Registered Midwives
Transition to Professional Practice Program

The individualised Graduate year at the Burnside Hospital (BH) is a process of enabling and empowering the Graduate Midwife to enhance upon newly gained knowledge and skills and further facilitate the development of their nursing practice.  
The Graduate Midwife is supported within an environment that encourages learning and skill development by competent practitioners, whilst focusing on an adult leaning and self direction ethos.

About Burnside
The services provided by the hospital include:

For more Hospital information please visit our website on: www.burnsidehospital.asn.au

The Program

The Burnside Hospital Transition to Professional Practice Program for Registered Midwives aims to provide a supportive environment to enable newly Registered Midwives to consolidate their knowledge and gain confidence in their ability to practice as a professional midwife.  The twelve month program consists of supported clinical practice complimented by three non-clinical study days.  The study days will be coordinated and provided by the Lyell Mc Ewin Hospital (LMcH) under the auspices of their Transition to Professional Practice Program for newly Registered Midwives. 

Professional support will be available to the Graduate from people occupying the following positions:

• The Clinical Manager Maternity Services
• The ward / unit preceptor(s) allocated to the respective Graduate
• Clinical Educators
• The LMcH Clinical Midwife Specialist (Education) for the Transition to Professional Practice Program

How long is the Program?

The Program is 52 weeks in duration, which includes annual leave.  Graduates are entitled to 6 weeks annual leave (pro-rata), which will be allocated in consultation with the Clinical Manager.  Two weeks of annual leave entitlement is rostered mid-year.  Graduate Midwives will be employed over a 7 day rotating roster which includes early, afternoon and night shifts.  Graduates will also be expected to, in time participate in the “On-call” roster.

Clinical Rotations

Participants will gain experience in the following clinical areas at Burnside Hospital:

• Delivery Suite
• Postnatal Ward
• Nursery (Low Dependency)

In addition, Graduates will undertake a supernumery, paid clinical rotation at the Lyell Mc Ewin Hospital in the Nursery and Labour & Delivery Suite.
Participants will, in conjunction with the Clinical Manager Maternity Service, Clinical Educator Maternity Service and Preceptor, formulate learning objectives for each clinical rotation.

What supernumery time will be provided?

The Transition to Professional Practice Program for Registered Midwives will commence with an initial two day orientation to Burnside Hospital.  Graduates will be given additional supernumery time to orientate to the Maternity Service and when on placement at the Lyell McEwin Hospital.

Criteria for Successful Completion

• Achievement of Transition to Professional Practice learning outcomes, professional portfolio, case presentation and CTG Competency Assessment.
• Satisfactory completion of ward based evaluation requirements.
• Attendance at all study days.

How do I apply?

Graduates interested in applying for the Transition to Professional Practice Program are required to forward the following:

• Completed Application Form (including Professional and Immunisation declarations)
• Covering Letter
• Resume
• Copy of current Criminal History Check (National Police Clearance)
• Copies of Academic Transcripts
• Copies of all signed 2nd and 3rd year Clinical Placement Evaluations
• Copy of BloodSafe E-Learning Tool Certificate of Achievement – www.BloodSafeLearning.org.au

These documents can be posted to:

Human Resources Officer
Burnside War Memorial Hospital
120 Kensington Road
Toorak Gardens SA 506
Or emailed to gjelfs@burnsidehospital.asn.au

Applications close:  Monday 23rd August 2010

What is the Selection Process?
The selection of Graduates will be based upon the standard recruitment and selection processes of Burnside Hospital.  This will involve an application, interview, reference checks, professional delaration and pre emplyment work capacity assessment.  Successful applicants must be registered with the Nursing and Midwifery Board of Australia as a Registered Midwife before the start of the Program.

Employment
Graduates who are successful in being offered a placement in the Burnside Hospital Transition to Professional Practice Program for Registered Midwives 2011 will be offered a term employment contract as a Registered Midwife Level 1, 1st Year.  In accordance with Hospital policy regarding the employment of all new staff, Graduates will have a probationary period of 6 months commencing from the date of their employment.  Regular feedback will be provided throughout the course of the year.