WRHS is committed to the professional development of all staff. From an extensive orientation program through to professional development based on annual performance interviews all staff have access to a range of education opportunities.
The WRHS Education/Staff Development team at WRHS consists of the Staff Development Coordinator, Graduate Nurse Coordinator/Clinical Educator, and Clinical Support Nurses across all acute areas in addition to dedicated Clinical Educators who facilitate student placements.
For further information regarding Training and Development opportunities at WRHS contact:
Debbie Gleeson, Staff Development Coordinator, (02) 60517435, debbie.gleeson@wrhs.org.au
Christine Thwaites, Graduate Year Coordinator/Nurse Educator, (02) 60517443, chris.thwaites@wrhs.org.au
Click on the following links to access information on the various programs:
Orientation Program
All new staff on commencement of employment are provided with orientation. Nursing staff undertake two full days of organisation orientation and then specific orientation to their unit. Orientation to the clinical units includes allocation to a preceptor who is usually supernumerary.
Non nursing staff undertake one and half days of organisation orientation. This is also followed by department specific orientation.
The content of the organisation wide orientation program includes a welcome and WRHS overview from the executive staff, HRM information and all the mandatory education session requirements for new staff.
Comprehensive In-service Program
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| WRHS Educators at "The Spark of Life Conference"....always practicing! |  |
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WRHS offers comprehensive in-service education for all staff members. A wide variety of in-service topics are offered, ranging from specialised clinical problems, the safe use of equipment, quality issues, to information about services provided by the health service. All staff have the opportunity to request specific in-service sessions through the education team.
Professional Development
WRHS is a registered Official Authorised Education Provider for the Royal College of Nursing, Australia. This entitles WRHS to allocate Continuing Nurse Education points for all courses and education sessions coordinated by the Staff Development Coordinator and Graduate Coordinator. WRHS fosters a learning culture linked to staff identified career and personal development needs.
As a member of the Hume Region Nurse Educators Group (HRNEG) consortia, WRHS has access to a range of fully funded course, one day seminars and workshops.
Recent courses attended by WRHS nursing staff include:
· First Line Emergency Care
· Wound Management
· Leadership
· Physical Assessment
· Certificate 4 in Training & Assessment
· Hep C/HIV Antibody Counsellors Course
Seminars and workshops attended include:
· Wound management
· Communications workshop
· FLEC refresher workshop, simulation and assessment
· ECG- Basic & Advanced
· Neurological study day
· Advanced Life Support- theory, simulation and assessment.
· Life/Work Balance Workshop
Other courses supported or coordinated on site for all WRHS staff include:
· Diploma of Management
· Customer Service Seminar
· Performance Review and Management seminar
· Occupational Health & Safety Five Day Course and Refresher
· Food Safety Handling
· Business Plan workshop
· Preceptor workshop
Learning/Competency Packages
There is a variety of clinical education and competency packages that exist across the organisation. These include:
· Intravenous Cannulation,
· Peripherally Inserted Central Catheter (PICC),
· Subcutaneous Infusion via Syringe Driver,
· Emergency Department Triage
· Radial Artery Blood Gas Sampling and Interpretation
· Medication Administration
· Epidural Management
These are offered to nursing staff, with training and support provided. Once competency is achieved a certificate is awarded and CNE points allocated.
Career Development- Nursing
Discovery Program- Critical Care Areas
The Discovery Program provides a structured program of support and in–house education for approved Division One nurses whilst working in High Dependency, Perioperative Service and Emergency Department. The program is designed to meet the needs of the beginner or returning practitioner. It is not designed to replace a post graduate Critical Care/ED or Perioperative course.
The aim of the programme is to assist new or returning nurses make the transition into critical care areas by providing:
· A structured programme which addresses key clinical concepts and skills relevant to the area.
· Introduction to the role of the Division One Registered Nurse in the particular environment.
· Resources and support structures for the program participants.
· Dedicated Clinical Support Nurse in the three areas to coordinate the program and staff member.
It is hoped that provision of this programme will encourage participants to pursue further studies and qualifications in critical care and the Perioperative area, which will in turn, assist in providing staffing security for these areas in the future.
For further information regarding the WRHS Discovery Program contact:
Post Graduate Studies
WRHS is committed to support the ongoing professional development of nursing staff. Current post graduate studies being undertaken by WRHS nursing staff include;
· Critical Care (ED & HDU) Graduate Certificate and Diploma– Deakin University
· Midwifery- Graduate Diploma- Charles Sturt University
· Perioperative Graduate Certificate & Diploma
· Palliative Care- Graduate Certificate
· Master of Nursing Science
All students are entitled to apply for post graduate study leave and other support.
For further information regarding post graduate study opportunities at WRHS contact:
Debbie Gleeson, Staff Development Coordinator, (02) 60517435, debbie.gleeson@wrhs.org.au
Student Midwife Program - Paid Model
Post Graduate Diploma in Midwifery
This course enables Registered Nurses Division one, to gain Midwifery qualifications.
The program runs in conjunction with Charles Sturt University Wagga Wagga Campus and is run in a distance education mode. Students are required to attend two residential blocks of a week each; one in February and one in July. Students study through the university for one academic year.
NB-There is some flexibility with students being able to study over 18months after special consideration by the Nurses and Midwives Board of NSW.
WRHS provides the clinical component of this course. This a paid employment model with students being employed by WRHS to work within the Maternity Unit for no less than one calendar year at 4 days a week.
Clinical rotations cover all areas within the Maternity Unity including Antenatal, Postnatal, Birth Suite, Special Care Nursery, Domiciliary and Antenatal Classes.
Incorporated into the program is extensive in-service education.
Support for students is provided by the Program Coordinator, the Clinical Nurse Support Midwife, trained preceptors and experienced midwifery staff. Many of the current midwives were past students of the program and can provide valuable assistance to the students throughout the course. Evaluations from past students have been very positive.
Graduate Nurse Program
The Wodonga Regional Health Service Graduate Nurse Program is highly sought after and very well supported, and provides a friendly environment for new graduate nurses in their transition to the role of Registered Nurse, Division 1. We promote quality patient care & professional excellence for our new graduates.
WRHS run two programs per year commencing in January and August, with an intake of 6 per program. We offer a choice of hours of employment: either .8 EFT (4 days per week) or 1 EFT (5 days per week).
Rotations available: All grads spend approximately the first six months in Medical /Rehabilitation and Surgical Units. All grads are able to rotate to:
· Emergency Department (2 months),
· Day Procedure Unit (2 weeks to 1 month),
· Perioperative Suite (up to 3 weeks),
· Midwifery (1 week),
· High Dependency Unit (1 week),
· District Nursing Service (1 week).
There is also the opportunity to rotate to Community Mental Health if interested. The length of rotations can be individualised for each graduate, with special interests catered for.
Program Structure: The program commences on a Wednesday with 3 days organisation orientation. The following Monday is a dedicated day of orientation to the unit (Medical or Surgical) with an allocated supernumerary preceptor. The next two weeks are spent on the first unit in a supernumerary capacity with a trained preceptor. Following that the grad has their own patient load and is supported by the nurse in charge, other RNs, the grad coordinator and other educators. When changing to the next unit (Medical or Surgical) there is a one week supernumerary period with a preceptor to orientate to the new unit. When rotating to Emergency, there is a 1 week supernumerary period, Day Procedure has 2 days supernumerary and all other specialty rotations are completely supernumerary.
What support do you receive in the program?
· A dedicated graduate nurse coordinator who is there for you, non judgemental and wants you to succeed.
· Access to Clinical Support nurses and other educators.
· Staff who are willing teachers and supportive of new grads. Most RNs have completed preceptorship training.
· Approximately 9 weeks of supernumerary time across the year.
· Five paid graduate nurse study days: input into the content of these days is welcomed.
· A focus on education throughout the organisation: extensive in-service sessions to attend.
· 24 hour access to the clinical skills centre 7 days a week to practice clinical skills.
· Regular debriefing sessions specifically for graduate nurses.
· If you make a mistake, you will be supported in learning from it, not punished.
· You are encouraged to take 2 weeks leave during the program, with the option of more leave over Christmas / New Year. The rest of your leave entitlements accrue.
· A graduation ceremony and afternoon tea to celebrate your achievements at completion of the program.
Entry into the WRHS Graduate Year Program
Entry to the January program is through the Victorian Nursing Computer match system. The computer match process commences in July of the previous year with the applicant sourcing all information and entering the process online. Applications to the Health Service are usually forwarded by the end of July and interviews are held in September. The computer match is usually completed mid October and offers of positions are then made for the following January program. To access the Nurse Computer Match service go to: www.computermatching.pmcv.com.au
The August program is advertised in the newspaper and on the website. Universities who are completing undergraduate nursing programs in July are also notified of this opportunity for their students. Those students who are completing their undergraduate nursing degree in July and who are looking at the August graduate program at Wodonga Regional Health Service do not need to apply via the computer match system. Applicants are interviewed and appointed in June.
What do I have to do to successfully complete the program?
· Complete all mandatory education – CPR, No Lift, Infection Control, Manual Handling, Fire and Emergency codes, Prevention of Bullying and Harassment & Privacy and Confidentiality. This is completed at orientation.
· Complete the following learning packages: Medication administration, documentation, & IV cannulation.
· Complete performance reviews with the grad nurse coordinator at 6 weeks, 3 months, 6 months and 12 months achieving a satisfactory standard.
· Attend study days.
· Attend 12 or more in-service education sessions over the year
· Attend a quality meeting and participate in a quality activity at a unit level.
· Present or co-present an in-service session on a topic of interest.
Why should you choose the Wodonga Regional Health Service Graduate Nurse Program?
· It provides a solid background in medical and surgical nursing along with rotations to specialty areas. This allows a new graduate to get a picture of how the whole organisation works together to provide quality patient care, and also to identify any areas of nursing the may be of interest for further studies.
· Very high level of support from all staff.
· You will be encouraged to learn and develop throughout the year.
· You will be given honest feedback about your performance and strategies for improvement if required.
· Excellent employment opportunities at the end of the program.
· Fantastic opportunities for further study as we support staff studying Post graduate Certificates/Diplomas in Midwifery, Rural Critical Care, Emergency Nursing, Perioperative Nursing, & Palliative Care among others.
· Discovery programs available for High Dependency and Emergency Department post program.
· We are a member of the Hume Region Nurse Educators Group and are able to access a large number of courses and study days at very low cost. E.g. First Line Emergency Care Course, Wound Management Course, Leadership courses and a diverse range of one day workshops.
· Salary packaging available.
Comments from Graduate Nurses 2007
• “Staff were fantastic, very supportive and helpful.”
• “Loved the study days, we did great stuff like ECGs, Path results, Cannulation, going through the handover sheets discussing conditions and care”
• “I soon realised the grad nurse coordinator was not there to intimidate me, but to encourage and support, who was always available at any time, who went out of her way to help in any way possible, emotionally and professionally”
• “I found out that there was no such thing as a stupid question and I gained more sustainable knowledge because of it”
• Previous grads told me that they thought their grad year at WRHS was fantastic, so I busted my boiler to obtain a grad position at this hospital. Well worth it”
Further enquiries may be directed to: Christine Thwaites, chris.thwaites@wrhs.org.au or phone (02) 60517443.
Student Placements
WRHS facilitates undergraduate placements for Bachelor of Nursing, Certificate 4 Nursing, Army Medics & Allied Health students.
Nursing student placements are facilitated by WRHS Clinical Educators. All students undertake a full day of orientation before being placed in clinical units under the supervision of trained preceptors and their Clinical Educator. Whilst on acute placement students may have the opportunity to rotate through theatre, obstetric unit and emergency department.
For information regarding clinical placements contact:
Debbie Gleeson, Staff Development Coordinator, (02) 60517435, debbie.gleeson@wrhs.org.au
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