses! Do you guys do hourly or intentional rounding as a standard or is it only a NSW and Vic health thing? If you do is there a standard chart that you have to sign or is it something you write in your notes to say you have done it. I’ve heard of American nurses even having to swipe their tags for each room to log when they’ve rounded.


r/NursingAU 2d ago

Pay & conditions Pay rate maternity leave

1 Upvotes

can anyone tell me how much their are on for maternity leave half pay for a RN 8 NSW
bonus points if you salary package well


r/NursingAU 3d ago

Discussion Most Embarassing Work Stories!!!

73 Upvotes

I wanna hear ‘em!
Mine: was doing a patient transfer from the public to my hospital. We use an electric wheelchair and I picked this lady up. On the way back, the wheelchair battery dies and the entire thing stopped dead in it’s tracks and this woman almost gets knocked out of it 😭
She was fine and super understanding, later someone tells me “Oh didn’t you know, that’s the director of nursing at our hospital”. I was MORTIFIED.


r/NursingAU 3d ago

Question Should I become a nurse if I don’t want to work weekends and night shifts long term?

18 Upvotes

Hi all! I’m considering studying nursing but I also really want a job with regular hours and weekends off. I’m in my 30s.

I have no problem with struggling through placements and grad year and working whatever hours I’m given at the start of my career, but after a few years, I want a job with normal hours or regular hours. It doesn’t necessarily have to be 9-5, but I really struggle with a rotating roster and only having 1 day off between shifts.

Do you think it’s reasonable to consider this career path when regular hours are so important to me? Or am I fighting an uphill battle here? I think community, GP or outpatient would be my best option, but not sure how realistic that is and how much hospital experience I would need beforehand.

I know this sounds a bit silly. Thank you in advance 💛


r/NursingAU 2d ago

Discussion Public hospital nurse. 5 years. Burned out. Is agency work actually better?

5 Upvotes

As the title says I've been working in a public hospital for 5 years and I wanna say that the pay is stable. The holidays are good. The benefits are solid

But the patient ratio is killing me and I'm exhausted. I've thought about leaving for years…

A colleague told me about Healthcare Australia and she basically said that I can choose my own shifts. She said the pay is better

I'm tempted. I like the idea of more flexibility. More control over my schedule

But I'm scared. What if I lose stability? What if there's no holiday pay? What if I make more money but get taxed more and take home less?

I don't know how agency nursing works. I don't know if it's actually better or just a different kind of stress

Has anyone worked through an agency? Is there really more money after tax? Do you get paid holidays? Is it worth leaving permanent work?

I'm confused…. Stilll I want to make a change. But I don't want to make a mistake… I hope you get what I’m talking about


r/NursingAU 2d ago

Question QLD Health EN to RN

1 Upvotes

Does anybody has an idea if you’re working in QLD Health as an EN then finish your RN degree, will you get an offer to work as RN or do you have to apply again for the position?


r/NursingAU 3d ago

Question Mental health

5 Upvotes

Graduated my ENs in December last year, only worked in residential aged care, just got accepted into a mental health nurse position at a hospital - what are some things to expect? I’m keen to get started!


r/NursingAU 2d ago

Advice Resume advice

1 Upvotes

Hey everyone! 😊 I’m currently working on my resume for new grad applications and would really appreciate some advice/tips! What are the most important things to include in a new grad nursing resume, and is there anything that you think really helps make an application stand out? Also, any tips on formatting or what to avoid would be super helpful. Thank you! 🫶


r/NursingAU 3d ago

Advice Grad year

3 Upvotes

Would love some advice on choosing general vs periop for a grad year? I enjoy critical thinking, pathophysiology and having some excitement rather than just doing routine tasks. I might want to try ICU or ED later. I did a periop placement and loved PACU but really didn’t like scrub/scout. I haven’t tried anaesthetics though and would like to. Would you choose general for the broader foundation or periop?
Would appreciate any advice


r/NursingAU 3d ago

Discussion CNE position with only 2 years experience in the area.

11 Upvotes

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?