Graduate Nurse Programme - Mental Health & Addictions

Intake dates:

There are two intakes every year one in January/February and one in August/September. Hours: 0.8-1.0 FTE by negotiation. Length of programme: The programme is between 12-15 months depending on the intake date in relation to the academic year.

Nurse Entry to Practice (NETP): Acute and rural hospitals Nurse Entry to Practice Expansion (NETPE): primary health care and community

Entry to programme criteria

Applicant must:

• be a NZ citizen or permanent resident
• hold a nursing degree from a 3 year NZ nursing programme
• have not practised as a registered nurse in the mental health setting for longer than 6 months, but may be a comprehensive nurse with experience in another area.

The programme aims

• to attract high quality registered nurses who are new to mental health and addictions settings
  
  
• to facilitate the development of clinical mental health nursing skills and the integration of theoretical and practical knowledge during the first year of practice
  
  
• to support new nurses to achieve a competent level of mental health nursing practice by the end of the programme
  
  
• to promote recovery focused nursing practice by ensuring that the programme is representative of all facets of the mental health spectrum and that the recovery philosophy underpins all aspects of the programme.
  

Programme content

The programme comprises of two or three clinical placements, targeted learning and development, and support through preceptorship, mentorship and individual clinical supervision.

Education

Learning and development will follow the national standard, which comprises a postgraduate certificate accessed through an accredited academic provider (University of Auckland School of Nursing). Study days for this are held on the Waikato Hospital campus.

Nursing 753 (specialty practice in mental health nursing) is a clinically focused course in which learning occurs by applying knowledge to clinical practice

Nursing 756 (mental health nursing concepts) is a classroom-based course which examines mental health nursing knowledge.  The course aims to provide evidence based knowledge for clinical practice and to demonstrate the links between theory and practice.

In addition to the academic content, new graduates will attend the compulsory provider arm training days.

Clinical practice

During the recruitment process you will be asked to provide 2 choices of areas you would like to work in for your first placement. If you are successful, and gain employment, your first clinical placement will be planned around your choices before the programme begins. 

Each graduate nurse will ideally have experience working in both inpatient and community settings across the mental health and addictions sector. Generally these will be 2 placements of 6 months duration although at times there will be an opportunity to undertake 3 clinical placements.

In most circumstances initial placements will be within the in-patient setting at the Henry Rongomau Bennett Centre. Wards available for placements include:

• adult acute admission
• forensic secure units
• rehabilitation/high and complex needs
• mental health services for older people.
  

Community placements include provider arm community mental health (CMH) teams such as:

• Hamilton/Raglan CMH
• Hamilton/Huntly CMH
• Hamilton/Cambridge CMH
• Te Awamutu CMH
• Thames CMH
  

and also non government organisations such as:

• Hauora Waikato- includes inpatient and community mental health services
• Kaute Pasifika
• Pathways Trust.

Placements in specialist community mental health services are also available such as:

• CAT (Crisis Assessment and Treatment Service)
• Community Alcohol and Drug Service
• Child and Adolescent Mental Health Service
• Forensic Intellectual Disability Service
• Consult Liaison Service
• dual diagnoses
• mental health services for older people
• ACT (Assertive Community Treatment)
  

Graduates will wherever possible, have the choice as to which area they would like to be placed.

Professional Development and Recognition Programme (PDRP)

Graduates are required to submit a portfolio at a competent RN level prior to exiting the Programme, as per Waikato DHB PDRP. Nurses who participate in the PDRP are exempt from audit by Nursing Council.

Successful programme completion by the graduate will be demonstrated by:

• a pass mark in the academic papers provided by Auckland University
  
  
• 2 performance appraisals achieving stated competencies. There will be one from each rotation, including objectives for future development
  
  
• submission of clinical portfolio by due date.
  

Upon completion the graduate will receive:

• a Waikato DHB Best Programme certificate of completion
  
  
• continued employment in the Waikato District Health Board if suitable vacancies exist.

Resources

Please ensure you look at the position description below for the graduate nurse. This is what will be expected of all registered nurses employed into the Best Programme at Waikato District Health Board.

Graduate Nurse Transition Programme Position Description
Application form

Recruitment

Applications and expressions of interest are welcomed at any time.

Advertising will take place close to intake dates in the:

• Waikato Times
• NZ Herald
• online at the DHB website
• online at various career sites (e.g. Zest4life, Jobseek, etc).
  

Accompanying your application will be:

• covering letter indicating 2 preferences for clinical placement in your first rotation
• one passport photo with your name on it
• current CV
• academic transcripts from your first, second, and third year
• clinical evaluation forms from your integrated practice placement, (final clinical placement prior to completion of your programme.)  If integrated practice appraisals are unavailable, all 3rd year clinical appraisals must be sent instead. 
  

It is preferred that you apply manually rather than online to ensure all your accompanying data is supplied to recruitment.

Our address is:

• Waikato District Health Board
  PO Box 934
  Hamilton
  

For the application packs please email recruit@waikatodhb.govt.nz this will include the programme brochure and an application form.

Applications

ALL applications MUST go to RECRUITMENT, DO NOT send them directly to the programme coordinator

For more details or information please feel free to contact

• Kath Blakey
  Nurse Coordinator-Graduate Programme
  Waikato District Health Board
  PO Box 934
  Hamilton
  ph: (07) 839 8899 ext 6096
  Mobile: 021 759 011
  email: blakeyk@waikatodhb.govt.nz