A pump comprising: a casing having an inlet for receiving process fluid at first end and an outlet for discharging process fluid at a second end; a shaft within the casing rotatable about and axis and moveable along an axial direction; a plurality of impeller stages, each impeller stage comprising an impeller coupled to rotate with the shaft and a diffuser held stationary within the casing; a bearing assembly within the casing, the bearing assembly comprising: one or more annular elements coupled to rotate with the shaft, one or more bearing housings coupled to the casing: a plurality of first thrust pads coupled to one of the bearing housings and facing toward the first end of the casing positioned to bear against at least one of the one or more annular elements when the shaft moves along the axial direction from the first end toward the second end; a plurality of second thrust pads coupled to one of the bearing housings and facing toward the second end of the casing positioned to bear against at least one of the one or more annular elements when the shaft moves along the axial direction from the second end toward the first end; and, a plurality of ports through the one or more bearing housings providing flow paths for process fluid to pass through the one or more bearing housings and lubrication paths directing process fluid toward interfaces between the first and second thrust pads (132A, 132B) and the annular elements, characterised in that the bearing assembly is positioned between a last impeller stage closest to the outlet and a next to last impeller stage. a casing having an inlet for receiving process fluid at first end and an outlet for discharging process fluid at a second end; a shaft within the casing rotatable about and axis and moveable along an axial direction; a plurality of impeller stages, each impeller stage comprising an impeller coupled to rotate with the shaft and a diffuser held stationary within the casing; a bearing assembly within the casing, the bearing assembly comprising: one or more annular elements coupled to rotate with the shaft, one or more bearing housings coupled to the casing: a plurality of first thrust pads coupled to one of the bearing housings and facing toward the first end of the casing positioned to bear against at least one of the one or more annular elements when the shaft moves along the axial direction from the first end toward the second end; a plurality of second thrust pads coupled to one of the bearing housings and facing toward the second end of the casing positioned to bear against at least one of the one or more annular elements when the shaft moves along the axial direction from the second end toward the first end; and, a plurality of ports through the one or more bearing housings providing flow paths for process fluid to pass through the one or more bearing housings and lubrication paths directing process fluid toward interfaces between the first and second thrust pads (132A, 132B) and the annular elements, characterised in that the bearing assembly is positioned between a last impeller stage closest to the outlet and a next to last impeller stage. one or more annular elements coupled to rotate with the shaft, one or more bearing housings coupled to the casing: a plurality of first thrust pads coupled to one of the bearing housings and facing toward the first end of the casing positioned to bear against at least one of the one or more annular elements when the shaft moves along the axial direction from the first end toward the second end; a plurality of second thrust pads coupled to one of the bearing housings and facing toward the second end of the casing positioned to bear against at least one of the one or more annular elements when the shaft moves along the axial direction from the second end toward the first end; and, a plurality of ports through the one or more bearing housings providing flow paths for process fluid to pass through the one or more bearing housings and lubrication paths directing process fluid toward interfaces between the first and second thrust pads (132A, 132B) and the annular elements, characterised in that the bearing assembly is positioned between a last impeller stage closest to the outlet and a next to last impeller stage. a plurality of first thrust pads coupled to one of the bearing housings and facing toward the first end of the casing positioned to bear against at least one of the one or more annular elements when the shaft moves along the axial direction from the first end toward the second end; a plurality of second thrust pads coupled to one of the bearing housings and facing toward the second end of the casing positioned to bear against at least one of the one or more annular elements when the shaft moves along the axial direction from the second end toward the first end; and, a plurality of ports through the one or more bearing housings providing flow paths for process fluid to pass through the one or more bearing housings and lubrication paths directing process fluid toward interfaces between the first and second thrust pads (132A, 132B) and the annular elements, characterised in that the bearing assembly is positioned between a last impeller stage closest to the outlet and a next to last impeller stage.