Record number of Registered Nurse Graduates

Wednesday 27 April 2016

Record number of Registered Nurse Graduates participate in nursing programmes within Southern DHB.

Southern DHB has reached an all-time record with 79 Registered Nurse (RNs) graduates participating in two structured integration nursing programmes this year. These programmes have been designed specifically to guide and assist nursing graduates as they embark on their new careers as registered nurses.

NESB nursesThis year 62 nursing graduates enrolled in the Nursing Entry To Practice Programme (NETP) and 17 nursing graduates are enrolled in the Nursing Entry to Speciality Practice (NESP).

NETP is a programme run for all nursing graduates at Dunedin and Southland Hospitals, and have Nursing Council approval to also support our wider district health services including; rural hospitals, aged care facilities and GP practices. The programme receives partial funding from the Health Workforce New Zealand.

The course is a structured integration into nursing where graduates work alongside experienced RNs who assist with the consolidation and acquisition of practical and theoretical knowledge. The programme implements innovative strategies, and this year NETP had two intakes - being February and April - with April being an extra intake in the southern district for this year.

“Creating a further intake course in April has allowed 14 further graduates to participate at Southern DHB that previously would had not been able to,” commented Nurse Coordinator for NETP Barbara Earl.
The NESP programme is also for nursing graduates who have taken up permanent employment within the mental health sector at Southern DHB. This course is offered in partnership with Auckland University and graduates of the 40 week programme achieve a Postgraduate Certificate in Health Services and a competent level portfolio. The graduates are supported by identified preceptors in their workplaces and 20 hours of individual clinical supervision.

NESP Programme Manager Shirley McKewen said that it’s fantastic to see so many nursing graduates participating in the NESP programme this year. “It has been and continues to be a great course that educates and supports our graduate nurses as they embark on their career in mental health”.
RN Jessica who recently graduated from the NETP programme stated “I really enjoyed the programme, I felt so supported in the beginning my career as an RN. I definitely had apprehension about my first job as a nurse, but sharing the experience with the other new graduates and having the support of Barbara made the transition from student to registered nurse much more enjoyable!.”

“The programme was so relevant to my nursing practice, it’s a great framework to base and further expand my skills and knowledge. I feel very privileged to have been part of this programme that has given me what I need to be a competent Registered Nurse in Mental Health,” commented Hannah a recent graduate of the NESP programme.

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