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Helping the next generation of nurses to reach their full potential is the aim of a new pilot program at Cura Day Hospitals Group.
The group is interviewing for 12 nursing graduates to take part in the Cura Southern Region Graduate Nurse program for 2023.
Program coordinator Kerry Pontin said the graduate scheme enabled young nurses to develop professional and clinical skills in perioperative nursing, particularly day surgery.
Perioperative care is a multidisciplinary, integrated approach encompassing patients' entire medical journey, from admission to recovery.
"Perioperative nursing and day surgery are often not part of undergraduate nursing clinical placement," Ms Pontin said.
"With our structured graduate program and clinical support, the nurses will be guided to develop both their clinical skills and confidence in the day surgery setting."
The nurses will also have the opportunity to continue their careers with Cura at the end of the year, in a range of clinical areas of day surgery including scrub, scout, anaesthetics, post-anaesthesia care unit (PACU) and oncology.
"My role as graduate coordinator will be to guide and support the nurses, creating a positive learning environment throughout their 12 months here," Ms Pontin said.
Donna McKendry, CEO and Director of Nursing at Cura's Victoria Parade Surgery Centre in Melbourne, said the program provided opportunities for newly-graduated registered nurses and also addressed workforce shortages.
"The recent pandemic has shown the whole world the importance of healthcare workers in providing essential services to the community and the ability to provide nursing care to patients when they are often at their most vulnerable," she said.
Ms McKendry said the program also gave the nurses time and space to adapt and transition into a clinical setting.
The graduates will take part in monthly online tutorials to share and reflect on their learning, and to explore clinical scenarios.
"The program encourages development and fosters ongoing learning for all nurses in our clinical teams and promotes best practice and excellence within our facilities," Ms McKendry said.
"Nursing is a very satisfying and rewarding career and I look forward to seeing how this program helps shape competent and compassionate nurses over the next few years."
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