Healthy future for new ERH nurses

By Adair Winder

Jan 31, 2023

Bright future: This year’s Echuca Regional Health nursing graduates have commenced their 2023 program. Photo by Contributed

A fine crop of fresh nursing graduates will be occupying the halls of Echuca Regional Health as they commence their 12-month graduate program.

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Of the 60 who applied for the position, 12 were successful.

In previous years the hospital has had up to 100 candidates apply but due to the healthcare sector experiencing a shortage of graduates there was a decrease in applications this year.

ERH graduate co-ordinator Jodie Watson said each of the graduates brought with them not only vigour, but a wealth of local knowledge, as they were all from the region.

“We see our graduates as an amazing asset to our organisation. We really value them,” Ms Watson said.

“Our focus is about being kind and supportive so that they actively want to be here.”

As part of their commitment to supporting new staff, the hospital facilitates a number of skill-based professional development days.

Ms Watson said these programs are not just for enhancing and refining skills but also for promoting mental health and wellbeing.

“One of the most important and most loved days is the health, wellbeing and safety day,” Ms Watson said.

“It’s a full day dedicated to learning about meditation, mindfulness, yoga, we go for a walk, we discuss self-care plans, we talk about healthy food.

“Most of our graduates have had a tough few years, with having to take virtual classes and not being able to undertake placements, so a day like this is incredibly important.”

Working together: Stephanie Crouch and Mollie Karl. Photo by Contributed

Ms Watson said the majority of the graduates that had been accepted were already familiar with the hospital, with many having previously worked as enrolled nurses at ERH.

“A fair portion of the graduates have completed undergraduate placements here and in some instances we have graduates who had work experience here as well, which is great for us because they already have some knowledge about how we operate,” she said.

The recently appointed graduates will be required to complete two six-month rotations where they will gain practical experience in the specialist areas of renal dialysis, medical ward, surgical ward, sub-acute ward, emergency department, medical day treatment unit, the high-dependency unit and will also gain exposure to the new Cancer and Wellness Centre.

While the program runs for 12 months, all 12 graduates have already received an ongoing contract for beyond that period.