Christine Atkins shares her thoughts as a Letter to the Editor.

I am an Australian mature-aged student with life experience and a prior career in health care as an acupuncturist. I was very excited to complete my degree with credits, and extend my medical skills to serve the public in a different way and environment than I have in the past.

I chose the Children’s Hospital as my first preference, but I narrowly missed out as it seems most of the AiNS from the hospital were successful and funding was cut by the government at the last minute, so new graduate positions were halved.

I have been applying for everything and rejected for lack of experience (or due to my age). I am happy to do a new graduate position in any hospital or as an RN1. There are so many nurses needed (especially in regard to the current world health concerns) but without the safe and necessary mentoring that is required for safe practice, how can new nurses gain the experience needed?

Things will only deteriorate with burnout of nurses in the current health climate and as more nurses are overburdened there will be further risk of medical errors occurring.

Is there a way we can raise our voices collectively to advocate for more positions and guidance into safe practice? I hope you can help as I feel lost. I feel that The Lamp can raise the collective concerns for this profession.