The Graduate Nurse Program is designed to support Graduate Nurses in the clinical area and provide opportunities to consolidate both theoretical and clinical skills.
The program supports Graduates making the transition from student to advanced beginner practitioner in a friendly and stimulating working environment.
Graduates play an integral role in the nursing workforce at the Royal Melbourne Hospital and as such it is in our interests to welcome graduates into our team and assist Graduates to become confident and skilled nurses.
Information Webinar
We are excited to welcome you to join our webinar on Thursday 2nd June 4-6pm. Hear about our 2023 Graduate Nurse Program at The Royal Melbourne Hospital from our Nursing Education Coordinator team, as well as a panel of Graduates, Nurse Unit Managers and Clinical Nurse Educators answering your questions live.
This session will be recorded and be available for viewing following the broadcast.
About the program
Our Graduate Nurse Program is designed to support graduate nurses in the clinical area and provide opportunities to consolidate both theoretical and clinical skills.
The program supports graduates making the transition from student to Enrolled or Registered Nurse in a friendly and stimulating working environment.
The Royal Melbourne Hospital offers Graduate Nurses a number of benefits and services, including professional study days, clinical support and a social club.
GNP Presentation from Nursing Education Management on Vimeo.
Hear all about our 2023 Graduate Nurse Program!
Information handbook
Please download our information handbook which contains all the information about our program.
2022 programs
Applications for our 2022 Registered Nurse Graduate Program have closed. No further intakes are currently being
Our Enrolled Nurse Graduate Nurse Program will not be offered in 2022 however updates for future programs can be found here.
2023 Registered Nurse GNP
Recruitment for the 2023 Registered Nurse Graduate Nurse Program (General) matches the PMCV Allocation and Placement Service timeline and eligibility criteria.
Applications open on Monday 6th June and close on Friday 8th July 2022.
Registered Nurse Graduate Nurse Program
Ongoing contract
Two x 6 month clinical rotations
- Two intakes per year - January and February
0.8EFT positions (8 shifts/fortnight)
Limited full time positions are available in the perioperative area only
- Approximately 160 positions
Graduate specific orientation
- Graduate professional development and training days including the internationally accredited ACTION™ program and MOCA (Management Of Clinical Aggression)
- Extensive support network
- A team of dedicated Coordinators and educators are committed to the wellbeing and success of graduates at the Royal Melbourne Hospital
- Preceptorship
- Supernumerary days
- Salary packaging
- Secure car parking and bicycle storage on-site
- A celebratory graduation ceremony upon completion of your Graduate Nurse Program
The Graduate Nurse Program is designed to ensure the development and consolidation of basic nursing skills in the provision of person-centred care. Clinical rotations are allocated based on Graduate Nurse nominations and placement availability.
Clinical rotations at The Royal Melbourne Hospital include:
| RMH City Campus | RMH Royal Park Campus |
|---|---|
| Acute Medical Unit | Geriatric Evaluation and Management |
| Cardiology and Cardiothoracic | Rehabilitation |
| Colorectal and Hepatobiliary | Nursing Pool |
| Emergency Department | |
| Emergency General Surgery | |
| General Medicine and Respiratory | |
| Haematology and Oncology | |
| Infectious Diseases | |
| Neurosurgery and Neurology | |
| Nursing Pool | |
| Outpatients Department | |
| Palliative Care | |
| Perioperative Services | |
| Plastics and Orthopedic Trauma | |
| Renal / Endocrinology | |
| Vascular, Urology and Gastroenterology |
The program begins with a structured orientation and induction program.
Our four-day orientation program consists of organisational, program and local area orientation, designed to be both fun and informative, giving you the opportunity to get to know other Graduates, members of the nursing education team and the clinical areas of the Royal Melbourne Hospital. The orientation is comprised of different activities, workshops and lectures to help you feel relaxed and confident about beginning your role as a nurse.
Training for the new Electronic Medical Record system will also be included as part of orientation.
Orientation is followed by clinical supernumerary time where you will be supported to orientate and integrate into the clinical area, prior to working independently as a nurse. Throughout the year there are a further training and paid professional development days, including the internationally accredited ACTION™ program and MOCA (Management Of Clinical Aggression). These days will provide you with up-to-date knowledge to assist you with your clinical and professional development.
Preceptor support
Preceptors will work alongside you in the initial period of your rotation, ranging from four to six weeks. This individualised support will help facilitate a positive clinical experience.
Our staff in Nursing Education conduct a number of Preceptorship Workshops and study days to prepare our staff to take on this vital role.
Nursing team
Our dynamic nursing team at The Royal Melbourne Hospital will welcome and support you.
Nurse Educators
Our dedicated team of Nurse Educators are locally based within each clinical area and provide expert clinical supervision, support and education to all graduates within the Graduate Nurse Program and clinical staff.
Nurse Unit Managers and Associate Nurse Unit Managers
Our senior clinical nurse leaders are there to assist, support and listen to all staff, especially those new to a clinical area or role.
Clinical Nurse Consultants
We have a number of clinical nurse consultants who can be accessed via pager for expert advice including stomal therapy, intensive care, palliative care, discharge planning, and infection prevention to name just a few.
The network is run by individual graduates from each intake. Graduates meet regularly to provide feedback on the program and organise social events for the group.
Members of the network can be asked to participate in organisational events and improvement programs.
It provides a great opportunity to network with other graduates and develop leadership skills.
Royal Melbourne Hospital Graduates are highly sought after within the healthcare industry, with 90-97% of our Graduates electing to continue employment with the Royal Melbourne Hospital. Following the Graduate Nurse Program, Graduates are encouraged and supported to gain future employment within the nursing workforce that aligns with their career aspirations.
The Royal Melbourne Hospital provides a range of programs to support the further education and development of our nurses, including our:
- RISE Program
- Designed to advance clinical practice by providing theoretical and clinical education within a number of our highly specialised areas.
- University-affiliated Post Graduate programs
- Supporting nurses in post graduate programs in a variety of clinical areas, through the guidance and support of skilled Clinical Educators and our multi-professional team.
RMH is affiliated with the following tertiary institutions for provision of our Post Graduate Nursing program.
- The University of Melbourne (UoM)
- Deakin University
- Australian Catholic University (ACU)
- La Trobe University
- University of Tasmania (UTAS)
Please see the Royal Melbourne Hospital Post-Graduate Program webpage for further information regarding the program on offer and the application process.
If you would like to learn more about our Graduate Nurse Program, we will be holding a number of online information sessions and interactive opportunities.
Join us for our 2023 Graduate Nurse Program Information Event (Date TBC).
Our events will be posted on the RMH Nursing Education on Facebook or follow RMH Nursing Education on Instagram.
Please make sure you have the following ready when you're preparing your application
A one page cover letter
Your CV
This should be no longer than two pages. Please include:a table detailing your clinical placements (degree year, dates of placement, type of placement, organisation and clinical area)
2 acute placement referees and
1 employment or volunteer referee or Aboriginal Elder referee
Your two most recent acute clinical appraisals.
A second or third year appraisal is acceptable. Where two acute appraisals are not available, a second year sub-acute appraisal is also acceptable- Official academic transcript
My eQuals transcripts are accepted
If your transcript does not include all of your subjects, please submit what you currently have available
Documents do not need to be certified for your submission.
Download the 2022 Graduate Nurse position description.