Premier Gladys Berejiklian and Health Minister Brad Hazzard visited Royal Prince Alfred Hospital today as some of the State’s latest nursing recruits were put through their paces in a mock emergency.
This year 2400 new nurses have joined the ranks of the nurses and midwives in NSW Health, bringing the total to 51,000 - a record high.
“This year we’ve seen a record number of graduate nurses and midwives join the public health system in NSW,” Ms Berejiklian said.
“Our nurses and midwives’ commitment and passion, combined with their clinical skills, contribute to the health and wellbeing of all people in NSW.”
Mr Hazzard said the NSW Government had allocated additional resources to boost the nursing and midwifery workforce and support them through their early careers.
“Statewide, this investment will help recruit 55 more specialist nurses and midwives, 10 mental health clinical nurse educators to support new graduates and undergraduates, and 30 clinical support officers for nursing and midwifery services,” Mr Hazzard said.
“Today at RPA we are seeing a training drill aimed at strengthening the skills and confidence of this hospital’s 153 nursing and midwife graduates.
“Building the number and capacity of nurses at RPA is just one example of what our Government is doing across NSW to improve frontline health services.
“Since elected, we have added 6700 nurses and midwives across NSW – something the former Labor Government could have only dreamed about as it did not have the strong economic management that has allowed the NSW Liberals & Nationals Government to employ and train more frontline health staff.”
The Premier and Minister witnessed first-hand RPA nurses participating in a simulation exercise specifically designed for new graduates to gain confidence in responding safely and effectively in emergency situations.
As part of their induction, RPA’s new graduate nurses attend a full day of practical training with lectures and hands-on practice in a simulated environment. During the practical component, the “patient” goes into cardiac arrest and the nurse instigates basic life support and defibrillation.
While visiting the hospital, the Premier was also able to meet and chat with some of the new recruits, including Rebekah Bunter, 21, from Gilgandra, who is fulfilling her lifelong dream to be a nurse through a rotation on RPA’s neurology and neurosurgery ward.
This year 2400 new nurses have joined the ranks of the nurses and midwives in NSW Health, bringing the total to 51,000 - a record high.
“This year we’ve seen a record number of graduate nurses and midwives join the public health system in NSW,” Ms Berejiklian said.
“Our nurses and midwives’ commitment and passion, combined with their clinical skills, contribute to the health and wellbeing of all people in NSW.”
Mr Hazzard said the NSW Government had allocated additional resources to boost the nursing and midwifery workforce and support them through their early careers.
“Statewide, this investment will help recruit 55 more specialist nurses and midwives, 10 mental health clinical nurse educators to support new graduates and undergraduates, and 30 clinical support officers for nursing and midwifery services,” Mr Hazzard said.
“Today at RPA we are seeing a training drill aimed at strengthening the skills and confidence of this hospital’s 153 nursing and midwife graduates.
“Building the number and capacity of nurses at RPA is just one example of what our Government is doing across NSW to improve frontline health services.
“Since elected, we have added 6700 nurses and midwives across NSW – something the former Labor Government could have only dreamed about as it did not have the strong economic management that has allowed the NSW Liberals & Nationals Government to employ and train more frontline health staff.”
The Premier and Minister witnessed first-hand RPA nurses participating in a simulation exercise specifically designed for new graduates to gain confidence in responding safely and effectively in emergency situations.
As part of their induction, RPA’s new graduate nurses attend a full day of practical training with lectures and hands-on practice in a simulated environment. During the practical component, the “patient” goes into cardiac arrest and the nurse instigates basic life support and defibrillation.
While visiting the hospital, the Premier was also able to meet and chat with some of the new recruits, including Rebekah Bunter, 21, from Gilgandra, who is fulfilling her lifelong dream to be a nurse through a rotation on RPA’s neurology and neurosurgery ward.