Graduate nurses with little or no workplace experience are walking straight into leadership roles as the national shortage of skilled workers takes hold of the health sector, it has been revealed.

Melbourne’s Mayfield Education has revealed that Division 2 nurses graduating from its course are being snapped up by both public and private practice for key leadership positions, including team leaders and a range of other management roles.

Mayfield Education accepts around 100 undergraduate nurses per year on a part-time basis, while an additional 60 sign up for post-graduate courses. A further 200-plus enroll in various nursing courses to brush up on their skills.

Catherine Joustra, team leader of nursing program courses at Caulfield Campus, Mayfield Education says that a growing number of nurses are enrolling in the education facility’s nursing courses. Many of those enrolling are choosing nursing after forging a career elsewhere.

“There appears to be an increasing number of people drawn to the health sector. A number of people tell us they like the idea of nursing because the job allows them to interact with people.”

Joustra says the range of employment opportunities for nurses has increased. She has also noticed that there has been a drop in demand for Division 1 nursing, while demand for the Division 2 nursing course has increased.

Mayfield Education has also noticed that the drop-out rate among those enrolled in the nursing courses has decreased.

Joustra says there is a growing need among employers for graduate nurses to be able to walk into leadership positions. Mayfield’s range of nursing courses has been tailored to reflect the changing needs of the healthcare sector, she says.

“This is why our courses are under constant scrutiny and development to make sure they meet the need out there,” Joustra says.

“There’s a greater responsibility on nurses out in the workplace to be accountable for their actions, which is a good thing. This means we’ve got to be making sure that the right applicants come into the field of nursing.

“Division 2 nurses have the skills to be employed in a wider range of places because they have a high standard of knowledge and skills, including the skills to work in aged care, acute care and other key areas.”

Joustra says that since the introduction of the new Health Training Package three years ago, courses have expanded and required more from those enrolled. For example, the Division 2 nursing diploma now includes study that enables graduates to administer intravenous medicines.

“Under the new Health Training Package, nurses are encouraged to undertake in-depth study, which means courses are becoming increasingly complex,” she says.

The growth in demand for Division 2 nurses comes as the Rudd Government recently released a funding application to encourage nurses to step up to the frontline of primary health care. He also voiced expectations that nurses step up and play a greater part in the healthcare revolution.

Nicola Roxon, Minister for Health & Ageing, told the Royal College of Nursing Summit in May that nurses form the backbone of the country’s health system.

“It is no exaggeration to say that nurses are front and centre of our national reform plan. The health system can’t run without you. And our reform plan won’t work without you."

“I can’t stress enough that I believe these reforms represent a great opportunity for the nursing profession. I want to encourage you to grab that opportunity to now help put them into effect.”

And while changes are definitely afoot, whether or not rates of pay are increasing in line with the greater level of responsibility is unknown. Joustra believes that Division 2 nurses need to be better recognised for their skills, adding that a financial incentive is the best approach.

“Rates of pay should be in line with the expectation that nurses take up these higher level positions. Although, it does look like that’s likely to happen when the new pay agreement comes out,” Joustra says.

Photo: L-R Course coordinator Carol Fraser, team leader (nursing program courses) Catherine Joustra and course coordinators Vicki Robertson and Tania Driver