GNP: What We Offer?
Graduate Support
The Graduate Nurse Program aim is to support you in every way possible to assist you in your transition from student to Registered Nurse. At Western Health we take a multi-layered approach to ensure that you are supported from every angle. As a Graduate Nurse at Western Health we will provide you with:
Graduate Educators
Western Health has a large number of clinical educators within speciality areas and Graduate Support Nurses across all sites. Graduate Support Nurses are specially selected to be aware and understanding of the specific needs of the new graduate.
The Graduate Support Nurse is readily accessible and approachable to assist graduates in making a smooth transition from student to Registered Nurse. The Graduate Support Nurse can assist in medication rounds, time management, clinical knowledge or professional support and responds to the needs of the Graduate.
Clinical Educators
The role of the Clinical Educators is different to that of the Graduate Support Nurse. Clinical Educators are located in one particular clinical area; e.g., a Clinical Educator in ICU will focus on this speciality and the learning needs and support of the graduate nurse in this one area.
Graduate Mentors
The Graduate Nurse Program team understands that not all of the support you may require during your graduate year is clinical in nature. At times, you may find the need to gain support from others. Graduates at Western Health are nominated a Graduate Mentor when they start the program. Graduate Mentors are graduates from the previous year who have volunteered their time to help mentor new Graduates and provide additional and unique support. A Graduate Mentor knows just what it is like to start their nursing career at Western Health and can provide invaluable support. They may also become a career- long friend.
Preceptors
Preceptors are experienced nurses who understand the needs of the new Graduate Nurse. At each rotation, preceptors volunteer to support and mentor new Graduates. Preceptors assist in the transition from novice practitioner to Registered Nurse. The Preceptor is your confidante, support and information source.
Clinical Placements
We understand that nurses need flexibility and choices to assist in their professional development. Therefore, we offer three clinical rotations, of which one is guaranteed to be a specialty rotation. You may choose to work at one hospital or choose rotations that cover all hospitals within the Western Health Service, the choice is yours! Our health service enables us to provide a greater choice of specialty areas and flexibility to meet your developmental and personal needs.
Placement Options
- Acute Aged Care
- Acute Medical Admitting Unit
- Community Health
- Coronary Care Unit
- Day Procedure Unit
- Drug & Alcohol Community Health
- Drug & Alcohol Inpatient Unit
- Emergency Services
- General Medical
- General Surgical
- Head & Neck Surgery
- Intensive Care Unit
- Neurology/ Neurosurgery
- Oncology
- Orthopaedics
- Outpatients
- Paediatrics
- Palliative Care
- Perioperative Urology
- Plastics
- Radiology
- Rehabilitation
- Renal
- Renal Dialysis
- Respiratory/Thoracics
- Special Care Nursery
- Urology
Study Days
All Graduate nurses will have 8 GNP study days during the year. You can also access an additional 5 days of professional and study leave to attend short courses of your choice.
Study Day Topics
Topics can include care of a central venous catheter, infusion pumps, drug administration, time management, tracheostomy care, cardiac care and death and dying. Topics are wide and varied and have been developed directly in response to the needs and requests by past graduates.
Orientation
When you first start at Western Health you will spend the first 6 days in orientation. Two of these days are spent focusing on practical skills to make graduates confident and comfortable about practicing independently. We will revisit medication delivery, intravenous therapy, infusion pump management and other skills to assist you in starting your career. Graduates find these session useful revision and assist with your orientation to Western Health's policies and procedures.
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