Largest group of nursing graduates is set to deliver care at Wide Bay HHS

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Close to 100 new nurses will embark on the next exciting chapter of their careers at Wide Bay Hospital and Health Service (WBHHS) this month as part of the initial 2023 graduate intake.

The new nurses, consisting of graduates from both local universities and institutions further afield, will spend the next 12 months working across various clinical areas at Bundaberg, Hervey Bay, Maryborough and rural facilities.

Wide Bay Hospital and Health Board Chair Peta Jamieson congratulated the graduate nurses for completing their studies and said she was pleased to be welcoming such a large intake.

“It’s no small feat to complete higher education, particularly in a complex and evolving field such as healthcare,” said Ms Jamieson.

“I commend our new graduates on completing their studies and look forward to seeing them hone their skills as important members of our team at WBHHS.

“As our population grows, so too must our workforce, and it’s critical we continue to welcome and upskill new graduates to ensure we have a sustainable nursing workforce well into the future.

“We’re committed to developing positive recruitment strategies, maintaining strong partnerships with education providers and providing staff with opportunities for training and skill development, and this exceptionally large group of nurses joining WBHHS strengthens our reputation as a best-practice healthcare provider.”

WBHHS Chief Executive Debbie Carroll said welcoming the enthusiastic and skilled nursing and midwifery graduates to Wide Bay was always one of her highlights each year.

“Having trained as a nurse myself, I appreciate the crucial role these new graduates will play in supporting the health of our community,” said Ms Carroll.

“This is one of the largest single intakes of nursing and midwifery graduates accepted into our health service, which is great news for our community,” Ms Carroll said.

“Year after year we receive strong interest from graduates, and I truly believe this is reflective of our positive, supportive and inclusive environment and our values-based approach to delivering healthcare.

“By constantly bringing in talented graduates and upskilling them, our team is ensuring we can deliver the right care, in the right place, at the right time to Wide Bay patients for years to come.

“As in previous years, we’ll also welcome a second intake of graduates in mid-2023.”

WBHHS Executive Director of Nursing and Midwifery Fiona Sewell congratulated the graduates on joining the nursing team and wished them well as they settle into their new roles.

“The new graduates have come from a range of tertiary institutions, adding a broad range of perspectives, experiences and knowledge to our existing teams,” said Ms Sewell.

“We’re fortunate that over 60 per cent of the nurses joining us as graduates have already worked at WBHHS facilities as Undergraduate Students in Nursing (USIN).

“Their time as USINs with us means that they already understand our processes, our facilities, and the patients and conditions we support.

“Many of them worked for us during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic, and having developed their skills under those challenging and rapidly changing conditions, we know they are more than capable of tackling the next 12 months.

“These nurses will be working in a variety of areas across our entire region, including acute medical, surgical, emergency, critical care, renal, aged care and community health.

“During their graduate year, they’ll be given the opportunity to work with and learn from professionals from all streams – nurses, doctors, allied health professionals, administration and operational staff.

“Our staff always welcome the enthusiasm and energy they bring to our teams, and appreciate the opportunity to guide them by passing on their own knowledge, experience and skillsets.

“The new graduates have undergone orientation sessions and are ready to hit the ground running when they start at their designated locations for their 12-month graduate program.

“Nurses are the backbone of the healthcare industry being here 24/7 and we’ll be making sure their time with WBHHS is exciting, challenging, fulfilling and allows them to follow their passions once complete.”

Bundaberg graduate nurse

Sandy Khadka, one of 28 graduates who will join us at Bundaberg Hospital, was offered a place in Acute Medical Ward 2 and shared her thoughts on nursing.

“Nursing for me is about caring and comforting patients. While I was on placement at WBHHS, I witnessed the effort of the team to meet the needs of the patients. It was fantastic and that's the reason why I chose Wide Bay for my graduate year. The ongoing training and education for staff was another driving force for me to apply for a position at WBHHS. I am looking forward to growing myself as a Registered Nurse in this environment."

Fraser Coast graduate nurse

Brodee Jackson, one of 52 graduates who will join us at Maryborough Hospital, was offered a place in Ward 3and said she has wanted to be a nurse since she was 11 years old.

I studied nursing because my grandmother was an RN, so I had that strong family connection. I really looked up to my grandmother and admired the work ethic she had. This has inspired me become a Registered Nurse, just like my grandmother was. She worked within the local hospitals of Fraser Coast, too.”

Rural graduate nurse

Summer Groves, one of 13 graduates who will join us across our rural facilities, was offered a place at Monto Hospital and said she was excited to continue working at Monto, where she was an Undergraduate Student in Nursing.

“From the beginning, I was always so grateful for my position as an Undergraduate Student in Nursing (USIN). However, since graduating and working as a Registered Nurse (RN), I have been able to appreciate my role as a USIN even more. Through working as a USIN, I was able to get to know the staff, work environment, how a rural hospital runs, have an expanded scope of practice and be able to help and watch when emergencies presented. One of the unexpected benefits of working in a rural hospital has been that I am not just a number in a large city hospital, I have been warmly embraced by the hospital and local community. Additionally, working with inspiring and resourceful nurses set the perfect example of how I want to work as an RN. This experience allowed for the transition from a USIN to an RN, a natural changeover and progression in my career.