Caps fly for first graduates of innovative nurse training program

Caps fly for first graduates of innovative nurse training program

Seventeen Diploma of Nursing students have become the first graduates of an innovative training program run in partnership between RMIT and Northern Health.

The ‘Transformative Enrolled Nurse Program’ was developed to help meet the challenges faced by health providers in recruiting and retaining fit-for-purpose staff and was supported by the Victorian Government’s Workforce Training Innovation Fund.

The immersive training program involved a shift from learning within the classroom to learning embedded within the physical and cultural environment of a modern healthcare organisation.

Graduate Sheree Costa praised the program for providing unique learning experiences through in-depth exposure to clinical environments.

“The program has allowed me to graduate with the knowledge and confidence to ensure that I can provide the highest standard of care to patients,” Costa said.

 “…the Northern Health Clinical Education team supported us, and I got to learn from some very experienced educators who challenged my learning and pushed me to increase my knowledge”.

Feedback from Northern Health throughout the program showed the student group was patient-centred, proactive with development and resilient in practice; qualities that closely aligned to Northern Health values and supported their mission of outstanding healthcare to the community.

Transformative Enrolled Nurses Program Graduates Transformative Enrolled Nurses Program Graduates
30 May 2019

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According to RMIT Executive Director Vocation Education, Peter Ryan, the impact of the program is clearly evidenced by the fact all graduating students have been offered employment by Northern Health.

“Delivering and embedding this program within a health care setting meant the graduating students not only undertook significantly more clinical experience, they also gained the knowledge to be job ready at the end of their studies,” Ryan said.

“The offers of employment indicate the students achieved fit-for-purpose experience and were successfully embedded within Northern Health’s organisational culture. It’s a great result for everyone involved.”

The inaugural graduation ceremony was held at Storey Hall and attended by graduating students and families, employees from RMIT and Northern Health and special guests from the Department of Education & Training.

A second group of Diploma of Nursing students will commence the Transformative Enrolled Nurse Program mid-year. 

30 May 2019

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RMIT University acknowledges the people of the Woi wurrung and Boon wurrung language groups of the eastern Kulin Nation on whose unceded lands we conduct the business of the University. RMIT University respectfully acknowledges their Ancestors and Elders, past and present. RMIT also acknowledges the Traditional Custodians and their Ancestors of the lands and waters across Australia where we conduct our business - Artwork 'Sentient' by Hollie Johnson, Gunaikurnai and Monero Ngarigo.