Four new nursing graduates will start work with the Torres and Cape Hospital and Health Service from 4 March.
Torres and Cape HHS Executive Director of Nursing and Midwifery Services Sarah Worth said two registered nurse graduates would be posted initially to Thursday Island Hospital and one each to Weipa Integrated Health Service and Cooktown Multipurpose Health Service.
A further two nurse graduates will join the health service in September, with one going to Weipa and the other to Thursday Island.
“The registered nurse graduates will have a range of clinical experiences, including acute medical, surgical, emergency care, community and primary health care,’’ she said.
Newly-graduated Registered Nurse and Weipa resident Karyn Teece is no stranger to nursing.
She has been working at Weipa Integrated Health Service as an Enrolled Nurse since 2017, and before that was an Enrolled Nurse at Atherton Hospital and Charters Towers Hospital.
Born in Mount Isa, her family moved to Cape York because her father was a ranger at Lakefield National Park. Karyn was educated by Distance Education and at All Souls and St Gabriel's college in Charters Towers before doing her Diploma in Nursing.
“I decided to do my Registered Nurse degree, which I did externally through Central Queensland University, as I wanted to expand my scope of practice and knowledge and continue working in rural and remote facilities,’’ she said.
“I chose Weipa to do my graduate year as a Registered Nurse because, having worked here for seven years already, I know we have a wonderful supportive nursing team and many experienced Clinical and Registered Nurses whom I believe will contribute significantly to my learning and development as a new graduate Registered Nurse.
“I just love living and working in the Cape.
“Working in rural and remote environments can present unique challenges. “Therefore nurses in these settings often need to be quite resourceful.
“I believe rural and remote nursing offers a diverse range of practice opportunities and deals with a variety of medical conditions and situations which can contribute to both professional and personal growth, and which can be deeply rewarding.
“Going forward as a Registered Nurse, I would particularly like to develop my nursing skills to work in Emergency and Theatre and I’m looking forward to expanding my experience.’’
Ms Worth said the new registered nurse graduates were from a variety of universities and backgrounds.
“We are happy to welcome them as they begin their careers with the Torres and Cape HHS,’’ she said. “They are an important part of our team, and we value the contribution they will make.’’
Ms Worth said the new nurses would undertake a 12-month graduate program that involved theoretical and practical assessments.
“This year, we have also appointed Thursday Island Clinical Nurse Ivy Hodges as a First Nations Clinical Facilitator to support our new graduates.
“She will be there to support, advise and mentor our new graduates making the transition from studying at university to life in the workforce, as well as reinforcing our commitment to delivering culturally safe care to our First Nations communities.
“Our new graduates have chosen a rewarding and fulfilling vocation that provides many pathways for career development and is a fabulous way of serving the community in which we live.
“We hope their first year of practice in our diverse health service provides a range of professional experiences and a strong foundation for their future careers as Registered Nurses working within Torres and Cape communities.
“We employ more than 400 full, part-time, and casual nurses and midwives throughout the region.
“I would like to thank our compassionate, caring, committed and resilient midwives and nurses for their service, and for dedicating what is often their life’s work to the health and wellbeing of others.
“When caring for patients, the voice of the nurse is critical.
“Without their contribution, their passion and their dedication, we could not offer such a comprehensive suite of health services to our local communities.’’
Find out more about our nursing and midwifery graduate program.