Join the Emergency Discovery Program

• Program to commence in February 2024
• Do you have little or no experience in emergency Nursing? Are you looking to enhance and extend your practice in Emergency? This is the position for you!   
• Fantastic opportunity to be in a supportive environment and develop your skills

The Emergency Discovery Program provides a 6-month supported clinical program to Registered Nurses Year 2 or above who have little or no experience in the speciality of emergency nursing. The aim of the program is to support the participant's development of foundation knowledge and clinical skills required to practice safely and effectively in the emergency department setting. Throughout the structured program specialist clinical educators and preceptors provide participants with clinical, educational and professional support.

Program Objectives

The Discovery Program is designed to provide participants with the opportunity to;

• experience and practice emergency nursing in a supportive environment
• provide the foundation knowledge and skills required for working in emergency nursing
• gain competency in essential emergency clinical skills and develop skills in assessment and management of adult and paediatric emergency patients.

 The program will provide varied learning opportunities during which the participant can access, share and validate knowledge and will ensure development of core foundation skills and knowledge to enable safe delivery of care within the emergency department.

Participants will be given supernumerary orientation days to the emergency department. In addition, participants will attend three educational study days, which will introduce them to

key emergency nursing topics such as;

• management of the fast track patient
• cardiac monitoring and ECG analysis
• respiratory assessment and management
• management of the basic trauma patient
• advanced neurological assessment, toxicology
• advanced principles of fluid management

These study days are provided to enhance and extend your practice as well as a structured clinical progression program.

Participants will be required to complete clinical hurdles, adult and paediatric patient assessments and a summative appraisal on completion of the program.

 Participants are supported in their clinical development by the provision of an online learning portal with dedicated modules with core content. Participants will then be supported by the Clinical support nurses to develop the necessary clinical skills whilst at the clinical face. 

Completion of Program

At the completion of the Discovery Program, the participant will be able to practice safely and effectively in the emergency department. In particular, they will be able to:

• Competently assess and manage moderately ill patients with common emergency presentations such as chest pain, poisoning, diabetic emergencies, trauma and shortness of breath. 
• Recognize and respond appropriately to abnormal cardiac rhythms.
• Demonstrate basic knowledge and ability to analyse 12 lead ECG's.
• Understand and provide safe delivery of oxygen therapy.
• Competently insert intravenous cannula.
• Understand the principles of intravenous fluid therapy and fluid resuscitation.
• Assess paediatric patients
• Be able to competently care for patients requiring nitrous oxide
• Assess and manage basic trauma

About the facility

Barwon Health is one of the largest regional health services in Victoria, providing care for approximately 80,000 emergency presentations per year. The emergency department has both an adult and paediatric short stay unit to ensure consumers receive the right care, at the right place at the right time. Under Barwon Health’s emergency model of care patients are streamed to dedicated assessment areas including fast track, adult, paediatric, resuscitation, trauma and mental health areas. Our mission is to improve access and patient flow to provide a sustainable service that ensures high quality, safe, people-focused care.

About the culture

The emergency department has a growing culture of innovation and change.  The smarter, easier, safe and better ways of doing things that result in more satisfaction for the staff, patients and their families. You will work with an innovative team who maintain extensive knowledge and experience. Our dedicated and experienced team pride themselves on providing high quality patient centred care in an environment that has modern, well-equipped facilities. 

Diversity and Inclusion

At Barwon Health we are committed to a diverse and inclusive workforce where we value each person’s uniqueness. We embrace diverse life experiences and the perspectives of our people, whilst providing high-quality health care to all members of our community, regardless of age, gender, ethnicity, religion, cultural background, disability, or sexual orientation.

This role must be fully vaccinated for COVID-19 and meet the requirements of the Barwon Health Immunisation Policy.