Nursing and Midwifery Graduates Start Careers in Far West 2020
A record 30 new registered nurses and midwifery graduates will begin working in the Far West Local Health District this year.
Executive Director of Nursing and Midwifery at the Far West LHD, Ms Dale Sutton, said the recruits are part of the NSW Government's record $2.8 billion investment to boost the ranks of frontline health staff by 8,300, including 5,000 nurses and midwives over four years.
Across the state, about 2,600 graduates will launch their careers at 130 public health facilities this year - an increase of 58 per cent since 2011.
Ms Sutton extended a warm welcome to the new graduate nurses and midwives on behalf of the District.
'It's very exciting when we welcome new graduates to the region and I wish them all the best as they begin their careers with the Far West LHD,' Ms Sutton said.
The 29 new graduate registered nurses (RNs) and one graduate midwife (RM) will begin their employment with Far West LHD in its Rural and Remote Transition to GradStart Registered Nurse / Midwife Program. The 2020 cohort is the largest since the program began. The LHD employed 27 new graduates in 2019.
The 2020 graduates will experience clinical practice in: Emergency Department, Intensive Care Unit/Critical Care Unit, Medical and Surgical wards, Mental Health, Community Nursing, Maternity, Paediatrics, Primary Health Care, Operating Theatres and the Sub-Acute Rehabilitation Unit.
Nurses beginning work in the Far West have the opportunity to experience both rural and remote nursing through the GradStart program. The program places nurses in Broken Hill, Wentworth, Dareton, Ivanhoe, Wilcannia, Tibooburra and Balranald.
'The GradStart program exposes graduates to different clinical skills, thereby improving their nursing and midwifery knowledge and clinical skill development,' Ms Sutton said.
'They also gain first-hand experience of working in our remote facilities and living in our communities. This is invaluable as it helps encourage recruitment of nurses to our region.'
The graduates will undergo orientation this week featuring practical and classroom activities. They will also meet staff and mentors/ supervisors who will support their transition from undergraduate university student to Registered Nurse / Midwife. They will begin work in the facilities soon after.
For more information see the NSW Health website.