Nurses and midwives across Queensland now have a chance to experience different working environments and see other parts of the state with the Nursing and Midwifery Exchange Program.
A joint partnership between the Clinical Excellence Division's Office of the Chief Nursing and Midwifery Officer and South West Hospital and Health Service, the $1.5 million Nursing and Midwifery Exchange Program aims to upskill existing rural and remote staff while encouraging their city counterparts to consider country life.
Chief Nursing and Midwifery Officer Shelley Nowlan said the benefits of the program were broad-ranging. "Nurses and midwives can enhance their clinical skills, experience a different working environment, engage in a mentoring relationship, and see more of what Queensland has to offer."
The Nursing and Midwifery Exchange Program involves a nurse or midwife in a metropolitan or regional area changing places with a peer located in a rural or remote facility for 12 weeks.
A pilot exchange is currently underway with two nurses from Logan Hospital exchanging roles with counterparts from St George and Dirranbandi. South West Hospital and Health Board Chair Jim McGowan said the health service was very proud to be a partner in the program. "The statewide Nursing and Midwifery Exchange Program will add a further step to our program of continuing professional development and skills improvement," he said. "It will certainly help our nuses and midwives expand their skills and experience in a higher level acute service, as well as develop their professional networks."
Geoff Rixon is an experience registered nurse who has opted to swap his position at the Logan Hospital Emergency Department for an experience at the Dirranbandi Multipurpose Health Service. "Coming out west means taking my decades of nursing experience and knowledge and applying it to a different environment and culture - it's a wonderful opportunity," he said.
"Here in the bush you get to experience more holistic nursing, where you see the patient through their entire journey whilst in your care. There is so much value in supporting and fostering this kind of opportunity. As an experienced nurse this is my way of giving back."
Carly Clunes has only nursed in rural hospitals and is grateful for the opportunity to experience a more acute setting at Logan Hospital. “Working in a busier department I've found I'm more exposed to nursing procedures and patient treatments that I seldom experience rurally,” she said. “I'm gaining new skills that I will be able to take back to St George, which will allow me to help educate and support my team members, especially new graduate nurses.”
This program is open to Queensland Health nurses and midwives only.
PICTURED: Back L-R: Carly Bland, Tobi Cole, Kathy Flannigan and Logan Hospital RN Geoff Rixon Front L –R: State Wide Program Coordinator NMEP Amy Byrne, Dirranbandi Multipurpose Health Service RN Shari St John, St George Hospital RN Carly Clunes, Logan Hospital RN Donna Rixon
