Our Graduate Nurse Program is designed to support graduate nurses in the clinical area and provide opportunities to consolidate both theoretical and clinical skills.
Applications for our 2024 Graduate Nurse Program have closed. Check back for updates on future programs.
What is the Graduate Nurse Program?
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 (RMH) and we welcome graduates into our team and assist graduates to become confident and skilled nurses.
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 registered nurse in a friendly and stimulating working environment.
The RMH offers graduate nurses many staff benefits and services, including professional study days, clinical support and a social club.
Registered Nurse Graduate Nurse Program
- Ongoing contract
- Two x 6 month clinical rotations
- We aim to take 3 intakes per year - January, February and March
- 0.8EFT positions (8 shifts/fortnight)
- Limited full time positions are available in the perioperative area only
- Approximately 195 positions
- Graduate specific orientation
- Graduate professional development and training days including the internationally accredited ACTION™ program
- Extensive support network
- Preceptorship
- Supernumerary days
- Salary packaging
- Secure car parking and bicycle storage available
- A celebratory graduation event on completion of your graduate nurse program
At the RMH, people are at the heart of everything we do. We are committed to our graduates' wellbeing and success.
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:
The RMH Parkville
- Acute medical unit
- Cardiology and cardiothoracic
- Colorectal and hepatobiliary
- Day medical centre
- Emergency
- Emergency general surgery
- General medicine and respiratory medicine
- Haematology and BMT
- Infectious diseases
- Neurosurgery and neurology
- Nursing Pool
- Specialist Clinics (Outpatients)
- Palliative care
- Perioperative services
- Plastics and orthopaedic trauma
- Kidney care, endocrinology and dialysis
- Vascular, urology and gastroenterology
The RMH Royal Park
Preceptor support
Preceptors will work alongside you in the initial period of your rotation, ranging from 4 to 6 weeks. This individualised support will help facilitate a positive clinical experience.
Our staff in the nursing education unit conduct several preceptorship workshops and study days to prepare our staff to take on this vital role.
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 RMH 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 several 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.
Early Career Nurse Educator
The early career nurse educator supports graduates with clinical skills and professional development during the program, and is an additional advisory role.
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.
The Royal Melbourne Hospital graduates are highly sought after within the healthcare sector, with 90-97% of our graduates electing to continue employment with the Royal Melbourne Hospital. After the graduate nurse program, graduates are encouraged and supported to gain future employment within the nursing workforce that aligns with their career aspirations.
The RMH 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 several of our highly specialised areas
- Find out more about our RISE program
University-affiliated postgraduate programs
- Supporting nurses in postgraduate programs in a variety of clinical areas, through the guidance and support of skilled clinical educators and our multi-professional team
- Find out more about our postgraduate programs
The 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)
Jessica Walker, Assistant Director of Nursing - Transition to Practice, gives an overview of the Graduate Nursing Program at the RMH.
Apply for our 2024 program
Applications for our 2024 intake are now closed.
For more information, contact the Transition to Practice Programs team at gnprecruitment@mh.org.au or call 0408 179 288.
Subscribe for updates
Sign up to our Nursing Education mailing list for exclusive 2024 Graduate Nurse Program recruitment updates.
Links & documents
300 Grattan St, Parkville, Victoria
Ground Level West
300 Grattan St, Parkville, Victoria