Nursing New Graduate Program Information for Lismore, Ballina and Nimbin

Name of Facility	Facilities participating in the Graduate Program within the Richmond Network of NCAHS are: Nimbin Health Service, Ballina District Hospital, Bonalbo Hospital, Casino & District Memorial Hospital and Lismore Base Hospital Campus - including Mental Health
Contact Person - Designation	Malena Lindell – Nurse Educator
Contact Details	Phone: (02) 6620 2254 or 6621 8000 and page 2254 Fax: (02) 6620 7470 Email: Malena.Lindell@ncahs.health.nsw.gov.au
About the facility included in the Network Progarm	The Richmond Network provides a comprehensive New Graduate Program which aims to facilitate the transition of nurses from university to the work setting. Ballina Hospital provides inpatient services for medical and surgical patients in the General Ward (30 beds). Many of these patients are elderly and with chronic and complex care needs. Most surgical patients are day only elective surgery and receive their care in the Day Surgery Unit. Ballina Hospital also has Renal dialysis, Richmond Network Rehabilitation Service (24 beds), a Transitional Care Unit (18 beds) and an Emergency Department with approximately 14,600 attendances 8,500 admissions in 2008. Lismore Base Hospital is in the City of Lismore and is the major acute care provider and referral facility for the North Coast Area Health Service. Lismore Base has 223 beds and provides general medical & surgical services, emergency, critical care obstetrics, paediatrics, mental health and clinical support services. This is a busy referral hospital with 29,300 new Emergency Department attendances, 1400 births as well as 24,200 admissions each year. The new Mental Health Services at LBH has a 40 bed acute inpatient mental heath facility and an 8 bed Child and Adolescent Unit. The units provide hospital-based treatment for people with mental health problems. The new Mental Health Campus will support a culturally appropriate, recovery based focus of care that enables an innovative educational and research based environment. Nimbin Heath Service is a community orientated health service under the multipurpose model of NSW and Commonwealth Health Departments. As such, Nimbin provides a wide range of community services together with a busy Accident and Emergency department, a residential care facility and acute medical ward. Nimbin has a culturally diverse community where alternative and conventional lifestyles converge. Casino & District Memorial Hospital is regional hospital servicing the town of Casino and surrounding communities. Services offered include General Medical, Obstetrics, Paediatrics, Surgery and Day Surgery. The General medical department offers 'high dependency' service and the Accident and Emergency department. This is a busy District Hospital with 14,900 new Emergency Department attendances, 65 births as well as 3,000 admissions each year. Bonalbo Hospital is small country hospital serving the town of Bonalbo and surrounding communities. With ten beds and a very busy outpatient clinic of a morning, the Emergency Department attendances approximately 3,800 and admissions were 550 in 2008. The hospital is a hub of activity.
Number of New Graduate positions	Richmond Network facilities provide a 52 week program (FT/PT) with two intakes per year. The Richmond Network will offer 17 graduates positions in 2010.
Links
Access to ongoing support, professional development (study days) including supernumerary time and orientation	The Richmond Network Offer: Two days Area Core Orientation Induction Program. Ward orientation on each rotation. At least two or three day's supernumerary on each rotation. Ward based in-service education. Three study days per year. Preceptor model. Clinical objectives for each rotation. Individual professional development Various learning packages (for example IV-cannulation and PICC) During the program there are planned de-briefing sessions with both formal and informal sessions built in to the year.
Rotations	Richmond Network facilities offer four month rotation between the different facilities. The rotations are between; medical, surgical, rehab, mental health, orthopaedic, general ward and aged care. New for 2010 - 1 position for Mental Health (includes 4 months in a general medical ward and 8 months in Mental Health)
Intakes	The next intake are the Monday 8th February 2010 and Monday 8th March 2010
Where to from here - career opportunities, speciality programs, employment opportunities	Lismore Base Hospital provides special learning lines In various areas as per example: Mental Health, Orthopaedic, ICU/CCU, Operating Theatre and Emergency Please contact Nurse Educator for more information
Accommodation	Local Real Estate agents will need to be contacted for accommodation
Social activities	Information about the local area and associated links can be found www.visitlismore.com.au
Links to local government, schools, universities and clubs, etc	www.northernriverstourism.com.au
Any new graduate stories for sharing their experience at you site/network	Being a new graduate at Richmond Network has expanded my knowledge and increased my clinical skills. The staff are supportive and encouraging. I found many opportunities to learn new skills and keep up with new practise methods. My year as a graduate has allowed me to gain a permanent position on a medical ward at Lismore Base Hospital. Written by: Rodney Hyland R.N. ( Graduate Nurse, March 2008 group.)