AustLit

'These words, levelled at me by the university lecturer who supervised my final third year placement, stayed with me throughout my five-year career(ing) as a registered nurse in hospitals, aged care, and community settings across South Australia and Victoria. The context of these words was that of her informing me I had failed the placement and she considered me unfit for practice – indeed, unfit for work of any kind. “People like you are what the disability pension was made for,” were the next words that she uttered.'  (Introduction)