The Victorian Government has announced GV Health as one of the hospitals to benefit from a scheme to give nursing and midwifery students hands-on experience.
As part of the 2022/23 budget, $59 million was allocated to create 1125 registered undergraduate student nurse positions per year for two years and $9.8 million to create 75 registered undergraduate student midwife positions.
GV Health is one of the services named for placements of the first 1000 registered second- and third-year nursing and midwifery students.
Working under the supervision of a registered nurse or midwife, students help with showering, feeding and transferring patients. Over time, they take on more complex tasks, such as monitoring vital signs, testing blood glucose levels and dressing minor wounds.
Midwifery students are given additional opportunities to help on maternity wards, and under the supervision of experienced midwives, deliver care and support to new mums and their babies.
In addition, a targeted $162 million package will help paramedics and hospitals work together to improve patient flow and get patients the care they need sooner — as the nation faces record levels of demand for emergency care due to a surge of COVID-19 and flu.
“Our nurses, hospitals and universities all agree this student employment model is making a real difference — giving our experienced nurses extra support and giving our students the experience to deliver the best possible care,” Premier Daniel Andrews said.