Inspiring change through quality nurse placements

Meet APNA’s Clinical and Education team 

 

Dani Neal​​​​, APNA Communications and Campaigns Coordinator 

Source: APNA Primary Times Winter 2024

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Since its launch in 2020, APNA's National Nursing Clinical Placement Program (CPP) has given nurses working in primary health care the opportunity to pass on their wealth of skills and knowledge to the next generation. 

Formerly known as the Primary Health Care Student Nurse Placement Program, the CPP aims to show nursing students the vast array of career options they have at their fingertips if they choose to step into primary health care after graduation. 

‘Nurses supervising students on placements tell us how it has allowed them to reflect on their own nursing journey and the pride they feel in sharing their passion for the profession,’ says Donna Gleisner, General Manager of APNA’s Career Pathways unit. 

Supervising nurses have the full support of the Career Pathways Unit. Last year, as a major lift to program growth and development, we proudly introduced our Clinical and Education team: Renee Flynn, Jane Hollier and Kathryn Twigg.  

‘With over 75 years of nursing and education experience between them, Renee, Jane and Kath are dedicated and passionate nurses who know the Australian nursing education system inside and out,’ says Donna. 

‘They make sure that supervising nurses have all the clinical information needed to meet the students’ learning outcomes and, most importantly, they ensure supervising nurses always feel supported.’ 

The team works closely with program and administrative staff to make sure placements run smoothly. Their goal is to ensure that each placement is a positive experience for everyone involved. 

‘Primary health care nurses love what they do, and the various ways they keep the community well and out of hospital,’ says Donna, who invites any nurses interested in hosting students to get in contact.  

‘Join us in providing students with the opportunity to fall in love with primary health care too.’  

‘Renee, Jane and Kath are passionate nurses who know the Australian nursing education system inside and out.’ — Donna Gleisner, General Manager, APNA Career Pathways 

 

Clinical and Education team profiles 

Introducing our incredibly knowledgeable, experienced, and approachable clinical team who are here to ensure nurse supervisors are fully supported through their APNA clinical placements. 

 

Renee Flynn, Clinical and Education Manager   

Renee is a registered nurse with over 28 years of experience across multiple fields, including medical and surgical, aged care, primary health, community nursing, and palliative care. After completing her Training and Assessment Certificate IV, she found she enjoyed passing on her knowledge to enrolled nursing students so much that she completed her Master’s of Nursing, majoring in education, and became a nurse lecturer to Bachelor of Nursing students.  

Since joining APNA, Renee’s experiences and qualifications have been invaluable in providing a unique understanding of clinical placements, as well as insights into the workings of the higher education system. She understands students’ scope of practice, learning outcomes, and assessments to provide nurse supervisors with the most accurate information individualised for each placement.   

Renee is passionate about the health of all Australians and understands the integral role nurses in the primary health care sector play. Leading the clinical team in this program allows Renee to ensure that primary health care is showcased to students and that nurse supervisors have all the support they need. 

  

Jane Hollier, Clinical Supervisor  

Jane is a registered nurse with 30 years of experience across multiple fields, including orthopaedics, general practice, community nursing and aged care. After completing a Training and Assessment Certificate IV, she is currently teaching Bachelor of Nursing students. 

With Jane's firsthand teaching experience, she knows higher education providers' expectations and the daily pressures supervising nurses face, as well as those faced by students. She uses this knowledge to encourage everyone to work together, transforming student nurses' experiences on her placements.  

  

Kathryn Twigg, Clinical Nurse Supervisor

Kath has been a registered nurse for almost 25 years and has extensive clinical experience in paediatrics, emergency care, palliative care, and community nursing.     

When she was seconded to fill a long-service-leave role as a graduate nurse educator, she found a passion for teaching. Kath completed her Training and Assessment Certificate IV and has since been a university sessional teacher and clinical facilitator.   

Kath initially joined APNA as a clinical nurse facilitator, supervising nurses on placements in aged care. Since then, she's become an integral part of the Career Pathways team, where she combines her skills, knowledge, and experience to help foster our future primary health care nurses.      

Kath values each student's individuality and creates a positive learning environment to maximise their learning. She takes great pride in seeing students grow in confidence, skills, and knowledge and in showcasing the positive benefits a primary health care nurse can make in people's lives. 

The National Nursing Clinical Placement Program is supported with funding from the Department of Health, Disability and Ageing.

Join APNA’s Clinical Placement Program 

If you’d like to contribute to this amazing program and can see yourself being a part of change, we're currently seeking nurse supervisors nationally to support nursing students in primary health care.

Visit our Clinical Placement Program page to learn more and complete an expression of interest form.

Email: placements@apna.asn.au