mircats

As a fellow Aussie, go to the open days of the facilities you're interested in. Your uni should be able to give you help with interview skills, even if you don't think you need it - they can do mock interviews then figure out where your weak points are. There's also a nursing expo in all the capital cities every year, which has the grad co-ordinators from most facilities. Don't rule out non-computer match facilities.

Many people have significant pain yet pain meds stop working, or they worry it could be taken away after years of use. It's already happening - many patients with chronic pain in the US are being taken off their current opioid pain meds, often despite having been on the same dose for 15+ years.

I'm in Australia, and IV paracetamol (acetaminophen) is used a lot, particularly post-op. Part of the reason is that for some reason it does help opioids work, and in itself can be beneficial for many types of pain. From personal experience, I have found that particularly with bone pain (so, eg, after orthopaedic surgery) it does help. I didn't think it would, but was pleasantly surprised.

I have BPD, and it has no effect on my ability to care for pts. Unless you are unsafe to practice, there is no need to report it. As for being at uni since you were 17 - it took me 6 years to complete a 3 year degree. Not a big deal, unless you make it one.

I get the rare side effects, too, from pretty much any medication I'm on. Currently having issues with med-induced bronchospasm.

I started my bachelor's in 2010, initially full-time but very quickly had to drop to part-time. Took all of 2011 off because of mental health issues. Finished first year at the end of 2012. I had my mental health subject and placement first trimester of 2013. Unfortunately that wasn't so good for my mental health, so I took a further 6 months off. At my uni we had to do 3 electives, so first trimester 2014 I did those and picked up nursing subjects in second trimester. I graduated with distinction at the end of 2015 - in all that time, I only had three credits, everything else was a distinction or high distinction. Unfortunately I didn't get a grad position, and still haven't found work. Not giving up yet, though!

Carla from Scrubs - stands up for her patients, doesn't hesitate to tell doctors they're wrong or being morons, passionate, devoted to her patients.