Graduate nurses to start in record numbers in 2008

Record numbers of graduate nurses will begin work at Queensland public hospitals over coming weeks, Health Minister Stephen Robertson said today.

“A record 911 graduate nurses have already accepted jobs as registered nurses with Queensland Health starting in January, ” he said. ( state breakdown see attached table).

“That’s 153 more graduate nurses than started in January 2006 at the beginning of the State Government’s $10 billion Health Action Plan.

“In addition, a further 12 nurses with Queensland Health Rural Scholarship Scheme grants will also start work at rural and remote public hospitals in coming weeks.

“These hospitals are: Goondiwindi (1); Kingaroy (2); Mt Isa (3);Chinchilla (1); Charters Towers (2); Longreach (1); Atherton (1) and Woorabinda (1).”

Mr Robertson said recruitment and retention of nursing staff remains a key priority for the Bligh Government.

“Queensland Health has already increased its nursing workforce by 3,887 staff in the past two years to the current 25,798 nurses.

“We will continue to recruit more to ensure our public hospitals have the nursing staff to meet the needs of a growing and aging population.

“Queensland Health is investing $1.7 million this year to support graduate nurses plus a further $100,000 per year for scholarships for former nurses to undertake re-entry programs to restore their registration.

“We’re also investing an additional $2 million to develop new strategies to improve nursing and midwifery clinical education, training, recruitment and retention.

“And we continue to improve career pathways for our nursing staff to upgrade their clinical skills or pursue training for new careers as Nurse Practitioners.

“There are already 18 nurse practitioners practising in Queensland; including 10 working for Queensland Health, and we have granted 24 Nurse Practitioner scholarships for 2008.”

MEDIA: PAUL LYNCH 0417 728 676 or 3234 1190