Staff Development Unit

Graduate Nurse and Midwifery Program

Overview of the Graduate Programs

Our Graduate Programs offer you a dynamic and well-structured graduate year. Our overall aim is to help you provide quality patient care, and we achieve this by giving you the opportunity to build on your existing knowledge and skills in a friendly and well-supported environment.

Significant Aspects of our Graduate Programs

General Stream

This program is suitable for graduates interested in consolidating their practice in a setting with a wide range of opportunities for developing generalist and specialist skills.

· Six month rotations through the general areas of Medical/Palliative Care, Medical / Surgical, or Orthopaedics

· A further two rotations, one in Rehabilitation, and one in a specialty area (see below for more details)

· Bachelor of Nursing/Bachelor of Rural Health candidates are accommodated within the same program

Midwifery Stream

Latrobe Regional Hospital will be providing a graduate program for graduates with a double degree in Nursing and Midwifery.

The program will encompass both nursing and midwifery. This graduate year is suitable for graduates interested in consolidating their knowledge in both disciplines.

Latrobe Regional Hospital midwifery services consist of 18-bed women’s health unit with 900 births a year. There is a full range of services, including midwifery antenatal clinic, pre-admission, antenatal, labour and postnatal care, domiciliary care, lactation clinic, and a level two special care nursery.

General and Midwifery Streams

· A Preceptorship Program for each graduate, each rotation

· Orientation time where you work with a Clinical Nurse Educator and alongside your Preceptor. You share your patient load with your Preceptor, while becoming orientated to your new workplace

· Teaching and support by a Clinical Nurse Educator available on every Unit

· Seven paid graduate study days

· Extensive in-service programs throughout the Hospital

· Regular appraisals written by the Graduate Coordinator in consultation with your Unit Manager and / or Clinical Nurse Educator. This provides you with feedback, assistance, and documents your progress

· Salary packaging and meal reimbursement available

· Positions are available as eight days per fortnight

· Excellent employment prospects at the end of the program

· Opportunities to participate in a transition program, the “Career Development Program” at the end of your Graduate year

· Significant opportunities to take on postgraduate studies in the future

Mental Health Stream

The Mental Health Graduate Nurse Program incorporates and articulates directly with the Postgraduate Diploma of Nursing (Mental Health) Monash University and the Graduate Year in Mental Health Nursing. This course is designed for Registered Nurses Division One who have an interest in mental health. The course is offered by mixed mode via distance education, face to face tutorials and compulsory attendance at monthly study days. Clinical placements including specific objectives and learning opportunities form the basis of our Graduate Program. The extensive use of computer technology and face to face communication between students, teaching staff, clinical experts and consumers is integral to the course. The course will be completed part time over 18 months.

Subjects Covered

Mental Health Nursing Concepts and Practice

Synopsis: This unit focuses on the nature of mental health and illness; the nursing process in mental health nursing; roles and functions of mental health nurses; contexts of care; mental health problems and disorders; therapeutic interventions in mental health care; ethical and legal issues; specialisation in psychiatric/mental health nursing.

Integrated Mental Health Care

Synopsis: This unit focuses on key concepts such as models of mental health service delivery, consumer and carer participation and perspectives, and professional issues in mental health nursing. It provides an in-depth analysis of each major component of an integrated mental health service and also covers special populations and transcultural mental health issues.

Cognitive behavioural therapy for mental health professionals

In this unit students will study cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) and its techniques used in interaction and counselling of clients with psychological and or mental health disorders. The unit will include analysis of the theoretical underpinnings and major concepts of CBT and its techniques in clinical application. Students will develop a greater self-awareness through the development of their own unique approaches to psychotherapeutic interaction using CBT with their clients, within their own clinical and cultural environment.

Employment, Fees, Orientation

Participants are employed eight days per fortnight for a 12 months contract. Participants are eligible to apply for permanent positions at the end of the 12 month contract pending successful completion of the Graduate Diploma. On commencement, all participants will attend an orientation period of 2 weeks. Participants will apply for scholarships to cover University fees.

Starting Dates and Sizes of Intakes

General Stream Graduate Nurse Program

35 Graduate Nurses will commence in two intakes. The first intake of 20 nurses will commence at the end of January 2012. The second intake of 15 nurses will commence in mid-April 2012.

Every effort is made to give Graduates their choice of intake

Mental Health Stream Graduate Nurse Program

Four Graduate Nurses will commence in February 2012.

Midwifery Stream Graduate Nurse Program

Four Graduate Nurse/Midwives will commence in January 2012.

Rotations

General Stream Graduate Nurse Program

We offer rotations through many clinical areas within Latrobe Regional Hospital. The graduate year (12 months) is divided into four rotations. Rotations are for three months, with two rotations being on the same general acute unit to assist you in developing your clinical skills, knowledge and to help you in becoming a part of the team. We have found that four rotations are the most popular option for Graduate Nurses.

The general acute rotations will be in one of the following areas:

· Tanjil - Surgical and Medical Unit

· Tyers – Medical and Palliative Care Unit

· Tarra - Orthopaedic and Paediatric Unit

Graduates will work for three months in a Rehabilitation Unit

Graduates will work for three months in a Specialty Unit. Specialty Units include:

· Chemotherapy

· Critical Care

· Day Procedure Unit

· Emergency Department

· Haemodialysis

· Mental Health

· Peri-operating Suite

Mental Health Stream Graduate Nurse Program

· Participants have structured clinical rotations. The rotations include psychiatric inpatient and community mental health services. Participants are given a calendar of clinical rotations ensuring completion of a minimum of four months in Adult Inpatient services. Participants are also given the opportunity to rotate into the specialty areas of Consultation Liaison, Aged Community, and Child & Youth services. Areas include:

· Flynn - Acute Adult Mental Health Unit

· Secure and Extended Care Unit

· Community Residential Care Units - Rehabilitation Program

· Acute Aged Inpatient Unit

· Community Based Services:

· Eight service centres in a variety of geographical locations through the Latrobe Valley, South, West and East Gippsland

· Crisis Assessment and Treatment Team

· Continuing Care Team

· Aged Care Services

Midwifery Stream Graduate Program

Graduates will work for a total of six months in midwifery, and a total of six months in nursing. The graduate year will be split into four rotations of three months each.

Two rotations will take place in the Thomson Unit (women’s health unit) and two rotations will take place in either the Tyers, Tanjil or Tarra Units (medical or surgical units). The year will be supported by study days covering the core requirements for a graduate nurse and midwife.

Application Process

General Stream and Midwifery Stream Graduate Programs

Application Checklist (applications due by Thursday the 28 July 2011)

▪ Obtain an E-recruit login by accessing LRH website: www.lrh.com.au/home/careers/gnp/

▪ Please submit online to LRH:

o A completed Application Form (access via the link, below)

o An application letter

o A brief Résumé, including your contact details, qualifications, work history, and a list of your clinical placements

o Your academic transcript or study statement (up to date results required only)

o Three recent clinical reports from your third and second year (third year preferred)

▪ General & Midwifery Stream applicants: You also need to apply online to the Postgraduate Medical Council of Victoria Nurse Computer Match service (http://computermatching.pmcv.com.au)

Enquiries & postal details

Jennie Wood

Graduate Nurse & Midwifery Program Coordinator

Staff Development Unit,

Latrobe Regional Hospital

PO Box 424

Traralgon VIC 3844

Tel: (03) 5173 8598 or 5173 8007; E-mail: jwood@lrh.com.au

Mental Health Stream

The Mental Health Stream is not participating in the Postgraduate Medical Council Victoria Nurse Computer Match service. Applications are open now on via the Latrobe Regional Hospital web-site (www.lrh.com.au)

a) Submit the following documents via the LRH web-site recruitment page:

▪ Your letter of application

▪ A brief Resumé including your contact details, work history and a list of your clinical placements.

b) Post the following documents to the address below:

▪ Latrobe Regional Hospital Application Form (This form may be found at the end of this web page, or by phoning Staff Development on (03) 5173 8007

▪ All available academic results (a certified copy is required and must be sent via mail, not on-line)

▪ Three clinical placement reports from this year and/or last year. Please include at least one mental health clinical report (most recent clinical reports are preferable and must be sent via mail, not on-line)

Postal details

Vicki Smith

Postgraduate Student Coordinator (Psychiatric stream)

Graduate Diploma Program Coordinator

Latrobe Regional Hospital Mental Health Service,

PO Box 424

Traralgon VIC 3844

Enquiries:

· Vicki Smith, Postgraduate Student Coordinator, Telephone: (03) 5128 0053; E-mail: vsmith@lrh.com.au

Interviews

General Stream

The interviews will be scheduled during August and September. Your interview will take about 60 minutes. The interview will be in a Multiple Mini Interviews format, and consist of single scenario based questions asked in a circuit with several other candidates at one time. The Graduate Program Coordinator will be involved in all interviews

For more information, please click on either of the links below, “Latrobe Regional Hospital Graduate Programs Information Booklet” or “Multiple Mini Interviews”

Mental Health Stream

The interview will broadly evaluate your knowledge of mental health issues and practice along with your desired interest in mental health. Generally the interview will take about 45 minutes.

Midwifery Stream

Your interview will be scheduled during August or September, and will take about 45 minutes. Scenario type questions will be based on one of the Australian Nursing and Midwifery Council National Competency Standards for the Midwife (2006)

Employment Opportunities

While ongoing employment in a specific area cannot be guaranteed after the Graduate Program is completed, employment opportunities at the hospital are excellent. Previous Graduate Nurses are currently employed in permanent positions in Women’s Health, Medical/Palliative Care, Medical/Surgical, Orthopaedic/Paediatric, Rehabilitation, Emergency, Operating Suite, and various Mental Health program areas. Midwives also have excellent employment opportunities with Graduate midwives being employed in permanent positions in all areas of the midwifery unit. Over the past several years, most nurses completing the Graduate Program have been offered employment. Over 95% have chosen to remain at Latrobe Regional Hospital.

More Information

For more information about the Graduate Programs, please contact one of the following people, or click on one of the links below.

General and Midwifery Stream:

Jennie Wood

Graduate Nurse & Midwifery Program Coordinator

Staff Development Unit,

Latrobe Regional Hospital

PO Box 424

Traralgon VIC 3844

Tel: (03) 5173 8598 or 5173 8007; E-mail: jwood@lrh.com.au

Lorraine Keene, Education Coordinator (or Selina Northover Acting Education Coordinator) Tel: (03)5173 8059; E-mail: lkeene@lrh.com.au

Ellen Ellis, Clinical Midwifery Educator, Tel: (03)5173 8007; E-mail: eellis@lrh.com.au