THE North West health district was the only one across the state to maintain all new graduate positions according to the Queensland Nurses Union, but hospital officials say the figure may not be comparative.
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A Queensland Nurses Union (QNU) report released late last week detailed job cuts across the state, with the North West listed as the only area to retain all graduate positions.
North West Hospital and Health Services board chief executive Sue Belsham said the number of graduate positions was reliant more on the supportive role of other staff than a comparison to other facilities in the state.
"The numbers go up and down depending on staffing in place and what support we can give the nurses," she said.
"We take graduates where we can support them, some years we have less than others and some we have more."
QNU Mount Isa member Shelley Howe said the release was positive in a concerning climate for nursing graduates.
"It's definitely a positive up here, a lot of facilities in the south east corner have cancelled their grad programs which means graduates won't get positions after going through university," she said.
"Especially in aged care and private hospitals where they aren't necessarily focused on graduates, and don't consolidate or support after that first year, it's a huge concern.
"People are worried about the number of nurses who can staff the new hospitals being built around the state and of course the aging workforce."
Ms Howe said while retaining positions was a win for the North West Hospital and Health Services district, Mount Isa QNU representatives would still be raising awareness of job cut flow-ons from other regions.