Twenty-five early career nurses at Canberra Health Services have graduated today from a new program that offers an alternative pathway to join the nursing workforce.
The pilot Novice Nurse Consolidation Program was established in August 2022 and offers a supported pathway to join Canberra Health Services for early career nurses who may not have been able to obtain a position in the existing graduate Transition to Practice Program.
Minister for Health Rachel Stephen-Smith said the program is an example of how Canberra Health Services continues to identify new, innovative ways of recruiting and bolstering the highly valued health care workforce.
“The Novice Nurse Consolidation Program is a fantastic initiative. It is open to registered and enrolled nurses who may not be able to join the Transition to Practice Program – for example, because they can only work part-time or they hold a working visa rather than permanent residency.
“A skilled team of nurse educators provides ongoing professional development with clinical support and tailored education throughout the program to ensure participants develop confidence in their abilities to provide high-quality care,” said Minister Stephen-Smith.
The program has been running for eleven months, with 76 participants enrolled, and 42 early career nurses already graduating.
“Once the early career nurses graduate from the program, CHS is able to offer opportunities in nursing positions across different wards or in the relief pool. This enables a diversity of practice, as well as supporting our health services when there are periods of leave that need to be covered.
“Congratulations to the latest cohort of graduating nurses. I look forward to seeing this successful program continue, creating opportunities for passionate, qualified people to join CHS through even more supported pathways,” Minister Stephen-Smith said.
Quotes attributable to Ms Beth Vo, Clinical Development Nurse at Canberra Health Services:
“Our team provides novice nurses with the skills, experience and knowledge to work in any surgical or medical ward, as well as upskilling them to work in more specialised areas like emergency, ICU, mental health and paediatrics.
“Not only do novice nurses get to work alongside trusted health professionals, but they also receive clinical support, competency assessments, facilitated learning, feedback sessions and undertake an orientation session.”
Quotes attributable to Ms Nari Kim, Novice Nurse Graduate at Canberra Health Services:
“I have learnt a lot over the past six-month period and am really excited to graduate and follow in the footsteps of my father, who also works in the health sector.
“I recommend the program to my friends and nursing students who are on placement. I tell them I am undertaking the Novice Nurse Consolidation Program and the experience has been great.
“I initially felt anxious about starting work as a nurse, but as I have gone through the program, I have received so much support and am happy to be working for Team CHS.”
