A Mount Isa Hospital emergency department nurse soon will travel to Brisbane for a 12-week exchange as part of Queensland Health’s popular nursing job exchange program.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
Mount Isa Hospital’s Courtney Gittens will exchange with Stephanie Beatty from the Princess Alexandra Hospital Emergency Department from 21 January.
They will be participating in the state-wide Nursing and Midwifery Exchange Program (NMEP).
Ms Gittins, who is originally from Brisbane, has been working in Mount Isa for the past three years.
“I started in the Mount Isa Hospital Emergency Department as a first-year practitioner and have been here ever since,’’ she said.
Ms Gittins said she had been prompted to apply for the exchange because she had only worked in a rural emergency department.
“I would love to gain some further experience in another, much larger emergency department with more complex cases to broaden my knowledge and skills in dealing with such cases,’’ she said.
North West Hospital and Health Service Executive Director of Nursing and Midwifery Services Michelle Garner said the health service was very proud to be involved in the Nursing and Midwifery Exchange Program.
“This state-wide initiative is a very beneficial addition to our own internal program of continuing professional development and skills improvement for our nurse and midwives,” Ms Garner said.
“The program will allow our nurses and midwives to expand their skills and experience in higher level acute services, as well as to develop their professional networks.
“For nurses and midwives from metropolitan and major provincial centres, they will have a chance to have a taste of life and work in rural and remote areas and see first-hand the opportunities available.
“I am excited for Courtney and Stephanie as they embark upon this professional adventure and I’d like to welcome Stephanie to our region. I’m sure she will find the experience very rewarding.’’
Queensland Chief Nursing and Midwifery Officer Shelley Nowlan said the NMEP was a key component of Queensland Health’s plan for helping hospital and health services build a sustainable nursing and midwifery workforce.
“The program aims to foster professional development, mentoring and networking across our vast state and presents the ideal chance for our rural and remote health services to build their capacity and capability,’’ she said.
The South West Hospital and Health Service has partnered with the Department of Health to deliver the program, with Roma-based NMEP Statewide Coordinator Andrew Hughes saying the program was truly exciting.
“As a past exchange participant, I know first-hand how great an experience the exchange program is,’’ Mr Hughes said.
“I was taken out of my comfort zone and challenged clinically and socially working out in Charleville Hospital - a 782 km drive from my then home workplace at the Redcliffe Hospital Emergency Department in Brisbane!
“To be able to experience this while being supported locally and by the NMEP team was a fantastic opportunity.’’
Injune nurse Beppie Powell, who exchanged to Royal Brisbane and Women’s Hospital, said the experience had helped her grow in confidence and knowledge, which would ultimately benefit the community in which she worked.
Julie Bowdery from the QEII Jubilee Hospital Emergency Department, who exchanged to Mackay, said she could highly recommend the exchange program.
“It challenges your current thinking, gets you into a different environment and makes you appreciate all that you have built in your own workplace,’’ she said.
“If you think you need a change - it's as good as a holiday.”
Applications for the next round of state-wide exchanges are open until 4 February. Any Queensland Health nursing staff interested in finding out more can email: NMEP@health.qld.gov.au