Promising future for new ERH nurses

Of the 60 who applied for the position, 12 were successful.

In previous years, the hospital has had up to 100 candidates apply, but due to the healthcare sector experiencing a shortage of graduates, there has been a drop in applications this year.

ERH graduate co-ordinator Jodie Watson said each of the graduates brought not only strength but a wealth of local knowledge as they were all from the region.

“We see our graduates as a great asset to our organization. We really appreciate them,” Ms Watson said.

“Our focus is on being friendly and supportive so they want to be active here.”

As part of their commitment to support new staff, the hospital facilitates a number of skills-based professional development days.

Ms Watson said these programs were not only to improve and refine skills, but also to promote mental health and well-being.

“One of the most important and well-loved days is Health, Wellbeing and Safety Day,” Ms Watson said.

“It’s a full day dedicated to learning about meditation, mindfulness, yoga, we go for walks, we discuss self-care plans, we talk about healthy food.

“Most of our graduates have had a difficult few years, having to take virtual classes and not being able to undertake placements, so a day like this is incredibly important.”

Working together: Stephanie Crouch and Mollie Karl. Photo by Contributed

Ms Watson said the majority of graduates accepted were already familiar with the hospital, with many having previously worked as registered nurses at ERH.

“A fair proportion of the graduates have completed undergraduate placements here and in some cases we have graduates who have also had work experience here, which is great for us because they already have some knowledge of how we work,” she said. said.

The recently appointed graduates will be expected to complete two six month rotations where they will gain practical experience in the specialist areas of renal dialysis, medical ward, surgical ward, sub-acute ward, emergency department, medical day treatment unit, the high dependency unit and will also have exposure get to the new Cancer and Wellness Center.

While the program lasts for 12 months, all 12 graduates have already received an ongoing contract for longer than that period.

Getting to grips with training: Aneisha Webb, Adi Ratokalau and Tahne White. Photo by Contributed