Community & Business
15 February, 2023
Health worker boost for region
OVER 50 new graduate nurses have joined the frontline and will begin working around the region as they set out to complete two six-month rotations at the Cairns hospital and hospitals on the Tablelands.
A total 85 nurses and midwives began working across the region last week, with Atherton hospital receiving three graduate nurses and one midwife while two nurses began their work at Mareeba hospital and other services in the shire including Lotus Glen.
CHHHS executive director of nursing and midwifery Cameron Duffy said the graduates work in all areas of the health service, including cancer care, day surgery, orthopaedics, respiratory and renal ward, gastroenterology ward, and mental health.
“We are very excited to welcome this large cohort of 80 registered nurses (RNs) and five midwives to our health service,” he said.
“These graduates will be working for various units across our vast region, including dialysis at Mossman Multipurpose Health Service - the first time for a rotational program between dialysis and a rural hospital.
“The program allows the graduates to access support and professional development throughout the year, so there are plenty of opportunities to develop their nursing and midwifery career.”
The graduate program helps ease the new staff’s transition from students to registered nurses and midwives.
Ebonie Campbell is one of the new RNs starting work this week in Cairns Hospital’s Rehabilitation and Acute Stroke Unit and said she decided to study nursing to give back to her community.
“I worked in administration for 10 years, but it wasn’t my dream,” she said.
“I really wanted to do work where I am helping people and making a difference.
“My mum works in mental health for Queensland Health and seeing what she has done with her career has played a big part in me deciding to go into nursing.
“I am really excited about working as an RN at the hospital.”
