ACN Nursing & Health Expo 2023 eGuide

SATURDAY 1 APRIL 2023 8:30am – 2:30pm MELBOURNE CONVENTION & EXHIBITION CENTRE, BAYS 1 AND 2

Face the future with confidence

At

Graduate Support Program and beyond for Nurses and Midwives

Come see us at booth 7 and 8, to discuss your exciting career opportunities!

Epworth HealthCare offers dedicated Graduate Support Programs in:

> General nursing

> Peri-operative nursing

> Midwifery

> Mental health

Connect with us

Instagram: @epworth_

Twitter: @epworth

Facebook: @Epworth

#EpworthGrad

To apply or find out more about our programs, go to www.epworth.org.au/working-with-us

Epworth offers ongoing opportunities into specialty programs:

> Advanced Practice Programs (APP) in all nursing areas

> Introductory to Specialty Practice (ISP) in peri-operative and paediatrics

> Transition to Specialty Practice (TSP) in ICU, ED, cardiac and mental health

Apply via our careers website

WELCOME FROM THE ACN CEO

Welcome to the Australian College of Nursing (ACN) Nursing & Health Expo eGuide for 2023.

ACN is the national voice of the nursing profession focused on policy, advocacy, and education to advance the status, recognition, and respect for nurses. We encourage and empower nurses to pursue their leadership and career goals and promote a connected and inspired workforce. As such, we are committed to supporting you in every stage of your nursing career.

Being a nurse is more than just a job, it is a vocation. A nursing career offers lifelong learning, a diverse range of vocational opportunities, and the chance to contribute to the health of communities and individuals throughout the country.

The ACN Nursing and Health Expo offers a wealth of information and advice, with an abundance of exhibitions, services, events, and seminars led by key industry professionals.

This eGuide is designed to maximise your Expo experience by ensuring you have the information you need to attend the exhibitions and events that interest you and promote further exploration in the world of nursing.

The Nursing and Health Expo is a unique forum to explore new opportunities, establish networks and progress your career in this dynamic profession. I expect you find this experience informative and inspirational.

Adjunct Professor Kylie Ward Chief Executive Officer – Australian College of Nursing

RN, MMgt, Dip App Sci (Nursing), Acute Care Cert, FACN, FCHSM, Wharton Fellow, MAICD

Kick-start your nursing career

JOIN YOUR PROFESSIONAL ASSOCIATION

ACN Undergraduate membership perks:

RECEIVE one-on-one career mentoring from recent graduates and experienced nurse leaders.

CONNECT with like-minded people and talk through issues and ideas on our dedicated Nurse Engagement Online platform.

BUILD your Professional Portfolio to support job applications.

ACCESS

online CPD courses, anytime, anywhere, to grow your knowledge and skills.

STAY UP-TO-DATE with nursing news and opportunities through our eNewsletters and print magazine.

SCORE an exclusive discount on the ACN Transition to Practice Program which prepares newly qualified ENs and RNs for a confident entry into the workforce.

DEMONSTRATE your professional capability by using the post-nominals MACN(Student) on your CV.

JOIN a Faculty to explore career pathways and nursing specialties.

UPSKILL IN 2023

Learn online or face-to-face with your leading nurse educators

Stay updated with current evidence-based standards and maintain your level of competency in a series of continuing professional development (CPD) courses with the Australian College of Nursing (ACN).

Online CPD

Explore over 100 courses by topic in ACN’s online CPD Centre, including Acute Care, Aged Care, Immunisation, Mental Health, and more. Earn CPD points at a time and place that suits you. Recieve over 70 free online CPD hours as an ACN member.

Face to Face CPD

Gain a hands-on experience in a simulated environment with ACN’s series of interactive CPD workshops in Sydney, Canberra and other locations across Australia. Search from a range of courses to enhance clinical skills in your specialty. Receive a significant discount as an ACN member.

� Gain CPD points

� Increase employability and leadership potential

� Improve patient safety and outcomes

NOW acn.edu.au/cpd

NOW acn.edu.au/f2fcpd

ABOUT THE EXPO

What can I expect from the Expo?

The ACN Nursing & Health Expo is the perfect place to discover and progress your career in the nursing and health professions. The ACN Expo has a strong reputation for connecting visitors with a range of organisations, including hospitals, health care services, educational institutions and specialty nursing groups.

With over 50+ exhibitors participating in the ACN Expo, there are a wealth of products and services; visitors will gain practical takeaway advice and skills in a series of complimentary educational seminars. If you are a nurse, currently studying nursing or considering a career in the nursing or health professions, this Expo is for you.

Who will be exhibiting?

You will have the opportunity to interact with:

• education providers

• hospital and health care services

• recruitment agencies

• specialty nursing groups

• companies offering health products and services.

To find out more about who will be attending, view the exhibitor list on page 27 of the eGuide.

Who should attend?

ACN encourages everyone who is interested in the nursing and health professions to attend the Expo. It is particularly beneficial to:

• high school students

• undergraduate nursing students

• enrolled nurses

• registered nurses

• health professionals.

FIVE WAYS TO MAKE THE MOST OF YOUR GRADUATE PROGRAM YEAR

HAYLEY POLLOCK MACN, RN Stage Three Emerging Nurse Leader, ACN Communications Coordinator, ACN Melbourne Region

This article was originally published on ACN’s NurseClick blog

Completing your nursing studies and entering the workforce is an exciting time. After years of study, you can finally call yourself a nurse, and are often beginning in a graduate nurse program.

I completed my graduate year in 2022. For my graduate program, I rotated through neonatal intensive care, paediatric oncology, and general medicine. While my own experience relates to nursing young people and their families, I have had lots of conversations with friends who have recently completed their grad year in different areas. Though we were in different rotations, we all found benefit in insights from each other on adapting from the classroom to the practical environment.

I have used my experience in my graduate year to share my top five tips for making the most of your graduate year. Not everyone completes a formal program, but these tips can be applied in many settings and will help anyone joining our workforce as a brandnew nurse.

1. Introduce yourself and use people’s names

You will meet lots of new faces and learn about how everyone

fits together in the jigsaw of your team in the first few weeks. Try to smile and introduce yourself when you come across a new colleague. It may feel overrated, but it is an easy way to build rapport and professional relationships with your new colleagues.

This works both ways – when you learn someone’s name, try to remember it and use it again the next time you come across them. Not only is it good manners, but you will also find that people tend to remember your name if you remember theirs, and it will be much less intimidating when you need to ask them for help.

Introducing yourself is also particularly important in emergency situations. It is completely normal to be overwhelmed when faced with a sudden deterioration, and if you know how and when to raise the alarm, it is ok to need to take a step back.

If you do find yourself frozen on the spot, I found it so important to be able to quickly state “my name is Hayley, I am the bedside nurse, and I do not know what to do. I need help.” People will generally jump in and help you quickly if you can identify that you need help managing the situation.

2. Do not be afraid to ask all of your questions (multiple times if you need to) – just know who to ask

When in practice, it is easy to feel like you are expected to know everything. Remind yourself that you are still learning as a new nurse and that it is ok to need to ask questions. All of the educators I have worked with say they would much rather a graduate ask the same question five times than not seek clarification and make a guess.

The safe graduate is the one who asks the question. Just remember, some people will be easier to approach for help, and they will not ever make you feel like what you are asking is a silly question. Find those people and seek them out regularly.

3. Be brave and say yes to opportunities as they pop up

It can be scary trying out new clinical skills on real patients when you first start. You get some exposure on placement, but most of the clinical skill practice you have as a student is on mannequins who you cannot actually harm.

You will have lots of opportunities to try new skills, try to be brave and say yes to those opportunities,

even if it seems scary! Just make sure you understand what you are doing, why you are doing it, the risks involved and get someone who is a confident (and kind) teacher to support you for the first couple of times. See one, do one, teach one!

4. Accept that you will be tired, it is a huge year

I was not prepared for just how tired I would be for the first three months of each rotation of my graduate program. My friends had warned me that it would be a big adjustment, but I underestimated the mental fatigue.

I found that my brain was often like mush on my days off because so much of my cognitive energy was occupied by all the learning at work. Have some mindless things planned for your days off to make sure you can switch off, particularly at the start of each rotation. Get your life admin sorted before you start!

5. Know who your key contact people are and your obligations for the year at the beginning

This final tip is more specific to those in a structured graduate program. Make sure you understand the administrative requirements. Do you have competencies or appraisals

that need to be completed? Do you need to enrol yourself in mandatory study days?

Do not let these things fall off your radar – you do not want the added stress of scrambling to get them done as you are applying for a job at the end. The last thing you want is to be the graduate that does not meet the requirements to successfully complete the year based on a simple technicality like not uploading an appraisal! Keep the contact details of your graduate coordinators and the timeline of the year close by.

Congratulations on starting your career! This year will be fun, challenging, rewarding and everything in between. Make sure you reach out for help if you need it and go easy on yourself. Every nurse had to start somewhere, and everyone remembers what it’s like to be new. Enjoy being a graduate – it really does fly by. For now, a very big welcome to the profession, we are excited to have you here!

“Remind yourself that you are still learning as a new nurse and that it is ok to need to ask questions.”

Hayley Pollock MACN

A LOOK BACK AT PREVIOUS ACN NURSING & HEALTH EXPOS

What I enjoyed most about the Expo...

“Social media was a buzz about this show and I wasn’t disappointed.”

“It was great to learn about so many opportunities available for nurses, I feel so inspired to continue along this path.”

“So much to see, so much to learn it was a great experience attending the Expo!”

“The seminars were worthwhile attending, I particularly liked the one on resume writing and how to dress to impress, very helpful great tips and advice.”

“This is a great place to visit when considering a career in nursing, it’s a one-stop shop.”

FIVE WAYS A GRADUATE CERTIFICATE CAN ENHANCE YOUR NURSING CAREER

KAY POWELL Communications Officer

This article was originally published on ACN’s NurseClick blog

The Australian College of Nursing is on a mission to ensure nurses are equipped for the challenges and expectations they face on the job, with access to educational, research, advocacy and leadership opportunities that will keep them highly skilled and at the cutting edge of health care delivery.

More than ever before, nurses are turning to graduate certificates to develop and enhance their skills and opportunities in a flexible manner that works for them.

With a nursing graduate certificate, more doors than ever open to the possibilities of career advancement, whether you want to move upwards in your current role or move into an entirely new speciality.

With graduate certificates across more than 20 nursing specialities, ACN’s diverse range of graduate courses are available to help up-skill, upgrade and uplift you!

Why the Australian College of Nursing?

We have shared five reasons here.

1. Take the next steps in your career

A graduate certificate allows you to develop high-level skills, knowledge and attitudes towards a specialty within nursing that can unlock your career. Graduate certificates show employers that you are dedicated to improving your skills and are capable of high-level work, and are often gateways for higher pay, senior roles and leadership responsibilities.

2. Learn more about new and innovative ways to be a nurse

The way we nurse is constantly changing. Graduate certificates such as the Graduate Certificate in Digital Health help nurses manage transitioning to a system relying more and more on technology. ACN has Graduate Certificates to support nurses caring for consumers from neonatal all the way through to aged care.

3. Learn from specialist nurses

Graduate certificates by ACN are developed by specialist nurses with clinical experience in the area of teaching and facilitate a supportive and engagement learning experience. Additionally, students are supported by specialist library staff that provides access to books, journals, database searches, loans and more to meet your studying needs.

4. Work on your schedule

A vast majority of ACN Graduate Certificate courses are available exclusively online and are flexible to your schedule. We understand that many nurses work different shifts depending on their speciality and our courses are designed for the busy nurse who may need to grapple shift work or study at unpredictable hours or may not be able to make it to a physical site due to other responsibilities.

5. Finish in just one year

A serious benefit of graduate certificates is that you can get specialist knowledge and skills in less time than a Master’s degree. Graduate Certificates at ACN can be completed part-time in just twelve months, with only 12-15 hours of study per week. And with fees being able to be covered by FEE-HELP (except Bridging and Re-Entry), the options for your future career are limitless!

If you’re interested in signing up for one of our graduate certificates, please visit the Graduate Certificate options on our website. If you are unsure about what area of nursing you would like to study, have a chat to one of our many exhibitors to discuss your career goals.

OPEN YOUR WORLD WITH LA TROBE GRADUATE NURSING COURSES

COURSES AVAILABLE INCLUDE:

Master of Nursing (multiple specialisations available)

Master of Mental Health Nursing

Graduate Diploma in Midwifery

Graduate Diploma in Child, Family and Community Nursing

Master of Nursing (Nurse Practitioner)*

Graduate Certificate in Mental Health*

Master of Midwifery Practice

Doctor of Nursing and Doctor of Midwifery

CPD programs

*online course

Apply now for 2023

latrobe.edu.au/nursing

Time for a sea change?

We’re here to make discussing your career a breeze.

Peninsula Health is proud to be an inclusive employer, with more than 7,350 staff working across a broad range of health disciplines and occupations.

We have a wide range of supportive learning programs to help you achieve your career goals, including:

Clinical placements and fellowship programs

Graduate programs

Transition to Specialty Practice

Postgraduate programs

If you’re ready to take the next step in your career, come see us at the ACN Nursing & Health Expo and visit peninsulahealth.org.au/careers/

FIVE THINGS TO KNOW BEFORE YOUR PLACEMENT IN THE OPERATING THEATRE

SANDRA KUMAR MACN

Emerging Nurse Leader Alumna, ACN

This article was originally published on ACN’s NurseClick blog

For many of us nursing students, placement takes place in a medical/ surgical environment where most of our shift consists of meticulous care plans and having a good old chat with our patients throughout the day.

But what happens when the next four to six weeks of your nursing journey has been allocated to the operating theatre (OT) and your patients are likely sedated for majority of the time they are under your care? The jump from general nursing to specialty areas such as theatre is quite large and can easily become overwhelming.

For me, having an OT placement in my final year of nursing school reminded me of my first day on placement — ever. There are a few things I wish I’d known before starting my placement and here are some of them.

1. Rest and self care

As with any placement, make sure you are well rested, hydrated and fuelled with healthy food. A day in theatre means a day filled with walking and standing, whether that is to transport patients from theatre to the recovery area or being a part of the team inside theatre during the procedure. It requires a lot of energy both physically and mentally, and without rest and food you will find yourself unable to perform at your best.

2. Get extra resources

Ask your educator for extra resources. Learning packages generally given

to graduate nurses are an excellent resource to have and covers theory in significant detail. Additionally, library resources available within the OT department can be utilised to understand procedures, pharmacology and equipment.

On that note, work closely with your Clinical Nurse Educator (CNE) or facilitator. Within your placement, they are your first point of contact and are there to support you throughout the placement.

They have extensive training and qualifications specific to perioperative nursing and if there are specific procedures you are interested in being a part of, let them know. They will always try and accommodate this for you.

3. It’s a must to ask!

If you are unsure or simply want to know more, do not be afraid to ask. In fact, it is a must.

Working so closely with surgeons and anaesthetists means being a part of the action and having access to a wealth of knowledge from the get-go!

It is also important to clarify the various roles of perioperative staff to understand the different actions taking place.

4. Get feedback

Always ask for feedback from staff you have worked with that day. The daily feedback provided by fellow staff and particularly your preceptor will help

you identify areas of improvement and kickstart the reflection process. Additionally, it creates a starting point for understanding theory outside of placement hours.

5. One last thing

Now if you forget all the above, at least keep this one thing in mind. Don’t. Touch. Anything. Blue.

Things covered in blue generally indicate a sterile environment and disrupting them means more time spent creating a new field and an increased risk of complications for our dear patient. Always keep a 30cm distance.

Perioperative nursing encompasses holistic and patient centred care provided before, during and after a procedure. As a nursing student, specialty placements such as OT can be hard to come by. If you have been allocated, remember to make the most of it and always ask, ask, ask!

DO YOU WORK IN REMOTE HEALTH?

In 2023, the peak professional body for remote health, CRANAplus (Council of Remote Area Nurses of Australia), celebrates 40 years of improving remote health. Since 1983, CRANAplus has expanded to provide education, wellbeing support, professional support, and advocacy for nurses, midwives and other health professionals who work or wish to work in rural and remote Australia. Below, we outline how we can help.

Education tailored to remote practice

CRANAplus delivers face-to-face clinical courses throughout Australia. Our education prepares nurses, midwives, First Peoples workforces and other health professionals to safely and effectively handle common presentations in rural and remote health services.

Each course narrows in on a specific area of practice and is contextualised to the unique challenges of remote work. Courses are offered in convenient urban and outback locations Australia-wide. Online courses and webinars are also available.

Popular face-to-face courses include our Remote Emergency Care Course on responding to emergency situations and delivering safe and quality care in the remote setting, and our Maternity Emergency Care Course on providing unplanned maternity and emergency care for women and their babies in a remote or isolated setting.

Wellbeing support for nurses and midwives

CRANAplus provides mental health and wellbeing support to the rural and remote health work-force and their families in recognition of the unique personal and professional demands they face.

Our Bush Support Line provides free, confidential, 24/7 telephone support to the current and emerging rural and remote health workforce, and their families. The Bush Support Line is free, operates 24/7 and you can ring anytime to speak with an experienced psychologist.

We also deliver free wellbeing workshops designed to help your team meet the challenges of providing health care in their unique setting, publish a range of written guides on wellbeing, and send a weekly ‘Mindful Monday’ email newsletter.

Career pathway support

CRANAplus provides a range of opportunities and resources to support the professional development of remote area nurses, midwives and other health professionals, including:

• The CRANAplus Awards which recognise outstanding achievement.

• Grants to contribute to professional development costs.

• Undergraduate scholarships for clinical placements.

• The Gayle Woodford Memorial Scholarship for a Graduate Certificate in Remote Health through Flinders University.

• Resources and guides on working in remote health.

• Facilitation of mentoring relationships.

• An employment page listing remote health jobs from around the country.

Advocacy for remote health

CRANAplus advocates for change on issues affecting the workforce and remote populations, including safety, health inequality, and workforce availability. Our advocacy gives our membership a voice that is heard by decision makers.

It includes advocacy through our links with all levels of Government; participation on steering, advisory and working groups, committees, and governance bodies; and position statements and submissions during enquiries and consultations.

Connecting the workforce

Remote health professionals can join the CRANAplus community by becoming members of CRANAplus. Membership grants you access to various benefits (such as course and conference discounts) and supports your peers by supporting the remote health workforce’s peak professional body.

Members receive CRANAplus Magazine, our print and online publication that connects readers with new opportunities, explores issues affecting the workforce, celebrates your achievements, and provides a platform to tell your stories.

We also hold an annual conference to unite the remote and isolated health workforce and to connect with our members to inform our advocacy. If you work in rural and remote health or have an interest in doing so, we encourage you to join us in Gimuy/Cairns from 10-12 October 2023. This year, we will be exploring clinical updates, wellbeing practices, leadership capabilities and research findings that have the power to improve remote health.

For more information on our services, browse the CRANAplus website at crana.org.au or contact us on (07) 4047 6400.

SEMINARS

Seminars

Attendance at all seminars is complimentary and registration is not required.

TIME TOPIC

9:00am Welcome – Acknowledgement of Country

Overview of the Day

Sally Byrne MACN, Nurse Educator, Australian College of Nursing

9:05am

CV’s and Interview Skills

Adjunct Professor Kylie Ward FACN, Chief Executive Officer, Australian College of Nursing

9:40am Overview of Education at ACN

Dr Jacinta Kelly, Director of Academic Studies, Australian College of Nursing

9:45am ACN Continuous Professional Development

Judith Smith MACN, Director of Professional Development, Australian College of Nursing

9:55am Why study with ACN?

What My Graduate Certificate Did For Me

Erin Rooney, Nurse Educator, Australian College of Nursing

10:10am Immunisation for Health Practitioners

Thuy-An Le, Nurse Educator, Australian College of Nursing

10:20am HESTA

10:30am Your Support Team Whilst Studying

Mevin Paulose, Nurse Educator, Australian College of Nursing

10:50am

What is Academic Misconduct?

Emma Woodhouse MACN, Manager of Education Development, Australian College of Nursing

11.00am Assessments for Postgraduates

Elizabeth Moran MACN, Nurse Educator, Australian College of Nursing

11.10am Writing and Referencing Centre

Kirsten Masters MACN, Nurse Educator, Australian College of Nursing

11.25am Welcome to the Library: How To Find What You Need For Your Study

Danielle Bryson, Librarian, Australian College of Nursing

11.35am CNnect Overview

Sinu Thomas MACN, Nurse Educator, Australian College of Nursing

11:45am Q&A (in person and online streams)

12.00pm HESTA

12.10pm CV’s and Interview Skills

Adjunct Professor Kylie Ward FACN, Chief Executive Officer, Australian College of Nursing

12.40pm Wrap-Up

Sally Byrne MACN, Nurse Educator, Australian College of Nursing

NURSING & MIDWIFERY CAREERS

Why our Graduate Programs?

If you apply to be a Graduate Nurse or Midwife at Bendigo Health you have the option of choosing your own stream and rotations allowing you to take control of your nursing career. You will also be provided with the opportunity for ongoing employment following your graduate year.

Why Bendigo Health?

Bendigo Health is a growing dynamic and technologically advanced health service. We have a great teaching culture and very supportive staff. Our patient base is diverse, friendly and accepting of people advancing their career.

Why Bendigo?

With a population of more than 120,000, Bendigo is a thriving regional city 150km north west or 90 minutes from Melbourne. It is a city with the attributes of urban metropolis, and the benefits of living in regional Australia.

bendigohealth.org.au/careers

WHY RUSON MAKES GREAT NEW GRADUATES –A GRADUATE PERSPECTIVE

REBECCA CHAU MACN, RN

Stage Three Emerging Nurse Leader, ACN

This article was originally published on ACN’s NurseClick blog

There have been many reports of a longstanding shortage of nurses in Australia (Health Workforce Australia, 2014; World Health Organization, 2020). It would be ignorant to believe otherwise. Compound this with an ageing population, increasing demands and the additional challenges COVID-19 has brought, and there is now even more pressure on our health care systems to deliver efficient and effective care.

One way of addressing this problem is to consider alternative health workforce models. The recently developed Registered Undergraduate Student of Nursing (RUSON) model that is currently running in Victoria is one example of creating workforce opportunities.

What is a RUSON?

RUSONs are individuals registered with the Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency (AHPRA) as student nurses. They must also be enrolled in an undergraduate nursing degree at a university and have completed at least 12 months of their Bachelor of Nursing or equivalent (Department of Health and Human Services, 2020). They are employed in acute, subacute, and aged care settings. Their role, under the delegation and supervision of a registered nurse, is to help provide patient care within

a defined scope of practice. RUSONs are a great resource to patients, carers, staff, health services and the community. As a recent graduate, I would like to share a RUSON’s point of view, focusing on the transition from student to graduate nurse. A personal perspective on being a RUSON

As RUSONs are a relatively new role in many settings, understanding the concept of working within my scope of practice and delegation was imperative. I had to think whether I was a student nurse on placement or a RUSON at work to ensure I was always practising within my scope of practice. I learnt to explain and politely decline things outside my scope. As a graduate nurse, I am confident practising within and escalating anything beyond my capability.

My scope of practice as a RUSON was defined by the specific health care facility position description and clearly outlined in a duties and exclusion list. In my employment, I practised providing direct patient care. Some activities included taking patient vital sign observations, blood glucose levels, assisting with activities of daily living, hygiene care, manual handling, bed making, direct

supervision of high fall risk patients and the care of the deceased person.

I provided indirect support through relevant documentation, restocking supplies, and communicating with other members of the health care team and families.

By spending additional time beyond clinical placement in the hospital ward setting, I had more opportunities to observe and ask questions about nursing procedures such as venepuncture, recording electrocardiograms, medication administration and experiencing emergency calls. I clearly remember my first code

grey and code blue. I also worked with different cohorts of patients, such as patients with delirium, on insulin infusions and with surgical drains.

Not only was I able to gain more knowledge with clinical skills, but I was able to strengthen my transferable “soft” skills. I created time planners to work on time management and contributed to the team by helping the ward prevent falls and providing nursing care. I developed my communication, patience, and empathy skills as I had time to actively listen to patients and understand their goals to provide holistic patient-centred care.

Another skill I practised was worklife-university balance. The health care facility I was employed at, offered part-time employment of one to two shifts a week with the opportunity to pick up more if you wanted to and supported time off during clinical placements. I found that with this arrangement, I managed to reap the benefits of being a RUSON, complete university work and still have a life outside of work and study.

As a current new graduate nurse reflecting on my experience as a RUSON last year, I have greater self-confidence as a Registered Nurse. I spent more time immersed in the clinical setting with no pressure from

university assessments focusing on the fundamentals. I also got to experience many scary “firsts”, such as the codes, without the pressure of having a patient load. These were things that I hadn’t experienced on clinical placement and was more prepared going into my graduate year.

Where to from here?

My experience as a RUSON contributed to my work readiness as a new graduate nurse and has allowed me to be a strong advocate for the model. As a Registered Nurse, I am conscious of how I approach and support student nurses. I invite them into the team environment, reach out and create deliberate learning opportunities, delegate appropriately and most

importantly, maximise their skills to help me increase patient safety.

In terms of maximising the model, I encourage student nurses as appropriate to become RUSONs to complement their nursing degrees. I hope this reflection piece further serves as another way to inspire those who may be unsure of the role.

References

Department of Health and Human Services. (2020). Registered undergraduate student of nursing (RUSON): Employment and implementation guide. Victoria: Health and Human Services.

Health Workforce Australia. (2014). Australia’s future health workforce – nurses detailed.

World Health Organization. (2020). State of the world’s nursing 2020: Investing in education, jobs and leadership.

“As a current new graduate nurse reflecting on my experience as a RUSON last year, I have greater self-confidence as a Registered Nurse. I spent more time immersed in the clinical setting with no pressure from university assessments focusing on the fundamentals.”

ACN’s renowned Emerging Nurse Leader Program is a career kick-starter for up-and-coming nurse leaders that want to fast-track their leadership journeys and set themselves up for rewarding careers.

The program’s five stages cater for final year nursing students through to enrolled and registered nurses in their sixth year of practice.

SCAN TO FIND OUT MORE or visit acn.edu.au/enl

Program benefits include:

• Mentoring

• Career Coaching

• Full registration for the ACN National Nursing Forum

• Networking with high-profile nurse leaders

• ACN leadership workshops

• Professional development webinars

• Invitations to exclusive ACN events

COPING WITH GRADUATE NURSE TRANSITION SHOCK DURING THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC

Transition is the experience of moving from a familiar environment or role to another. New Graduate Registered Nurses (GRNs) can experience a phenomenon known as transition shock as they enter practice for the first time (Graf et al., 2020). The cause of transition shock is related to a clash of values and expectations between the role of a nursing student and a practicing professional (Duchscher & Hartwig, 2021). Graduate nurses can experience feelings of stress, anxiety, burnout, job dissatisfaction and even intentions to quit.

As an early-career nurse myself, I have been feeling overwhelmed as I experience transition shock in adapting from theory of nursing to professional practice (Duchscher & Hartwig, 2021). I also feel challenges caring for COVID-19 patients. Since the COVID-19 pandemic began at the end of 2019, other graduate nurses I have discussed it with report that they also have been struggling to deal with the infectious disease in addition to transition shock. How well graduate nurses adapt to the transition from student to practitioner is influenced by how well we have coped with change in the past and the adoption of strategies, as transition shock

may affect our psychological and physiological wellbeing (Cao et al., 2021). Therefore, it is imperative to be aware of what transition shock means and provide strategies that will benefit us during this period to help through the recovery and resolution phase of transition shock.

Here are my suggested strategies for health care facilities and how I as a graduate nurse manage the transition period with the additional stress of coping with COVID-19. It is important to note that not all new graduate nurses share the same experiences, however the strategies listed below would be considered beneficial for all new GRNs.

Provide education and professional training

As a newly graduated nurse, I felt afraid and anxious due to the risk of COVID-19 infection. My workplace provided education and training regarding the infectious disease, personal protective equipment (PPE) training and local in-service or continuing professional development, for example, completing an online COVID-19 module, PPE training, mask fit testing before commencing practice. Knowledgebased practice reduces anxiety and increases coping ability (Jang et al., 2022). Posters and resources about COVID-19 are available and well-marked in wards.

LELE XU MACN, RN

Graduate registered nurse in Monash Health and Stage Two Emerging Nurse Leader, ACN ELSPETH WOOD MACN, RN, BHLTHSC(N), MNST, GCED(TT), GCRM Lecturer in nursing at James Cook University

This article was originally published on ACN’s NurseClick blog

Provide professional support

A supportive work team and positive work environment help graduate nurses to cope with the challenges and realise personal and professional growth (Wakefield, 2018). The nurse managers in my workplace demonstrate positive leadership, create a positive working environment and culture, and promote teamwork. Clinical Nurse Specialists (CNS), senior nurses and educators are always accessible for professional and emotional support. For example, one-to-one, everyday support by nurse educators facilitates me to have experiential learning and supported practice in the clinical environment. I benefit greatly from a mentorship program, preceptorship program and debriefing meetings (Van Patten & Bartone, 2019).

Utilise counselling and support resources

An Employee Assistance Program (EAP) is a confidential counselling and support service provided by employers for their staff. Most health care facilities provide this service free of charge to employees as well as their families. Qualified professionals can provide us with counselling and coping strategies, whether the stress comes from the transition to the nursing profession or the pandemic. The Nurse and Midwife Support line (1800667877) can also be accessed which provides confidential advice and support 24/7. Some health

care facilities or organisations also provide intranet and related websites relating to professional nursing and mental health resources, such as Australian College of Nursing, Australian Nursing & Midwifery Federation and Ausmed.

Clinical practice strategies

As a new graduate nurse, I am not afraid of asking for help. No question is a silly question. Building a healthy relationship in the workplace and sharing experiences with the team contributes to good performance and mental health (Wakefield, 2018). I take every opportunity to seek new knowledge and skills in my workplace. Appropriate nursing delegation, planning and time management skills help me greatly to relieve the workload pressures. It is important to take time for self-reflection and learn from mistakes or errors (Galutira, 2018).

Self-care and healthy habits

Rest and relaxation, a healthy diet and quality sleep are all important self-care strategies for me. Activities, regular exercise and practicing mindfulness also help me to reduce stress and improve physical and mental health. It is vital to balance my work and personal life. Families and friends play an important role in providing social support during the transition (Cao et al., 2021). If graduate nurses feel overwhelmed in the workplace, it is important to seek

help and support from colleagues. We should be aware that we are not alone.

The transition shock during the pandemic can be distressing for new graduate nurses. Supportive and self-care strategies have benefited me through the transition and will get me prepared for a future nursing career, and I hope these strategies help other GRNs.

References

Broadbent, J., & Hayden, M. (2015). Health behaviour (2nd ed.). Pearson Australia.

Cao, X., Li, J., & Gong, S. (2021). The relationships of both transition shock, empathy, resilience and coping strategies with professional quality of life in newly graduated nurses. BMC Nursing, 20(65), 1-8. Duchscher, J. & Hartwig, J. (2021). The experience of transition. In H. Harrison, M. Birks, & J. Mills, Transition to nursing practice: From student to professional. (pp. 98-121). Oxford.

Graf, A.C., Jacob, E., Twigg, D., & Nattabi, B. (2020). Contemporary nursing graduates’ transition to practice: A critical review of transition models. Journal of Clinical Nursing, 29, 3097-3107.

Jang, H., Yang, J., & Shin, Y. (2022). A phenomenological study of nurses’ experience in caring COVID-19 patients. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 19(2924), 1-14. Galutira, G.D. (2018). Theory of reflective practice in nursing. International Journal of Nursing Science, 8(3), 51-56.

Van Patten, R.R., & Bartone, A. S. (2019). The impact of mentorship, preceptors, and debriefing on the quality of program experiences. Nurse Education in Practice, 35, 63-68.

Wakefield, E. (2018). Is your graduate nurse suffering from transition shock? Journal of Perioperative Nursing, 31(1), 47-50.

“As a new graduate nurse, I am not afraid of asking for help. No question is a silly question. Building a healthy relationship in the workplace and sharing experiences with the team contributes to good performance and mental health.”

>> Continued over page

Join us for the nursing community’s signature annual leadership and educational event this August in Adelaide and enjoy the impressive line-up of speakers and networking opportunities.

The 2023 theme will be ‘Reflect, Replenish, Renew – a world of opportunities’ and will be explored in our keynote plenary sessions and throughout the forum.