The North West Hospital and Health Service will host a record 28 first year of practice (FYP) registered nurse and midwifery graduates in 2017, eight more than last year’s intake which was also a record.
NWHHS Executive Director of Nursing and Midwifery Michelle Garner said the 28 FYP graduates comprised 25 registered nurses and three midwives.
“The new graduates will develop their skills under the strong guidance of experienced nurses and midwives within the health service,’’ she said.
Ms Garner said the graduates included two who had taken their nursing degree through Mount Isa Campus of James Cook University.
“It’s really great to see some of our locally grown nurses choosing to do their graduate training right here in the North West,’’ she said.
Ms Garner said 27 of the new graduates would start with an orientation week before beginning rotational placements at health facilities across the North West from March 6.
The 28th graduate would start a little later in the year.
The new nurses will undertake rotations at Mount Isa, Mornington Island, Normanton and Doomadgee hospitals, as well as the McKinlay Shire and Cloncurry multipurpose health services and the Burketown and Camooweal primary healthcare centres.
“In addition, thanks to an agreement between our two organisations, this year they will also be able to do a placement at the Laura Johnson Home,’’ Ms Garner said.
Laura Johnson Home CEOfficer Betty Kiernan said the home would offer an incredibly valuable experience in aged care nursing for the first year graduates.
“Furthermore, the nurse graduate placements will continue to strengthen the Laura Johnson Home’s relationship with the medical and nursing staff at our local hospital,’’ she said.
Ms Garner said 45 applications had been received from graduate nurses throughout Queensland seeking positions within the NWHHS.
“We believe the growing intake of nursing graduates choosing to come to the North West reflects the quality of our training program and the value we place on our residents,” Ms Garner said.
She said North West HHS nursing education staff had been visiting local schools and universities in other hospital and health services to spread the word about the North West’s unique nurse graduate training program.
“I believe this is what has resulted in a record number of candidates applying for our positions, over the past three years,’’ she said.
“Our 12-month transition program allows nurse graduates to complete three full-time four-month placements in various health facilities or services across the North West, as well as providing experience in surgical, medical, emergency, paediatric, maternity, intensive care, operating theatre and aged care disciplines.
“We are very proud that we tailor the experience and learning outcomes at the end of each year and build feedback from the graduates and their supervisors into the next year’s program.
“The placements and protected education days are specifically designed to build the clinical skills and knowledge relevant for nursing practice in our regional, remote and predominantly Indigenous settings.
“Our graduate nurses work through self-paced learning guides and gain unique experiences in different aspects of nursing.
“Ultimately, we hope our nurse graduates so enjoy the unique training and opportunities available to them in the North West that they choose to continue their employment with us after they finish the FYP training program.’’
“Last year, for instance, 15 of our 20 first year of practice graduates chose to remain within our health service once they had completed their transition program.
“These nurses have chosen a rewarding and fulfilling vocation that provides many pathways for career development, and is a fabulous way of serving the community in which we live.’’
