Mayo Private Hospital in Taree runs their first new graduate program for nurses
The introduction of a new nurse graduate program between the Mayo and Forster private hospitals will enable nurses to broaden their experience across two acute healthcare facilities in the Manning and Great Lakes regions, clinical nurse educator, Gabrielle Dowling says.
On Tuesday, March 2 five enthusiastic registered and one enrolled nurses attended orientation day at Mayo Private Hospital in preparation for the next 12 months of additional on-site learning. The spent the previous day doing orientation at Forster.
"This is the first time graduates will be rotated between the two sites" Ms Dowling said.
"I'm really excited to have our new grads here at Mayo and Forster. It's going to be a really exciting year and it's really great to have some fresh faces with us, some local, some not.
"We hope we can provide them with what they need in their first 12 months starting out their new nursing careers."
Depending on the area of choice the 12 month program will provide either two six-month or three four-month rotations across a range of clinical streams: acute surgical and medical, rehabilitation, mental health and perioperative, she said.
Forty-three-year-old registered nurse, Karyn Campbell said she had always wanted to be a nurse, but took a couple of career changes before realising her dream.
"I did things backward; I got married and had children," she said.
Before completing her degree through Newcastle University in 2019, Karyn migrated from an assistant in nursing to enrolled nurse.
"I love nursing and knowing I have made a difference, and I get a lot of satisfaction knowing I have made a difference in someone's life."
Karyn, who hails from Red Head and worked at the Mayo following graduation, is undertaking a 12 month transition to theatre program at both the Taree and Forster hospitals.
Watching the care and dedication nurses showed her grandmother was the inspiration behind Sushma Tandukar's decision to become a registered nurse.
The 25-year-old, who graduated from the University of New England, Armidale in 2020, said it was an ambition she had worked towards since she was a Year Nine student in her native Nepal.
"Nurses can change someone's life, just like my grandma; nurses can make a big difference in someone's life."
Jeanene Duncan | Manning River Times
2 March 2021 | Photo Credit: Scott Calvin