Tina Vu is one of the newest additions to Western Health's 2011 Graduate Nurse Program. She graduated from Victoria University at the end of last year with a Bachelor of Nursing, and is now embracing the challenges on offer as part of the one-year Program.

"Every day is a new adventure and I am really enjoying the fact that the patients we see are from all walks of life. We service such a culturally diverse community and being a Vietnamese speaker I am often able to talk to patients in their own language, which can be a great help on the ward."

Tina feels that the structure of the Program is sure to offer her a broad level of experience and says that one of the best things about the Program is the level of support offered by senior colleagues. Currently on her first rotation in 2D Respiratory, Tina says that the Unit Manager and staff have been very welcoming and made the transition from student to graduate a smooth one.

"I'm learning so many different clinical skills from the senior registered nurses I work with," she says. "Once I have completed the Program my dream job would be to work in a more specialised area of care, such as ICU or critical care," she added.

Christine Sharp, Coordinator Transition to Practice Programs at Western Health says that the focus of the program is very much about ensuring that the graduates receive well rounded experience and become confident and competent registered nurses.

"Western Health's popular Graduate Nurse Program offers structured study days that focus on clinical decision making and three four month clinical rotations, including consolidation within medical, surgical and speciality areas. The graduate nurses are exposed to clinical opportunities which allow them to gain experience within a program supported by graduate specific educators," she says.

More information about the Western Health Graduate Nurse Program can be found here:

http://www.westernhealth.org.au/Education_and_Training/Graduate_Programs/Graduate_Nurse_Program/index.aspx