‘Nursing Needs You’ Campaign Returns to SDHB

Media Release

Friday, 28 November 2003

‘Nursing Needs You’ Campaign Returns to SDHB

Southland District Health Board’s unique “Return to Nursing Programme” is set to re-start early 2004, with a call now going out to all former registered nurses who are interested in returning to the workforce, to attend an information meeting on 11 December 2003.

Return to Nursing Coordinator, Rosalie McDonald, says the programme offers out of practice registered nurses the opportunity to update clinical skills and boost their confidence to work back in a clinical setting.

“Whether it has been five years or twenty-five years since working, nursing needs you! The four-week programme is an excellent opportunity to upskill and return to nursing either on a full time or casual basis” Mrs McDonald says.

The course is based on the Nursing Council’s requirements of 40 hours theory and at least 10-12 mentored clinical shifts, with small classes running Monday-Friday from 9.00am-3.00pm.

“We match nurses to a senior nurse mentor for their clinical placements, which take place throughout a variety of wards in Southland Hospital. We have also had participants do their clinical placements at Lakes District Hospital, Gore Hospital and the Southland Hospice”

SDHB first trialed the programme in 2002, in an effort to combat the national nursing shortage and to boost numbers for the SDHB full time and casual nursing pool. Mrs McDonald says that the initiative has proved to be a wonderful success with most of those who have attended the programmes back working in the nursing profession.

“For instance, of the nine nurses from the April/May 2003 programme this year, six are now employed by SDHB, one is in the private sector and one obtained employment at another District Health Board”.

Next year’s programmes are planned to run over February, April/May and October, with three people having already booked places.

An information meeting is to be held on 11 December 03 from 1.00pm-2.30pm in the Southland Hospital Training Room. Further inquiries regarding the programme can be made to Rosalie McDonald, telephone (03) 218 1949, extension 8520.

ENDS

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