Nursing cadetships provide students with career pathway
02 December 2022
A new nursing cadetship program with Ramsay Health Care is on offer in the Cairns region for CQUniversity Diploma of Nursing students' providing them with valuable hands-on experience and a foot in the door to the industry.
Initially rolled out as internships through Cairns Private Hospital in partnership with CQUniversity in 2019' Ramsay Health Care then devised a national cadetship program which CQUniversity was able to transition to' through innovative placement sourcing by Head of Professional Practice' Dr Colleen Ryan.
"When I advised Ramsay of our internship program' it was decided to transition the CQU interns to Ramsay cadets'" Dr Ryan said.
"Students will be able to complete all placements in the facility and will be offered an interview for a graduate position on completion of their studies."
Going beyond the immediate benefits of the hands-on experience to meet course learning outcomes' the program provides students with the opportunity for graduate employment' on top of the added security of becoming familiar with nursing within Ramsay Health Care.
"Students will complete more than one placement rotation in the facility' which will allow students to gain a sense of belonging with the organisation' the staff' and the learning environment."
Dr Ryan said the program essentially provides students (and employers) with the opportunity to 'try before they buy'' and potentially then secure a competitive graduate position as a Graduate Enrolled Nurse.
"If there are casual positions available' for example as an Assistant in Nursing (AIN) and the student is qualified' cadets will be in good standing to apply for these positions'" Dr Ryan said.
With an ever-present demand for regional healthcare workers' the cadetship is pivotal in not only retaining skilled workers' but also empowering the regions to continue to flourish in the sector.
"It's all about graduate outcomes and engaging with the local communities where our CQU nursing students are living and studying'" said Dr Ryan.
The cadetships are competitive with 12 places for Diploma of Nursing students across two intakes' annually.
"This number for our Diploma students sees almost half of our capped places in a position to enjoy a Ramsay cadetship'" said Dr Ryan.
To gain a cadetship place' prospects will first need to apply to study the Diploma of Nursing (HLT54121) with CQUniversity. Students local to Cairns will be contacted by Dr Colleen Ryan and invited to submit an Expression of Interest for the cadetship positions' at the students' choice to participate in the program. Final allocation of cadetship positions is decided by Ramsay Health Care. Please visit the Ramsay Health Care website for further information on the program.
