Finsecker

Hi auntsas, I assume you mean southampton in the states? Are you in IL as in Illinois? I am in the UK. If you mean southampton England then I'm not sure what you mean about shared housing etc. Hope you find someone with the info you need.

Hi Minnie, Well done on getting through the course. It's a tough course for anyone and I know from personal experience what added difficulties struggling with your mental health brings. I got onto my nursing course having had a year off work previously due to anxiety and depression so the university knew about it all from the start. I also had a few problems on the course that the uni counselling service and my tutors helped me through. When applying for jobs I needed to fill in an occ health questionnaire so it came out then. They then asked my GP for some more info about me. This is normal and I didn't mind. I had nothing to hide, and neither should you. Having said that I was very worried about it at the time, so I think I understand how you feel. I had meetings with the occ health doctor and he passed me fit. I carried on having meetings with him throughout my first six months of work I think. They really are there to support you and keep you healthy and in work if possible I decided only to confide in a very small number of my colleagues and this was the right way for me. Your experience with your housemate has undoubtably taught you alot and a tougher skin is something that I've grown since qualifying. Anyhow, I've been qualified and working since October 07 and doing well. Still have the odd blip and that's life, it doesn't mean I'm any less able to do the job than others, although negativity can easily creep in if you let it. Take care and good luck with the job hunt.

Yeah that helps, thanks for replying. I'm starting to think we've got a good deal!

Hello Sharrie, thanks for replying. There's definitely a lot of difference between what individual trusts are willing to pay. Would be interesting to hear about anyone else doing these lists. Thanks.

Hello and Happy New Year! I am a staff nurse working in recovery/PACU in Southampton. We do shifts at weekends under the Waiting List Initiative (WLI) and the pay is currently under review. If anyone of you also do these either in theatres or on the surgical wards, could you possibly post how much you get and the conditions. This is what we are paid currently: £100 per 3.5 hour session. A shift can vary from 1 to 3 sessions. If we work 1 hour into a session we get paid for the entire session. Ie. 4.5 hour shift (not including breaks) = 2 sessions. HCAs get £65 per session and I hear that anaesthetists are paid £900. Any replies would be very much appreciated.

Hi, You're definitely not the only one. Hope the course is going well, how far through are you? I'm in my third year now (adult branch). Just exam, dissertation, essay, and a 12 week community placement to go. Oh, and the job applications! Should qualify at the end of September. Still not 100% sure where I want to work. Have enjoyed recovery units the most so am thinking something acute like HDU but maybe not straight away. However, I'll just be happy to find a job and start to feel like a proper nurse. Hope you find the site useful, it's a great place for advice and mutual support. Fin.

Thanks for the advice, it's really useful to hear people's personal experiences. I do feel less worried now. I'll come to allnurses with all my problems from now on. Get ready! Fin.

Thanks guys, It's good to hear a positive story, sofaraway, I hope you're doing well in your new post. I wasn't planning on lying at all but I can honestly say at the moment that I've not seen my GP in the last 4 years regarding my mental health. In my experience, that is one question that's often on health forms. I presume it's true that the employer (ie the ward) wouldn't know about the details of any health check, just whether you've been cleared to work or not. Is that other people's understanding? Thanks for the welcome and for replying. Fin.

Hello all, I'm looking for some advice from anyone who has experience of this. I am due to qualify as an adult nurse in September and am worried about dealing with occupational health. I have struggled with anxiety since childhood and have seen counsellors, been on medication (albeit for depression) and had time off work in the past. I have not had any NHS treatment (just 'off the record' counselling through my university) or discussed this with my GP for 4 years. Counselling has been extremely helpful and I prefer talking therapies to meds but my counsellor wants me to ask for amitriptyline from my GP. Of course, he may not agree but that's another matter. I am worried what occupational health would think of all this. I don't want it to affect my chances of a job, especially with things the way they are in my local trust. I am now too paranoid to talk to the GP about this as the conversation would go into my records and may have to be disclosed to occ health. I have worked for a nursing agency and they knew my history and of course I was open with the university and got onto my course but I can't help worrying. I have done well in my placements and studies and feel able to cope with the demands of the job but getting through it all just takes so much out of me and some medication may help me cope. I would appreciate any comments, Thanks, fin.