Recently, I applied and interviewed for new graduate registered nursing positions in the public health system. This experience marked a significant milestone in my journey to becoming an RN and explicitly highlights almost the end of my three-year journey as a student nurse.

Whilst I am excited to join the nursing workforce, I am now nervously awaiting to hear if I will be successful in getting a position. I spent many hours lamenting over the application requirements, such as various types of documentation and paperwork I needed to supply. Further, the heavy decision of choosing your top 6-8 hospital/health service/MPS or

LHD preferences for your first year as an RN was one that I did not make lightly.

Once 11:59 pm on the 30th of June rolled around and applications closed, I was temporarily relieved. I had made my decision about preferences and felt a sense ofexcitement for what was to come in the GradStart application process.

This sense of relief dwindled as my August interview approached.

Although well prepared, I knew that I would still heavily criticise myself afterwards. So, I leaned on both my nursing and social support systems for guidance throughout the days leading up to my interview. Then on the 21st of August, my interview was over. All the stress and worry were gone.

It’s been two weeks since my interview, and I can say with certainty I am both nervous and excited for the 14th of October!

Lucy Pike, Student RN, Western Sydney University