A rewarding transition to primary health care nursing

APNA's Transition to Practice Program

Dani Neal, APNA Communications and Campaigns Coordinator

Source: APNA Primary Times Summer 2024-5

Outside of our capital cities, Australian communities often face difficulties accessing primary health care due to a shortage of nurses and GPs. Gippsland Lakes Complete Heath (GLCH) in Victoria seeks to provide a different experience for the people accessing its busy general practice and outreach clinics.

To ease the pressure on their GPs, GLCH are making a concerted effort to recruit, train and retain a skilled nursing workforce that can collaborate with them to care for the community.

‘GPs can only see so many people and if we can value-add to client care, then that's where the role of the skilled primary care nurse really comes into its own,’ says Cheryl Bush, GLCH's Clinical and Nursing executive manager.

APNA's Transition to Practice Program (TPP) is at the heart of GLCH’s efforts to attract nurses to work for them and to help make sure that the nurses feel supported as they start in their new roles.

The program, funded by the Australian Government under the Nursing in Primary Health Care Program (NiPHC), helps nurses who are new to working outside a hospital setting. It offers access to educational tools and resources, peer support through small group learning activities and, most importantly, an experienced nurse mentor.

East Gippsland's only specialist respiratory nurse, Juana, doubles as GLCH's local program mentor. Juana shares her knowledge and experience to help nurses Aisha and Sharna grow into their jobs at GLCH's Jemmeson St clinic.

‘I think it’s a great way to support the nurses as we are able to give them assistance, guidance and emotional support in an area of nursing that has minimal training prior starting in primary care,’ Juana says.

‘Sharing the experience, insights and knowledge I have gained over the years to transition into my role will help the TPP nurses to transition into their new roles successfully too.’

As one of the nurses participating in the program, Aisha, points out: ‘We are very lucky to have Juana as our mentor. She has been super-supportive of Sharna and I since we started here as grad nurses and has a wealth of knowledge to offer.’

Sharna has also hit the ground running in her clinic role, recently helping drive a World Hand Hygiene Day promotion with Aisha. She says Juana's extra guidance and support has made a huge difference in her transition to primary care.

‘I haven't been in the program for long, but so far it has been great,’ she says.

‘The assessments are easy to access, we have regular catch-ups with Juana to discuss our goals and work through any concerns we might have.’

According to Cheryl Bush, GLCH is firm in supporting its nurses with a clear career path and a plan for generational change. This approach will be critical in the future given East Gippsland's ageing population.

‘And TPP, alongside APNA's other programs, will continue to be used by GLCH as part of this support.’

(L–R) GLCH's Clinical and Nursing executive manager Cheryl Bush, respiratory nurse and program mentor Juana and nurses Sharna and Aisha at the Jemmeson St Clinic, Lakes Entrance, Victoria.