The Chief Nursing Officer of Healthscope, Nicole Pianta, believes the key to the high standards of care in Healthscope hospitals is great nursing staff and the ability to assist graduates to make the transition to the workplace. She says these factors are crucial to the ongoing success of Healthscope and for our nurses.
Healthscope has 45 hospitals across all states of Australia allowing graduates a great choice of locations. In NSW, Healthscope Hospitals had great success implementing the Graduate Nurse Program last year with more than 30 graduates completing the program and with that number doubling for 2008.
Hayley Bourne is one of our success stories. The University of Western Sydney graduate began work as a nurse at the Nepean Private Hospital last year. After developing her knowledge and skills she decided to take up a permanent position in the hospital’s operating theatre.
That way, she has the opportunity to receive a fully funded post-graduate scholarship in peri-operative nursing. A delighted Hayley says: “The program assisted my transition from student to registered nurse with clinical experience, support and study days that offered useful information from a variety of practitioners. I also had the opportunity to meet a variety of people.”
The Graduate Nurse Program has been established by Healthscope’s NSW hospitals to support new graduate nurses through their transition year. This exciting program
offers excellent career opportunities on completion.
It is divided into eastern and western Sydney and the Central Coast to provide graduates with wonderful career opportunities within their local areas:
Eastern Sydney includes Prince ofWales Private Hospital, Mosman Private Hospital, The Sydney Clinic and Lady Davidson Private Hospital.
Western Sydney includes Nepean Private Hospital, The Hills Private Hospital, Sydney Southwest Private Hospital and Campbelltown Private Hospital. Central Coast includes Newcastle Private Hospital and BrisbaneWaters Private Hospital.
Cathy Bone is the Hospital Educator at Nepean Private Hospital. Cathy has more than 15 years’ experience as a registered nurse (RN) with a MastersDegree in Critical Care Nursing along with a strong background in Intensive Care/HDU nursing. Cathy started as an RN with Healthscope three and a half years ago, moving in that time to become Clinical Nurse Educator and Hospital Educator.
“The aim of the program is to facilitate the development of the graduate nurse from a student with sound theoretical knowledge to an independent member of our nursing team, who is able to contribute to positive patient outcomes,” Cathy says.
The program is designed to provide an environment that develops the confidence and competence of the graduate. Assessments are carried out regularly to measure competence and assist the graduate nurse with educational development.
Healthscope fully supports and believes in nursing as a profession. As professionals, nurses are also expected to demonstrate a commitment to their own professional development throughout their program. To make the sometimes overwhelming experience of the transitional nurse year easier, Healthscope is committed to providing ongoing education and support from its educators and preceptors for the full 52 weeks of the transitional year.
We are able to offer a variety of specialities, including Intensive Care, Critical Care, Operating Suite, Mental Health, Rehabilitation and Obstetrics. Graduates are given the flexibility to complete specialities within other Healthscope hospitals throughout Australia and specialities can be chosen by the graduate nurse on entering the program.
Many graduates inNSWhave difficulty in securing a position within a Graduate Nurse Program. That is why Healthscope offers two intakes a year to take on more graduates. Retention of staff within Healthscope hospitals is important
to us. Offering a flexible program with a part-time option has allowed our hospitals to retain the majority of our graduate nurses on completion of their program. We are also able to provide advancement opportunities and fully funded support into the Post Graduate Certificate within speciality areas.
These include:
Graduate Certificate in Midwifery
Graduate Certificate in Critical Care Graduate Certificate in Peri operative Nursing.
Our program for 2008 has been received well by students due to its flexibility, career opportunities and the option of undertaking post-graduate studies upon completion.
