mmg.com.au

Twenty graduate nurses will gain hands-on experience, building their skills and confidence in a year-long hospital program.

Goulburn Valley Health’s graduate nurse program kicked off this week and aims to transition nurses from the university lifestyle into the workforce.

GV Health graduate nurse program co-ordinator Kate Moroney said some of the nurses had never been in the workforce before, where others had worked in the organisation for more than 20 years and decided to upskill themselves and become a division one nurse.

‘‘The graduate nurse program fills in the gaps, we allow them to go to different rotations throughout the hospital, so they get experience in all sorts of wards,’’ Ms Moroney said.

‘‘Then they can decide whether they want to do post-graduate studies or they might decide they want to work in a certain area within the organisation.

‘‘They’re definitely consolidating their theory and putting it into practice.’’

Ms Moroney said the program was not compulsory, but was recommended to enhance the nurses’ experience into the workforce and make sure their skills were polished.

She said by making the experience a positive one, nurses could be retained, especially within the region.

‘‘But we encourage them to go off and do further study or specialists’ training if they want to, and they often come back to the area,’’ she said.

‘‘Half of this group this year have either trained locally or they’ve worked locally and have been a student nurse in our organisation, so they already have relationships with nurses on the wards and educators.’’

Ms Moroney said the program was open to Victorian-trained university students.