Southern DHB calling for nurses wanting to return to Nursing

21 May 2015

Southern DHB calling for nurses wanting to return to Nursing

Southern District Health Board's Return to Nursing Programme will run another course in Southland starting the 13th of July, with a call going out to all Registered and Enrolled Nurses who are interested in returning to the workforce.

Southern DHB Nurse Educator Maria Baynes said that, “the programme provides nurses, currently out of practice for five or more years the opportunity to update clinical skills and knowledge to practice again in a clinical setting and regain their Annual Practicing Certificate with Nursing Council New Zealand.”

The Nursing Council of New Zealand approved programme consists of 40 hours of theory (workshops runningMonday to Wednesday from 9am to 3pm) and at least 120 mentored clinical hours. It can be completed in five weeks of full-time or three months of part-time participation.

Photo above: last year’s group of returning nurses

“Many local nurses have returned to nursing in the southern community via the Southern DHB's programme,” said Maria.

Beth Fookes from Queenstown completed the Return to Nursing course last year.

“I myself did the course in a hope to spend more time with my children,’ said Beth.

“I was giving up a full time career in the Police as I was always wondering “what if,” I didn’t do this.

“I was hoping to somehow work part time or get regular casual hours nursing and I was lucky that prior to the completion of the Return To Nursing course I had secured the exact employment I wanted through the medical centre of which I was doing my placement.”

Beth can’t recommend the course enough.

“I have already recommended this course on multiple occasions to others. The support given by Maria and her team was outstanding. Any doubts, nerves or concerns that I had immediately evaporated on arrival. The instructors were incredibly understanding and were realistic in their requests. This in turn created a pleasant constructive learning environment, allowing one to truly focus on the task at hand,” she said.

Beth says that balance has returned to her household and she frequently reminds myself how fortunate she was to have been accepted on this course and will be forever grateful at how patient Maria and her team were with her and the others students.

Participants are mentored by a senior nurse when on their clinical placement in Southland Hospital or in a community setting.

To hear about another local success story, follow this link to episode 3 of the Southern DHB's Better Health You Tube series - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JkB7ENpDOh8

Applications can be found on Southern DHB's website under "Join our Team', or alternatively contact Maria Baynes for further information at maria.baynes@southerndhb.govt.nz. Application closing date for the 2015 course is the 5th of June.

ENDS

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