Undergraduate Entry to Practice Nurse Program

The Entry to Practice Nurse Program orientation handbook (PDF) provides comprehensive introductory information relating to your placement, including:

• The RMH's vision and values
• Emergency response codes
• Workplace health and safety
• Our approach to preventing and managing clinical aggression
• Person Centred Care bundle
• Quality assurance information
• Policies and procedures
• Placement expectations

It is expected that you read the handbook before you start placement to ensure that you are well prepared.

The Entry to Practice Nurse Program orientation learning modules provide additional specific information relating to the expectations of your placement. These learning modules contain information regarding:

• Your role as a student
• The role of the preceptor
• How to succeed in your placement
• The ‘at risk’ clinical support process

It is expected that you complete the learning modules in full before you start placement to ensure that you are aware of what to expect and what will be expected of you.

After reading the Orientation Handbook and completing the orientation learning modules, you must complete the orientation declaration and emergency contact form.

This form is mandatory and must be completed before you start placement.

The ward orientation handbook aims to provide you with an introduction to the clinical area where you will be undertaking your placement.

Please review the ward orientation handbook according to the clinical area that you have been allocated to. You will find the name of the ward you have been allocated to at the top of your roster.

This information is to be used to guide your pre-placement reading, research and preparation.

You are required to have the following documents available throughout your clinical placement.

Please bring evidence of the following with you:

• University Student ID Card – to be worn at all times (in a card holder)
• Valid National Police Check (within current year)
• Valid Working With Children’s Check
• Valid Immunisation status – full summary page as provided by education facility
• Valid Hand Hygiene Certificate (within current year)

All students must also have printed and brought to placement:

• Preceptor log book (see next step)
• University Appraisal Document (if completed in hard copy)

If you cannot produce evidence throughout your placement, you may be sent home for the remainder of your clinical placement.

While on clinical placement you will be required to carry and complete the Preceptor Log Book.

Your educators may use a hard or soft copy of the booklet. Please make sure you are using the correct booklet for your clinical area.

Important printing tip

If required to use a hard copy, print the log book as a booklet and staple it together. You are required to present the entire booklet each day, rather than individual pages.

To have the booklet print properly, choose the following settings on your printer:

• Print double-sided
• Flip on short edge (also known as "short edge bind")

Download the correct Log Book

Download the correct Preceptor Log Book relating to your nursing degree (Registered or Enrolled) and length of placement:

Bring the following items to your placement:

• University photo ID (in card holder)
• Pre-placement documentation
• Preceptor Log Book
• Appraisal Document (if in hard copy)
• University competencies (if required)
• Roster
• Pens
• Stethoscope
• Pen torch
• Notebook
• Any other resources that you think you might need

Clinical supervision, placement rosters and attendance

You will receive your roster one to two weeks before your placement starts. Throughout your placement, you may be rostered a range of shifts including AMs, PMs, night duty, eight-hour, 10-hour and 12-hour shifts. It is important that you make yourself available for the entirety of your placement dates, as outlined by your university.

Shift swaps will only be granted for extenuating circumstances only.

Shift swaps can be arranged between students and must be approved by the Clinical Nurse Educator on the first day of placement.

You will be rostered the total or additional hours that is required for your placement. Make-up shifts from previous placements will not be permitted on your current placement unless arranged with the Assistant Director of Nursing for Nursing Education.

Clinical Placement Evaluation

At the Royal Melbourne Hospital, we are continually striving to improve the experience for undergraduate students.

In order for us to achieve this, it would be appreciated if you are able to complete the survey at the completion of your placement.

Entry to Practice Specific Study Days

We offer several study days for all Entry to Practice Nurses and students throughout the year. These are a great way to advance and consolidate many of the most common areas of knowledge and clinical skills, to better prepare you for your nursing career.